Published results are provisional. Please advise any errors or anomalies to canberra@srichinmoyraces.org
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Susan Marshall reports, from amid the 16.4km field: This morning’s race took place on two of Canberra’s tallest mountains, our pride and joy. Ainslie, the pride – overlooking the lake, parliament and carefully laid lines of the city. Majura, the joy – wild and natural, steep faces preserving a hidden origin, icy and secretive in winter, blooming and teeming in summer. The course journeyed along lesser travelled paths into spots of shy and secret beauty living separate and unbeknownst to many.
The army taking on the 16.4km course was 170 strong. It broke away at the start like a herd of stallions. The long wide stretch of the first kilometre seeded the field. We gathered into small families, passing and being passed as our strengths and weaknesses played out upon the terrain. The first single trail geared slowly up Mount Ainslie. Near the summit the ascent steepened. As though slamming into a brick wall our speed was knocked back. Hunched with arms on thigh bones, levering ourselves upward, we eventually crested the rise. The toughest part of the course was over, but reserves were relinquished and there was much to come.
Caution is advisable descending. With rocks, roots, and overgrowth cutting visibility concentration was imperative, but still we chased each other down the hill. With no time to think, eyes and attention locked on the path, we took ground where we could. Accelerating on small rises and braking on descents we bounced, trudged, ran and walked up the second mountain. Finally down, the Hackett Houses track deceived with an air of civility, twists and turns concealing its long road to the finish line. This was the last opportunity to advance in the field, spurring on any contenders not completely spent, the wide trail an open book for the final sprint.
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Congratulations and gratitude to all who participated in any way on this superb morning – runners, helpers, officials and spectators/wellwishers. Any memorable experience is always a team effort, relying equally on the input of all involved, no matter their role.
Particular commendation to all who set new course records today:
* Petra Mossop took 3 minutes off her own fantastic time from last year, perfectly embodying the spirit of self-transcendence to win the 16.4km race in 1:15:54
* Fleur Flanery showed she has not been hiding under a bush, and is enjoying superb form with her new F50-59 best time for the 16.4km of 1:26:29
* Pam Muston made it a clean sweep of records today for the women’s 16.4km age divisions, besting her own course record with a dazzling 1:37:10
* Ian Prosser took away one of Trevor Jacobs’ numerous records, setting a new M60-69 fastest time for the 16.4km of 1:28:13
* Trevor Jacobs made up for one lost record by adding a new one for the M70+ in the 8.3km race, with 49:17
* Elizabeth Simpson was the only female to eclipse their age group records in the 8.3km, setting an express new best of 53:11
* Thomas Dempster’s 8:22 is now the fastest time for the Boys Under 17 category in the 2km
* Rohan Tankey established a new record of 9:27 for the Male 17 and Over in the 2km
