2016 Peter Komidar’s Race Report: Race Run and Lessons Learnt

The Sri Chinmoy 103 was my first ever 100 km race. So far this year, I’ve run a few marathons and a couple of 50 km ultras. But I’ve never actually run further than 54 km in my entire life and 54 km is not 103 km. Not even remotely.

Or to put it another way, I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn’t know if my training had been sufficient. I didn’t know if my nutrition plan was adequate. And I didn’t have the faintest idea whether my race plan was even ballpark.

So for me the SC103 would be a great lesson in running an ultra.

First Stage: Rond Terraces to Mt Taylor: Race Plan Rookie Errors

I now know that you can make a lot of errors when running a marathon or a 50 km ultra that don’t catch up with you because by the time the seeds you’ve sown have grown, flowered and born fruit, you are already beyond the finish line having steak, chips and a beer. But in a 103 km ultra there’s plenty of time to bring in your harvest and believe me, you’re gonna dine out on that fruit!

What errors? Well in this part of the race I made two key mistakes.

Firstly, I went out too fast. I knew I was going too fast. I even recited Hal Koerner’s mantra “if you think you are going too slow at the start of a race, slow down!” But nearly everyone was shooting along at a sub-six minute pace – when I had planned to run the first stage at between 6:30 and 7:00. I figured that they must know something I didn’t, so I upped my pace.

Secondly, I have this thing …. I love running downhill fast, particularly on technical trails. It’s the number one thing I love about running. And I just can’t avoid indulging myself in this habit. And the downhill at Isaac’s Ridge is particularly technical and particularly steep. It just begged to be conquered. And as I mentioned before – in all the other races I’d previously run, flying downhill had caused me no problems. Not so for a 103 km race it turns out.

Second Stage: Mt Taylor to the Arboretum: Bring on the Sugar

According to my race plan, the second stage was where I would slowly stretch out, building up the pace and getting in that ‘business as usual’ frame of mind. Only, my legs were feeling a bit tight and running down hill wasn’t as appealing anymore. I let up the pace a little and hoped the kinks would work themselves out. Remember those seeds. They were sprouting and growing just fine thank you very much.

By the time I reached the Transition Point 2 was way more sore and tired than I should have been. And that brings me to my nutrition plan. I won’t bore you with the technical details. But long story short, because of this growing tiredness I decided to throw out the plan and eat sugar instead. It would be a carb-driven second half … and I don’t normally eat sugar! In a long race, the thing with gels and lemonade and lollies is, they make you feel queasy. So now I had something else to add to my growing list of bodily complaints. But hey, they give you energy.

Third Stage – Arboretum to Hackett: The Wheels Fall Off

The first half of this stage has some super technical trails and according to my race plan, the fun of running the trails would mitigate feeling the wear and tear on the body. In practice, by the time I got to the top of Black Mountain and started the decent, my quads had blown and my calves were occasionally spasming. I couldn’t run down hill. And those technical trails, forget it, I didn’t have the control over my feet necessary for that stuff. So I just bit down on that bitter fruit and slugged it out. And if truth be told I almost DNFed several times. Oh I had it all worked out. As soon as I got to a road I’d ring my wife and get her to pick me up. But I still kept running and slowly, almost imperceptibly, my legs got better. Soon I was running at an acceptable pace, especially once I got to the bike paths. Take that Black Dog!

Fourth Stage – Hackett to the Finish Line: Matters of Mind Over Matter

As I left the third Transition Point, I seriously doubted I would be able to finish. But still I kept running. Well more like fast walking at this point. You see, I could run on the flats but uphill was too exhausting and downhill was agony. So I ran where I could and power walked the hills. Once I got to the summit of Mt Majura I began experimenting with my gait. Surely there was some way of running downhill that didn’t hurt. And finally, I found that if I ran with baby steps there was little if any pain. And once I started to run I was able to keep running. Of course, I was in no shape to run up Mt Ainslie, but the rest I could do. Not fast. But it was running and for the first time since the Telstra Tower, I thought I might just finish this race.

And so 13 hours and 38 minutes after starting, I crossed the finish line. And what a surprise it was when I received the trophy for second 50+ male and seventh solo runner overall!

Conclusion – Its Not What You Know, Its Who You Know.

So despite my many mistakes, I made it. But apart for my bloody mindedness, real responsibility for that rests not with the guy making all the mistakes, but with two other people.

My support crew (aka my wife Sharon) who was there at every Transition Point, feeding me, making sure I had everything in order, and packing me off again with encouraging words. She’s a marvel!

And also my pacer, Chris Toyne. Before the race, I thought the job of a pacer was to make sure I didn’t get lost and to gee me up if I needed it. Chris proved that a good pacer can do so much more. Sure, he engaged me in chat to take my mind off my aching body. But I’m a shy introvert and Chris didn’t try to fill all the awkward empty spaces with words. Chris would remind me every 40 or so minutes that I needed to chug down another revolting gel (my stomach was in open revolt at this stage). When he thought I could go a little faster he would just start running a little bit ahead of me. Nothing said. And invariably I’d pick up the pace, most of the time without even noticing. And as we were running down Mt Ainslie in the dark, he was in front, pointing out steps, rocks and bumps in the path which my addled brain might not pick up.

So in the end I made it. But without Sharon or Chris, I’m sure my mistakes would have well and truly caught up with me.

Results (PDF Download)

Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Ultra (103km), 25 September 2016 – full results by category 780.42 KB

Sri Chinmoy Canberra Trail Ultra (103km), 25 September 2016 – full results overall 767.59 KB

Race Photos

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The character of a race is partly formed by its course, terrain and distance. Mostly though, it is forged by the aspiration, character and personality of its participants, its real champions.

Central to a trail race of more than 100km are the solo runners, the dauntless adventurers who brave sometimes extreme physical suffering, mental pain and emotional struggles, bending their whole beings to the service of the spirit’s victory. The face of every solo finisher told a unique story of deep courage, intense aspiration and personal triumph. Regardless of time or rank, the fragrance of heroic deeds lingers all around the course: at every summit reached, every mile achieved, ever smile offered, every forward step taken. It was noticeable that those who were most appreciative of the efforts of the finishing solo runners, were the other solo runners: for only those who have been through the fire together can truly understand and appreciate the sacrifice, faith and commitment taken to reach that ultimate summit – the finish line.

In the few brief years of its existence, Pam Muston has embraced this race like her own child. Winning a race from the Over 50s division is a rare and remarkable feat: to do so 2 years in a row is the stuff of legends. Pam’s performance resounded with experience – starting at a more conservative pace, and maintaining that pace throughout. Yet she also showed the value of loving what you are doing: by committing herself wholeheartedly and unreservedly to the course and the race, at the finish she was positively radiating, looking fresher and sprightlier than any other finisher, team runners included.

With what would be described in horse racing as a “heavy track”, times were inevitably slower across the day. The effects of sustained rain in Canberra over several months has left the ground in part soft, sodden and slushy with occasional puddles up to shin height. Mud-clad shoes, a slippery tread and more cautious gait all contributed to a slower pace throughout.

After a wet week, organisers were blessed with two fine days – essential for applying paint to dirt – in which to mark the course, and a cool, fine race day in which the only real hint of rain came in the form of a glorious rainbow in the late afternoon, like a benediction over Mt Ainslie as runners streamed up, over and down this noble sentinel of Central Canberra.

Andy Isbister, hailing from the Megalong Valley and used to ups and downs as well as some slosh, was not planning or expecting to take a major trophy home from today’s exertions: however in a classic movie-script of “nice guy wins”, Andy toughed out some bleak moments to finish exalted with his win. Despite making up 14 minutes over the last 2 legs, Chris Oliver couldn’t quite reel in Tim Shakespeare for second place, Tim holding a 2-minute buffer at the close.

The effervescent Gemma Worland led the women’s race for most of the day, until the twin peaks of Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie loomed Alp-like to thwart her charge. Fiona Renshaw had more left in the tank and took the lead to win the Female Under 50s wreathed in smiles.

Glen Gielissen had set the pace early, leading allcomers, leaving everything out on the course and no “what-ifs”, eventually easing a little back through the field but still taking out the Male Over 50s from a faster-finishing Peter Komidar.

It is somewhat random to single out the category winners for special mention, as every finisher is indeed a winner in so many ways, often overcoming greater obstacles and hardship than the more fleet of foot. So let’s pause and salute you all [cue drumroll…]: Pam Muston, Glen Gielissen, Peter Komidar, Geoff Barnes, Tony Tsoi, Fiona Renshaw, Gemma Worland, Jackie Luethi, Cheryl Symons, Andy Isbister, Tim Shakespeare, Chris Oliver, Daren McClellan, Brett Easton, Aaron Flower, Alastair Lang, Robert Murray, Michael Manfield, Damien Stewart, Stephen Kiley, Jamie Dyball, Adam Edwards and Aaron Bowling.

Meanwhile, in a parallel universe coexisting on the same course, the relay teams were having their own battles, joys and disappointments.

Our vote for stand-out team of the day – and most apt team name of the day – goes to “Mountains are Molehills”, the winning All-Female outfit of Clare Lonergan, Elly Love, Julie Quinn and Leanne Wilkinson. Kudos for defeating ALL the All-Male teams. Second was another fast combo of Sally Parker, Kate Vandenberg, Melissa Carters and Kate Chipperfield, “The Kate’s and Mel the ringleader”.

Line honours – and first Mixed Team – went to the impressive line-up of “Massage One ACT”, with three very fast gentlemen in Sam Burridge, Scott Imhoff and Wayne Corlis being supplemented by former ACT Triathlon Champ, Michelle Wu running the long 30km leg. “Sparrows 1” were next in with Charlotte Burgoyne, Jacob Mugavin, Liam Lilley and Jason Agostino returning a fine race.

The All-Male Teams, as is often the case, produced a great tussle, with “BMMC - Floating Goldfish” (Ben Berriman, Brett Phelan, Tony Kelshaw and Anthony Tuting) and “Once were cyclists” (yes their name is an accurate description) comprising George Bunt, James Meadley, Allan Sieper and Etienne Blumstein-Jones, going into the last leg almost neck-and-neck after 80km of slugging it out, only for the former cyclists to find the extra required in the final push for home.

The one comment heard more than any other at the finish line was: “Please thank all the volunteers; they were fantastic!” We couldn’t agree more – a huge cheer of gratitude for all the volunteer aid station attendants, road crossing marshals and transition officials, including Tom Landon-Smith, Carinna Tong, Peter Lockey, Nic Bendeli, Phil & Belinda Essam, Billly Pearce, Rhian Blackwell, Jon Schol, Rosemary Morgan, Ulricke Schumann, Michael Thompson, Sarah Murphy, Sue & Norm and the many helpers from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team of Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. Our very special gratitude to Dave Osmond, who rode the entire course in advance of the lead runner, to check on and replace missing course markings – a critical and priceless service. Thanks also to our medical staff of Bradley Close, Bruce Faraday and Michael Corrigan from Sports Medicine Australia.

Enjoy this video from Peter Komidar, solo runner...

in 2017, Canberra will turn 104 …