Oxfam Trailwalker – Melbourne, April 11-12 2008
Time: 19h 13 min
Position: 49th.
IntroductionThese notes are a recount of how we approached the Oxfam Trailwalker event, held on the weekend of April 11-13, 2008, starting from Jells Park in Wheelers Hill and finishing in Wesburn in the Yarra Valley. This is an annual event organised by Oxfam and this was the fifth time the event was ever held in Melbourne. There were 658 teams that made to the starting line.
Our preparations for the event started in December 2007 once we made our minds we were going to take part in the event. We had our first training session on December 16, 2007, when we ran from Churchill National Park to Lysterfield. We were feeling optimist and capable of tackling the 100 kilometres as Jane, Kate and Angel had completed the 2007 Melbourne marathon. David joined the team in mid January 2008; he had done the Kokoda Trail in the first half of 2007. Our plan was to complete the 100-kilometre challenge in 19 hours and anticipated to finish at 02.30am.
Angel approached the event as not being as hard as a marathon – where there is greater pressure to perform, unaffordable to stop and racing against time. The other members of the team also approached the event with optimism; feeling competent in completing it.
Pre-departure arrangementsOur arrangements for the event were partially derailed on the Tuesday morning (7th of April) when William told Angel he would not be able to be part of the support crew. The same night we were having a team meeting to make our final arrangements. Angel was visibly worried, as this development would occupy some time to sort out. A replacement was found in Victor who keenly volunteered.
Our support crew for the event were: Di Synott and Vicky Horner (friends of Jane), who were on the track during the day. Gabriel Mena and Victor del Rio (friends of Angel) were on the track from the mid afternoon till night time.
On the Tuesday evening we met at Arabesque in Elsternwick to sort out all necessary things (clothes, bags, lights, meals, weather and so forth). We had dinner there and we shared two bottles of red wine. We were feeling very enthused about the event. We also received from Jane the tops we purchased for the event.
A CD compilation of songs earlier on provided by every team member was given to everyone. There are 21 songs that were transferred to iPod and, for years to come will be a fond memory of the event.
Getting there / Checking inOn the Friday morning, David collected everyone from their home – we arrived to the starting point basically an hour before. We registered without problems and everything went smoothly. We purchased coffees and had time to put cream on our feet to mitigate the emergence of blisters.
Through the speaker system we learnt that the event was delayed by ten minutes to 7.10am – this gave us time to go to the toilets for the last time and do any late change to our gear.
We made it to the start queue about 7.05 am and we aligned almost half way – when we went past the start point Angel’s watch was 7.11am. We started running slowly and having to zig zag a bit – in retrospect I would say we started faster than anticipated - this is an issue in any event as the crowd seems to push everyone to go faster than planned. So, discipline is very important to stay focused on any planned pace.
Start to Checkpoint 1 (Churchill Park) 12.5kmWe ran most of the course in this section as planned, albeit to say we did not stay together for most of this section as there were so many people on the track. Probably this is also a reflection that we did not train as a full team often enough to know everyone’s racing pace. The only difficulty we had in this section of the track was when Jane’s tape hindered her progress and required intervention. Support crew was called in and Jane replaced her shorts for ¾ pants in Stud Road (kilometre 8). Invariably at the start of any race emotions run high and tension tends to be visible. Jane had tears as she changed shorts. Later on Jane said to us she expected everyone to get emotional at kilometre 80. David and Angel used this opportunity to do some stretching. Whilst we waited we talked to the two marshals who were giving directions – they wanted to take in the event but were unable to do so as the spots were quickly taken so they volunteered to the event as a replacement.
Just metres before the finish of this section we had a quick stop as we saw our support crew who had some nuts and drinks ready for us. I took the first salt tablet then and that proved to be a wise move. Over the course of the event we all took salt tables – about 6 per person. This stop lasted about 8-10 minutes. Then we went through the first Checkpoint – had done the first 12.5 kms. We stopped again for drinks and had a banana – this time probably we stopped for about 5-7minutes. We were delighted to see that at every checkpoint there were water and food stations. One of the girls told us we were placed 31st.
Churchill National Park to CP2 (Lysterfield Lake) 9KmOff we went walking this time. We started to run once we gathered enough energy. As we had agreed we would walk through the hills so we walked, as there was one coming. We talked about our first training session, which commenced from this checkpoint. Our only night training session also commenced there so it was nice to see the area during daylight. We stopped for one photo three kilometres into the run when we saw the sign pointing to Lysterfield and Churchill Park. So we would have a picture of this place every time we had been there. By this stage there were some teams that were clearly in front and some others who were falling behind. We never done the full length of this section so it was pleasing to cover some new territory.
Unfortunately we had to detour from the main road to a minor track. David and Kate missed the entry to the small track and Jane and Angel who were running a few metres behind called them in and we continued. We were all cursing the fact that we entered this dirty track that had so many obstacles and hindered our smooth progress. Once we returned to the main track we noticed that some teams had not taken the minor track.
When we arrived to the Lake, Di and Vicky were waiting for us with sandwiches, cakes, sweets and drinks. They were a godsend and their jovial company made a difference. We stopped for about 20-25 minutes. We started to tend to our injuries and some of us changed socks. During this section we ran through the flat bits and certainly we were running when we made it to Checkpoint 2. Apparently we were placed 34th.
Lysterfield Lake to CP3 – Grants Picnic Ground (13.8Km)When we left our support crew in the picnic area of the Lake we went through the Checkpoint and then we took the track where Jane and Angel commenced their infamous run on that wet and miserable morning last December. We ran from this point to Wellington road. The area looked not so foreign anymore. As we crossed Wellington Road, 3.7km into this section, we stretched for about two minutes and then we continued. At this point in time we recognised some of the runners we had seen previously - we greeted them and have a recurrent conversation over the next 10 kilometres. We continued to mix running and walking with relative ease. We had a toilet stop in Birds Land Reserve (7.3km mark) then we knew were not far away from our first real test – uphill Broadway Street. As we approached the start of Broadway we started to walk and kept pace with other teams and we made it to the top of the street without major hesitation and we took the concrete steps and noticed that the path had been repaired. It was easier to talk and the conditions were not treacherous at all. In no time we approached Belgrave Station and we went under the bridge and then we tackled the ascending track that took us to Grants Picnic – we walked to the Checkpoint in Grants Picnic Ground to be greeted by our support crew. We checked in first and then we returned to have sandwiches and drinks with the crew. Jane and Angel left with them the camelpaks and simply carried a 600ml bottle of water. At this checkpoint we did not verify in what position we stood.
Grants Picnic Ground to CP 4 Olinda Reserve (11.78Km) – 46.5 Km cumulativeWe farewelled our support crew knowing that we will be tackling the section we knew best and what we considered the most challenging section – where we have focused our training. As we crossed Monbulk road and entered the Clematis Track we knew we were progressing with confidence – we felt upbeat and made swift progress and in no time we reached the Sherbrooke Picnic Ground and went past the magnificent eucalypt tree that we had seen several times before. As I write these notes I must say I cant remember how we felt when we crossed the Alfred Nicholas garden – I think we were focused on what was coming ahead… Hackett Road. Psychologically we must have felt good as there is no distinctive recollection of this section. When we left the gardens and got into the Sassafras Creek Track, Kate missed a step and landed flat on the ground – a few minutes later she reported she was having trouble with one of her legs. Angel reminded her that it was around the same location where she had trouble in the same leg on that long session last February. When we saw a race marshal at the intersection of Sassafras and Peerick Creek roads, we asked the marshal for a floor mat so Kate could stretch. We all took advantage to stretch a bit then – this stop lasted approx 7 minutes. Then we started to walk again knowing that Hackett road was just around the corner.
We caught with the team that David called the Barbies – two of the girls were struggling. We saw them commencing fast and we caught up with them at several times up to then. This team and others (e.g. Canberra Boys, the Chinese, et al) we kept seeing each other during the course of the event. When we reached the top of Hackett Road Kate and Jane were talking to those girls who were having hip troubles. We continued towards Olinda and we walked the remaining 2.5kms to the Checkpoint. As we reached the checkpoint we saw our support crew who had laid out on a portable table a variety of sandwiches and drinks and were ready with the first aid kit.
Olinda Reserve to CP 5 Silvan Reservoir (11.78Km) – 54 Km cumulativeWhen we checked in and out at the Checkpoint we learnt that Robin Lennon’s team were in front of us by at least 12 kms. Our position had then dropped to mid forties. Angel changed runners and socks at this checkpoint and tended to his first blister in the right foot. The girls also attended to their legs and we all applied Vaseline. The only left remaining carrying the Camelbak was David. We stopped here for about 20minutes. We have agreed we were to run all the way to Olinda, as it was a steady descend most of the way. This is the section that in our long training session back in February Angel remembered the song ‘Do you know the way to San Jose’ – this is a very picturesque area. As we reached the halfway mark (at around 3.15pm) we stopped for a photo. This was around 3.20pm in the afternoon. Angel spoke via mobile to his three children who were leaving school at that time – this was an invigorating moment. David also called his children a few minutes later.
In this section we kept changing places with various teams but one team in particular got our attention due to its unusual name - ‘Two Poms, A Greek and a Yank’. They registered under the name of “Two Poms, a Yank and a Greek at the Rear” but Oxfam disallowed such a tactful name. They finished the event in front of us – an hour and a half earlier. About kilometre 5 in this section there was a steep descent on an open space and this was an opportunity to walk backwards so the calves could stretch a bit. There were so many teams doing the same.
Not long to go to the end of this section the girls had a toilet stop and the two boys had opportunity to stretch a bit and then we continued to run gently until we reached Silvan Reservoir Park, when we saw the evening support crew (Gabriel and Victor) who were there to greet us in a very euphoric manner – Latin style: loudly! Di and Vicky were also there Reaching this Checkpoint was very emotional and comforting at the same time. This was the moment of changeover of support crew. Di and Vicky were the best support crew team – gentle, diligent and very professional; they received so many calls on the day with our multiple requests. The support crew took some pictures of the team and a few minutes later we departed by walking up the hill. Before we left we thanked the day crew and we hugged them – a sad moment. This stopover lasted approximately 15 minutes.
Silvan Reservoir to CP 6 Graham Colling Reserve (8.5Km) – 63 Km cumulativeWe were not quiet sure where to go to – we glanced around and we saw some people walking through the gates so we decided to follow them. Up the road we saw a marshal who steered us in the right direction. We started to run but then we decided to walk as we approached a hill. We walked for the next hour or so – this was a section where I felt we slowed down too much and we did not take advantge of the descents for a gentle run. There was a long stretch along Kalamara where we felt so isolated – it was getting dark and the area was rather unhospitable. For a long while I was trying to make contact with the evening crew to no success. The state of isolation felt accentuated because of no mobile signal – Telstra network unavailable.
This section went for ever and ever. We felt deceived in this section because we thought that once we crossed Warburton Hwy we were close to the checkpoint – little did we know that we were approximately 2.5 kms away. By that stage we were running and Angel went in front to scout for the Checkpoint – the sign was not very visible. Once we saw the sign we detour and we were not sure how to proceed when we heard some familiar voices – the evening crew spotted us and they guided us through the Checkpoint. Prior to departure we
made arrangement to have warm food at this point. Gaby and Victor had minestrone soup and crusty bread ready for us. At this checkpoint Jane had a massage; we changed clothes and socks; got lights out. We had a brief conversation with the girls that we saw struggling in Hackett Road – they said that after they took Nurafen given by our day support crew their pain went away.
Graham Colling Reserve to CP 7 Worri Yallock (13Km) – 76 Km cumulativeBefore we departed we arranged for Gaby and Victor to meet us at CP7 and we requested for hamburgers, fish and chips for dinner. We also told them we were expecting to reach CP 7 by 9pm – certainly not before that time. We estimated it would take us a minimum of two and a half hours to get there. We traced our steps to the Warburton trail and we got there we turned left. We left the CP with other teams that we will continue to swap places over the next 13 kilometres. Our approach was to run 5 minutes and walk 10 minutes and Kate assumed the role of being the time keeper. Oh God! Kate’s light was the best – it shone all along for the next 24 kilometres! We called it the Gucci Light torch. We caught up with one of the teams that went in front of us when we left the CP – their approach was different to ours – they ran the first seven kms and were puffed out when we left them behind around kilometre 10. I kept telephone contact with our evening crew who went to have dinner at the local pub – they thought they had more time and they were very surprised when I told them we were at CP 7… Fortunately after checking in/out we went to First Aid to attend blisters. Jane went first and she had an expression of agony and uncertainty. This stop was marred by one incident we witnessed. One participant who was receiving medical attention was dumped by his team, as there were doubts about his fitness to continue. I heard him saying – with sadness – “I will not hold it against you” to the rest of his team. The three team members farewelled him and he was left in the stretcher, sitting straight with the heart rate monitor strapped to his upper body. After the podiatrist attended to Jane’s blisters she feared she could not continue – but knowing Jane she will turn a negative into a positive. It was the turn for Kate to receive foot attention and then Angel followed. David did not need any first aid attention. He was restless in any case – just dying to march on.
When we left the first aid room, we joined Gaby and Victor who had brought the biggest parcel of fish and chips. This stop lasted for about 45 minutes. It was here where we learnt that the first team had already crossed the finish line – Team Mutley won the event on a record time of 11h 26m.
Woori Yallock to CP 8 – Millwarra (14.5Km) – 90.5 Km cumulativeWhen we left the CP we were delayed to take another layer of clothing with us. As soon as we returned to the Warburton Track we ran for a while and then we walked the rest. We felt energised after the fish and chips although we were somewhat disillusioned we stopped for too long. This was the only occasion when I felt there was tension in the team – tiredness was getting the best of us. Somehow once we hit the road we felt more comfortable and we pressed on with the mission to finish on the time we anticipated. We were walking fast; probably it took us approximately over 40 minutes to get to the point where we crossed
Warburton Hwy at Launching Place. After that there was a long – very long – stretch which felt it went for ever and ever – made worse by the fact that we had no clear idea how far we have to go to reach Milwarra.
I have to say that during some stretches along all the course we did not travel the four of us together but were in pairs. Kate and Jane carried iPods whereas David and Angel did not.
Let’s return to something we said when we described our first section. We went pass kilometre 80 without anyone getting emotional; Jane did not utter emotions until kilometre 98 – but we shall cover that in a minute. We held our emotions pretty tight and the imminence of conquering our final destination was the most lasting point in this quest.
We had the sound of cows mooing for a while in this second last leg. We could hear it from the distance. There was nothing else worth noting in this section albeit to say it was dark and we did not have any other group within sight. When we reached Milwarra various marshals greeted us with applauses and gave us directions to the Checkpoint. This checkpoint was the one where we were quickest – in and out in a flash. We were told our position was 61st. Upon leaving this checkpoint we saw the arrival of other teams we had passed earlier on, including another team who we saw in the First Aid room in Checkpoint 7.
Millwarra to Finish – Wesburn (9.5Km) – 100 Km cumulativeBefore we left this Checkpoint Kate phoned Malcolm so he could drive to Wesburn
to collect us. We departed around 11.00 pm and we thought it would take us approximately one and a half to two hours to reach the final destination. We were enthused and feeling confidant although weary – the signs were visible: our facial expressions were long and stretched. The chattiness was gone. We crossed the highway and we returned to the Warburton track and continued along the next two kilometres on a flat course. Upon leaving the Warburton track we took the Backstairs track which was the start of a very long and oppressing uphill experience. We crossed a small bridge and we arrived to Dolly Grey Park and then a very steep climb followed for one kilometre. This was a very narrow path. Jane fell at one point in time but fortunately we were able to find a stick so she could have some comfort for the reminder of this section. At the top of the first hill, Angel reminded the others there was another steep climb to come – he was dismissed. Silence reigned with the team for the next few minutes. We felt we had conquered the worst – but little did we know this was a short lived situation because after a steep descent there was a humongous ascent which went on for another kilometre. As we approached this steep ascent with such trepidation we heard noises coming from behind. It was another team who was marching as if they were on military training – someone accompanied them, on a mountain bike, giving them precise and encouraging orders. Just imagine the sound of the marching in the middle of Mountain Joe. One of our team members muttered words to the effect of alerting us that they were overtaking us – they went pass us as we were struggled up the hill. Powerless we continued our slow and methodical progress. Jane was holding to her stick with such efficiency giving her critical support at that time.
During our second last hill ascent, Jane uttered some undecipherable words which prompted Angel to respond promptly– don’t stop, just walk. Jane vested her frustration as she made the stick disappear in the middle of the bushes. Kate and David were marching a few metres in front unaware of Jane’s last pour of emotion.
When we reached the top we turned right and we knew then we were not that
far away to the finish… then we came to a T-junction and we turned right again. At
this point in time we heard cheers – the team that overtook us had finished. We knew then we were only minutes away but we could not speed up because we had a steep descent, we walked with caution and concentrated hard to follow the path which was not very well identified. Eventually we made it and for the last two metres we run and run till we crossed the finish line. Kate sped off as she saw Malcolm - euphorically Angel followed her and they crossed the line; barely two seconds later David and Jane did the same.
Angels and Demons made history – finishing the 2007 Oxfam Trailwalker in 19 hours and 13 minutes. We went to the checkpoint desk and we received our certificates of completion.
The official result is that we finished on position 49th overall. Of those 658 teams that made it to the start, only 435 finished the event as a team of four. 338 walkers out of 2672 who started the event retired at various times.
At the end of the day we achieved our goal – take part in the 100 kilometre challenge as well as fundraise funds to support the work of one of Australia’s most cherished non-government aid organisations.
Post event conditionsWe all pulled relatively well after the event. It is natural that tiredness, sore legs and knees were in order. The most common injury was the blister. Last weekend was a time to rest. No running so far this week.
What’s the next challenge has been the question pondering a few people’s mind. To say the least, there is always the Melbourne Marathon. Who knows whether there is a repeat of the trailwalker – just to achieve a better time. We have been so happy this week. As time will go by we will be treasuring those moments with such fondness. Our families were happy to see us return in high spirits and in good health.
Labels: Dandenongs, Oxfam Trailwalker, Running, Yarra Valley
