Alpine 100

innes, lawerence, paul m (spoonie), paul a (dougaldog)

well i guess that sometimes in the 'all or nothing' scenario you end up more at the 'nothing' end!
brief version is the itb started to ache going up mt feathertop ie. at the bloody start.
the brief descent from feathertop was a worry and the trip down diamantina spur very problematic indeed.
i was basically using 1 leg and 2 poles.
the only bit the knee felt good on was the 'bum/mud slide into prickle bush' section :)
by the time i got to the bottom of d-spur i couldnt run more than 5 paces and tho briefly (insanely) considered trying to walk the entire event i knew that it would soon be painful just walking which it indeed was.
pulled out at 28km and 7.5hrs (it was a hilly 28km!) where i could walk out to the helpers car.
more surpised than disappointed.
spoonie said i looked relieved!

switched to crewie for the rest of the weekend and have to say what a great weekend i had despite my own difficulties.
have been to a few ultras over the years but this one absolutely took the cake in persistence and determination.
4 guys just hammering themselves on the run and another 4 (myself included) just giving their all in crewing/pacing duties.
100% effort 24/7 for 2.5 days.
well except for the nice meal and nap i had at the icicles ski lodge on sat night.
i like ski lodges :)

had a weird feeling on sunday lunch when i realised mal & i hadnt seen the runners for over a day!!
super-pacer bryan had spent a rather uncomfortable night with paul a - bedding down at the big river site with some varments who decided to eat thru pauls pack into his food supplies!

rather (pleasantly) suprised that the 'stage race' aspect of it was a furfi.
the 2 guys who stayed at the planned rest spot (cleve cole) did so because they were buggered.
and the pre-race favourite and the race director didnt make it there and spent the night on the trail!

stage race my a*se.

pity the 2 pauls faced bad visibility conditions at mt loch car park as both were sure to finish the entire race course.
spoonie's quote re not continuing in whiteout unfortunately came to fruition.
as he was the first to mt loch in these conditions i spent some time trying to convince him to go on.
deepest respect to him for making such a balsy decision for safety reasons.
kudos to innes and lawrence for being the 'first finishers' after a 0/4 in 2006.
but this race wasnt about winning.
it was about adventure - and we all had plenty of that.
i was amazed by how fresh the guys looked at every stage.
just inspiring stuff.
i will be back.
paul a offered me free entry next year - bribed him with soup at mt loch :)