Sri Chinmoy Running & Fitness Festival: 4 km Results

Williamstown, 31 May 2009

First name	Last name	Gender	Age category	Finish time	Overall position	Gender position	Category position
Michael	JOHNSON	Male	18-39	0:14:07	1	1	1
Tim	DORNOM	Male	18-39	0:14:40	2	2	2
Chris	LITTLE	Male	18-39	0:15:23	3	3	3
Aaron	POOLEY	Male	18-39	0:15:39	4	4	4
York	REBECCA	Female	18-39	0:16:41	5	1	1
Steve	MCINTOSH	Male	50-59	0:17:23	6	5	1
Michael	SUTPHIN	Male	18-39	0:17:36	7	6	5
David	CLARK	Male	40-49	0:17:43	8	7	1
Bronwyn	MORRIS	Female	40-49	0:18:25	9	2	1
Nathan	PEARCE	Male	U15	0:18:33	10	8	1
Alexandra	D'AGOSTIN	Female	15-17	0:18:40	11	3	1
John	CUSTO	Male	50-59	0:18:50	12	9	2
Katrina	LANCE	Female	40-49	0:18:57	13	4	2
Jeffrey	ELIOTT	Male	50-59	0:19:07	14	10	3
Scott	PETER	Male	18-39	0:19:09	15	11	6
Jen	KLEINIG	Female	40-49	0:19:23	16	5	3
Damian	MARTIN	Male	U15	0:19:33	17	12	2
Monique	PROTOPOPOV	Female	18-39	0:19:37	18	6	2
Kathryn	VISSER	Female	18-39	0:19:59	19	7	3
Ben	FROST	Male	18-39	0:20:01	20	13	7
Colin	MARTIN	Male	60-69	0:20:05	21	14	1
Mari	ROOKANGAS	Female	18-39	0:20:07	22	8	4
Michele	PAULL	Female	18-39	0:20:09	23	9	5
Tom	PORTELLI	Male	U15	0:20:21	24	15	3
Andy	BROAD	Male	18-39	0:20:27	25	16	8
Kathy	ZAHRA	Female	18-39	0:20:33	26	10	6
Christina	HANSON	Female	18-39	0:20:34	27	11	7
Chris	STACEY	Male	50-59	0:20:40	28	17	4
Britz	LUCA	Female	18-39	0:20:40	29	12	8
Steve	SHEALES	Male	18-39	0:20:44	30	18	9
Birty	WEAVEN-CAHILL	Female	15-17	0:20:49	31	13	2
Shonel	SMYTH	Female	18-39	0:20:58	32	14	9
Caitlin	BRYERS	Female	15-17	0:21:00	33	15	3
Daniel	CHIRCOP	Male	18-39	0:21:04	34	19	10
Darren	TIMMS	Male	18-39	0:21:11	35	20	11
Heath	GRANT	Male	18-39	0:21:14	36	21	12
Liam	HUMPHREYS	Male	U15	0:21:29	37	22	4
Glenn	BECK	Male	18-39	0:21:49	38	23	13
Shona	MCBRIDE	Female	18-39	0:22:04	39	16	10
Cynthia	MURRAY	Female	18-39	0:22:17	41	18	12
Jessica	COLLINS	Female	18-39	0:22:17	40	17	11
Andrew	DAWES	Male	18-39	0:22:26	42	24	14
Cameron	STARK	Male	18-39	0:22:36	43	25	15
Luke	BOWMAN	Male	18-39	0:22:38	44	26	16
Simon	DREW	Male	18-39	0:22:40	45	27	17
Anthony	ADAMS	Male	18-39	0:22:41	46	28	18
Chris	MULLER	Male	40-49	0:22:43	47	29	2
Kathy	DORIA	Female	40-49	0:22:47	48	19	4
Barry	YORK	Male	50-59	0:22:49	49	30	5
David	MCDONALD	Male	18-39	0:22:58	50	31	19
Corrie	LUCK	Female	18-39	0:23:01	51	20	13
Simon	MAGLIA	Male	40-49	0:23:04	52	32	3
Natalie	COLLARD	Female	18-39	0:23:13	54	22	15
Nicola	WONG	Female	18-39	0:23:13	53	21	14
Rod	HEALEY	Male	60-69	0:23:35	55	33	2
Tessa	WALKENHORST	Female	18-39	0:23:38	56	23	16
Elizabeth	KNOWLES	Female	50-59	0:23:39	57	24	1
Anna	MEIJERINK	Female	18-39	0:23:39	58	25	17
Kiahann	NAMANA	Female	U15	0:23:43	60	26	1
Anthony	NAMANA	Male	40-49	0:23:43	59	34	4
Melissa	PITT	Female	18-39	0:23:48	61	27	18
Tracy	CONSTANTINOU	Female	40-49	0:23:56	62	28	5
Erin	NORRISH	Female	18-39	0:24:11	63	29	19
Donna	CREEK	Female	18-39	0:24:11	64	30	20
Mark	STRACEY	Male	18-39	0:24:15	65	35	20
Meridee	FLOWER	Female	40-49	0:24:32	66	31	6
Gary	SHAW	Male	50-59	0:24:32	67	36	6
Johann	SHAW	Female	50-59	0:24:32	68	32	2
Jane	THOMAS	Female	18-39	0:24:35	69	33	21
Jacqui	TAYLOR	Female	18-39	0:24:40	70	34	22
Greg	WIBON	Male	50-59	0:24:41	72	37	7
Sian	ROSSJOHN	Female	U15	0:24:41	71	35	2
Santina	FORSYTH	Female	40-49	0:24:57	73	36	7
Ian	DELANEY	Male	50-59	0:25:08	74	38	8
Roger	MACKERTICH	Male	18-39	0:25:13	75	39	21
Loren	LAUDER	Female	18-39	0:25:14	76	37	23
Jessica	LAZZORO	Female	18-39	0:25:16	77	38	24
Mitchell	RAFFERTY	Male	18-39	0:25:17	78	40	22
Rebecca	MAR	Female	18-39	0:25:20	79	39	25
Shelley	DEAN	Female	18-39	0:25:23	80	40	26
Anne	GABRIEL	Female	18-39	0:25:24	81	41	27
Alysha	YACONO	Female	U15	0:25:30	82	42	3
Julian	YACONO	Male	18-39	0:25:31	84	41	23
Tania	RICKMAN	Female	18-39	0:25:31	83	43	28
Teresa	FITZGERALD	Female	18-39	0:25:32	85	44	29
Damon	GWILLIM	Male	18-39	0:25:34	86	42	24
Mayra	LANDY-ALLISTON	Female	18-39	0:25:38	87	45	30
Melvin	SATAGUNAM	Male	18-39	0:25:39	88	43	25
Paige	BRADEY	Female	18-39	0:25:41	89	46	31
Finn	MILLAR	Male	U15	0:25:46	90	44	5
Kerry	DELANEY	Female	40-49	0:25:48	91	47	8
Amelia	WILSON	Female	15-17	0:25:51	92	48	4
Jude	REYNOLDS	Female	18-39	0:25:56	94	50	33
Rebecca	MILES	Female	18-39	0:25:56	93	49	32
Samantha	WOODGATE	Female	18-39	0:25:58	96	52	35
Caroline	JEWELL	Female	18-39	0:25:58	95	51	34
Robyn	SINGLETON	Female	40-49	0:26:00	97	53	9
Anna	MCLAY	Female	18-39	0:26:02	98	54	36
Scott	MINNIKIN	Male	18-39	0:26:04	99	45	26
Norma	OBEID	Female	18-39	0:26:04	100	55	37
Kylie	VAN DEN HEUVEL	Female	18-39	0:26:06	101	56	38
Fiona	BAILEY	Female	18-39	0:26:07	102	57	39
Jane	TRUONG	Female	18-39	0:26:08	103	58	40
Phil	GODFREY	Male	50-59	0:26:09	104	46	9
Sharon	MCLEAN	Female	18-39	0:26:10	105	59	41
Kimberley	STEVENS	Female	40-49	0:26:17	106	60	10
Casper	DEKKER	Male	40-49	0:26:18	107	47	5
Max	DEKKER	Male	U15	0:26:18	108	48	6
Danielle	BARBETTA	Female	18-39	0:26:36	109	61	42
Nigel	PENNY	Male	18-39	0:26:36	110	49	27
David	MILES	Male	18-39	0:26:43	111	50	28
Sherryn	PICKERING	Female	18-39	0:26:59	112	62	43
Silvana	MARRO	Female	40-49	0:27:01	113	63	11
Debra	JOHANSEN	Female	50-59	0:27:08	114	64	3
Mairi	BARTON	Female	18-39	0:27:09	115	65	44
Sonia	MILLEN	Female	18-39	0:27:14	116	66	45
Lyndsay	MANDARU	Female	18-39	0:27:18	117	67	46
Christine	EWERT	Female	40-49	0:27:20	118	68	12
Clint	MURPHY	Male	18-39	0:27:21	119	51	29
Georgia	MADDEN	Female	18-39	0:27:23	120	69	47
Dallas	SURACE	Female	18-39	0:27:30	121	70	48
Natasha	RUTLEDGE	Female	18-39	0:27:37	123	72	50
Cherie	COTTEE	Female	18-39	0:27:37	122	71	49
Keily	PUDDICK	Female	40-49	0:27:39	124	73	13
Shavina	WILSON	Female	18-39	0:27:42	125	74	51
Joanna	DOBSON	Female	18-39	0:27:42	126	75	52
Jo	LOSCHIAVO	Female	18-39	0:27:44	127	76	53
Renee	JENKINS	Female	18-39	0:27:44	128	77	54
Julie	GALBRAITH	Female	18-39	0:27:45	129	78	55
Kellie	MCDONALD	Female	18-39	0:27:46	130	79	56
Helen	WALSH	Female	50-59	0:27:47	131	80	4
Lara	SRBINOVSKI	Female	18-39	0:27:48	132	81	57
Emily	MILLAR	Female	U15	0:27:51	133	82	4
Courtney	ZLATIC	Female	18-39	0:27:59	134	83	58
Zofia	WITKOWSKI-BLAKE	Female	U15	0:28:00	137	85	5
Daniel	WITTON	Male	40-49	0:28:00	136	52	6
Teresa	BLAKE	Female	40-49	0:28:00	135	84	14
Christine	PHILLIPS	Female	50-59	0:28:02	138	86	5
Toni-Ann	DOWD	Female	18-39	0:28:11	139	87	59
Kylie	BURKE	Female	18-39	0:28:22	140	88	60
Naomi	EDREES	Female	18-39	0:28:38	141	89	61
Wendy	CREBBIN	Female	60-69	0:28:43	142	90	1
Yvette	VARDY	Female	18-39	0:28:44	143	91	62
Amanda	OLIVER	Female	40-49	0:28:47	144	92	15
Kylie	NATHAN	Female	40-49	0:28:48	145	93	16
Sarah	SOUMILAS	Female	18-39	0:28:49	146	94	63
Peter	MUELLER	Male	50-59	0:28:53	147	53	10
Sarah	MCPHEE	Female	18-39	0:28:53	148	95	64
Dennis	BINEGAS	Male	18-39	0:28:54	149	54	30
Genevieve	DENNIS	Female	18-39	0:28:56	150	96	65
Irene	CICALA	Female	40-49	0:29:11	151	97	17
Deanne	WARREN	Female	18-39	0:29:11	152	98	66
Bronwyn	SIMMONS	Female	18-39	0:29:15	153	99	67
Caroline	CONNER	Female	18-39	0:29:18	154	100	68
Herbert	DETLEFSEN	Male	60-69	0:29:31	155	55	3
Eeleng	CHANG	Female	18-39	0:29:38	156	101	69
Carlene	ILGAZ	Female	40-49	0:29:45	157	102	18
Shakira	THORNELLI	Female	U15	0:29:47	158	103	6
Callum	FUREY	Male	U15	0:29:49	159	56	7
Peter	FUREY	Male	40-49	0:29:50	160	57	7
Michelle	FLETCHER	Female	18-39	0:29:52	161	104	70
Ashley	CARR	Female	18-39	0:29:57	162	105	71
Helen	MILLAR	Female	40-49	0:30:00	163	106	19
James	PEUTRILL	Male	U15	0:30:08	164	58	8
Frances	GOOD	Female	18-39	0:30:09	165	107	72
Denise	TURNER	Female	40-49	0:30:20	166	108	20
Lillian	COVENTRY	Female	18-39	0:30:20	167	109	73
Emma	MCGUINESS	Female	18-39	0:30:31	168	110	74
Kelly	CAIRNS	Female	18-39	0:30:45	169	111	75
Pip	STOCKS	Female	18-39	0:30:49	171	113	77
Sophie	DOYLE	Female	18-39	0:30:49	170	112	76
Elisha	SQUIRES	Female	18-39	0:30:50	172	114	78
Tianni	THORNELLI	Female	15-17	0:30:53	173	115	5
Carole	IRVING	Female	40-49	0:30:53	174	116	21
Faye	OBEID	Female	18-39	0:31:15	175	117	79
Susan	SMIDT	Female	40-49	0:31:18	176	118	22
Samantha	BAKER	Female	18-39	0:31:19	177	119	80
Cheryl	HOVEY	Female	40-49	0:31:22	178	120	23
Callum	PEUTRILL	Male	U15	0:31:26	179	59	9
Simon	PEUTRILL	Male	50-59	0:31:28	180	60	11
Catherine	HAYES	Female	40-49	0:31:45	181	121	24
Matthew	HOWLETT	Male	18-39	0:31:54	182	61	31
Mia	COATSWORTH	Female	18-39	0:32:05	183	122	81
Jessica	ENGLISH	Female	18-39	0:32:07	184	123	82
Joanne	ROHO	Female	40-49	0:32:08	185	124	25
Lara	HILLIER	Female	18-39	0:32:18	186	125	83
Kathryn	MUIR	Female	18-39	0:32:20	187	126	84
Felix	DERRICK	Male	18-39	0:32:26	188	62	32
Keighley	SUTHERLAND	Female	18-39	0:32:28	189	127	85
Alicia	PYKE	Female	18-39	0:32:36	190	128	86
Vinny	SHARP	Female	40-49	0:33:02	191	129	26
Priyanthi	GAMAGE	Female	18-39	0:33:34	192	130	87
Terri	CARBIS	Female	18-39	0:34:38	193	131	88
Sarah	SMITH	Female	18-39	0:34:49	194	132	89
Noah	GILBERT	Male	U15	0:34:56	195	63	10
Emma	BEAZLEY	Female	18-39	0:34:57	196	133	90
Sandra	GILBERT	Female	40-49	0:35:00	197	134	27
Nola	CLARKE	Female	60-69	0:35:18	198	135	2
Kerrie	CLARKE-WAKELING	Female	18-39	0:35:19	199	136	91
Marlene	MCGRATH	Female	60-69	0:35:22	200	137	3
Kirston	JOHNSON	Female	18-39	0:35:57	201	138	92
Patrice	BOTTCHER	Female	18-39	0:36:27	202	139	93
Lisa	GUZZARDI	Female	40-49	0:37:44	203	140	28
Paul	SCOFIELD	Male	50-59	0:38:50	205	64	12
Gish	FEINMAN	Female	40-49	0:38:50	204	141	29
Scott	KINDRED	Female	40-49	0:38:53	206	142	30
Novra	ALKARRANI	Female	18-39	0:39:17	207	143	94
Rosemary	WATSON	Female	60-69	0:39:25	208	144	4
Zara	GILBERT	Female	U15	0:39:26	209	145	7
John	GILBERT	Male	40-49	0:39:27	210	65	8
Paula	WILLIAMS	Female	18-39	0:39:40	211	146	95
Bez	ROBERTSON	Female	60-69	0:41:40	212	147	5
Sue	HANKS	Female	40-49	0:43:25	213	148	31
Morgan	ROSE	Female	18-39	0:43:56	214	149	96
Tania	MCNAIR	Female	18-39	0:43:57	215	150	97
Jane	SULICICH	Female	40-49	0:45:29	216	151	32
Annette	LUCK	Female	50-59	0:45:30	217	152	6
Marita	JACOBSSON	Female	18-39	0:48:53	218	153	98
Chrissy	LAGOS	Female	U15	0:48:53	219	154	8
Georgia	LAGOS	Female	U15	0:48:59	220	155	9
Effie	LAGOS	Female	18-39	0:48:59	221	156	99
Velerie	MAHONY	Female	18-39	0:52:58	222	157	100
Christine	FARMERK	Female	18-39	0:59:59	223	158	101

Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team articles - more articles

Background: Years ago, when I first started to dabble in triathlon, I heard of a race around the Thredbo and Jindabyne area and thought I would prefer that to the more clinical road based events. I think it was run only once or twice though and I had to wait until this event was staged to have an opportunity to test myself in a longer off-road event as a soloist.

In the meantime I gained a wife, mortgage, two kids and a bigger workload at the office. Having read winner Jody Zerbst's 2005 race report, I thought my story, told from the position of tail end of the field of the 2006 race, might balance the perspective. Lead up I only entered the event on the cut-off date as I was really unsure if I could finish and didn't want to look like a basket case on the day. I rang Prachar who said some of the individuals would be slow and even some of the teams were really not serious athletes and I should be fine.

I found out at registration that there would be only three solo open males, one woman and one 50+ male. This was well down last year 20+ solos and made me wonder why people weren't backing up again this year. It meant I could stand on the podium for the first time in my life if I finished.

Preparation
Having done an Ironman race 12 years ago, I knew a nutrition plan would be wise but I just never got around to it. I never found the time to test different foods on training days. The other shortcoming was not training with any form of electrolyte drink. On race day I set up one hydration backpack for the kayak with Gatorade and one for the run/bike with water and with a standby supply of gels and bars. Also made up some jam and peanut butter sandwiches the night before. A spare tube and tool kit would be added to the backpack for the bike legs.

Swim 1
All solo competitors met and shook hands before the race started. This felt strange, but as there were only 5 all up it made sense. The five soloists had roughly a 10 minute head start. The sun had yet to crest the hill East of Jindabyne, but the first marker was visible off in the distance. The water felt warm enough in my wetsuit that had not been used in two years. It was an uneventful casual swim for me, unlike that of the two team swimmers who came steaming past me near the finish, who were competing for the win and did a 18:30 for the 1.5k. Warning lightswhen on when my calves cramped getting wetsuit off.

Paddle 1
Afterwards my helper Adam commented that he thought I looked drunk as I struggled to get positioned into my kayak. I then proceeded to carve a semi circle with the rudder stuck in full right lock. Once these things were sorted I headed out into tranquil waters in what was the easiest leg of the day. Actually able to overtake a couple of people as well as being overtaken myself. Drink a bit of Gatorade. When Buzz from Cruising Studs came past at about halfway I was able to sit on her wake for 5-10 min and use her as a gauge until a decision had to be made about going around a sand spit or to portage. The portage looked more popular and direct (no faster in the end). No chair or towel or real transition planning meant wiping my sandy feet off on my running shirt. Ate a banana and headed out.

Run 1
Conditions were great for running. With a single digit race number on my back (#2) I started to receive encouragement from other competitors, a trend that really did make a difference throughout the day. Managed to overtake one team person and was overtaken by half a dozen. The course was hillier than I thought it would be and running past the finish to do the extra loop down along the lakeshore was dispiriting. Drank water and had an energy bar.

Ride 1
Having ridden this section in January, I thought a bike with more travel would be quicker over the more technical sections. The Kona Stinky felt a bit heavy riding up the first hill, but I tried to have a bit of fun with a couple the little ramps and ledges on the course. Had a banana and 1.5 gels, with .5 of one ending up all over brake lever. Overtook two team riders but was overtaken by half a dozen, many of which had encouraging comments to give. Again transitioned in dirt, tried to choke down a jam sandwich and only managed a few bites. Not really hungry- more like a bit queasy.

Swim 2
Ran the 200 metres barefoot to the water edge and noticed people coming down to collect their swimmer's shoes and thought gee that was good thinking. I forgot to zip my wettie and was helped by the wife of another soloist who had just departed. I had meant to buy some new goggles in the weeks leading up to the race and never got around to it. My 2yr had taken the clips off mine- meaning I had to tie them together. Leaking goggles meant stopping to clear the water out every 5 minutes. Started to experience toe cramps, and my arms and felt cold even though the water was warm enough. Strange. Tried to relax legs as much as possible and cramps went away. Once on shore the shivers and chattering teeth started. Try to eat sandwich- manage a few bites before it falls in the dirt. A woman waiting for her team's swimmer to come in said it was OK and that"Egyptians teeth were ground down from eating so much sand". Crowds noticeably smaller now.

Paddle 2
I count 5 swimmers behind me as I began the paddle, which was uneventful with smooth conditions. Look longingly at the water skiers and thinking that might be a more fun thing to do today. Able to drink a bit of Gatorade. Get overtaken by two kayaks and a ski. Not sure where to go? I can see the flash of sunlight off paddles in the distance. Some seem to be heading right, some left. Eventually I can see people veering more left to what I am told later is a slightly different transition point from the year before. This lake is hard to navigate as the foreshore is all sand and boulders without much in the way of landmarks. Adam has set up 100m away from finish chute and scrambles over with the bike and other gear when I ask nicely upon approach to"bring the #@*# over here".

Ride 2
This ride was supposed to be about 25 minutes according to people who had done it before. The first few hundred meters of sand at the start seemed to be eating big chunks out of this time for me, particularly after a minor stack in the soft stuff. I look back up the paddle course and think I make it four paddlers still coming in. This leg is on private property and I had not attempted it in practice. It was marked well however, and easy to follow. Overtaken by one rider just as I started to talk to the cows on the track. Understood better what it was to have a"tough hide" when riding up the cow track through waist high thistles that mustn't worry the cows but were annoying my skinny little legs.

Run 2
Had a cup of coke, a top up of water bladder, a banana, and a smear of Vaseline under the armpits before heading down to the Thredbo River. Ihad walked a couple of the switchbacks when running this track in practice and fully intended on doing the same today. Legs feel fine, but pulse seems too high for the effort and end up walking every hill section. Energy starting to flag. Low point of the day, feeling dehydrated and nauseous and getting cramps in my jaw of all places. Overtaken by two team runners, the second points out a red bellied black snake and we chat for awhile waiting for it to cross the track. He is complaining about cramps but I am just wishing I could eat something substantial. My practice of this run leg took 40min up to Sawpit Creek and 36min for the loop. Today I was at over an hour and counting and was still looking for the transition. Once there, at first I wonder why nobody is in compound and then remember it has moved down the road. Luckily there is a water stop so I fill my bladder and head up the 6k loop. Overtaken by two more team runners. The loop takes :50, not :36 when I jogged it before. Have a couple of cups of warm tropical Pepsi and speak to wife on phone."Yes, taking it easy, yes, will pull out if I feel sick. Don't worry so much. It is almost over anyway"

Ride 3
The night before the race I saw an interview with a Commonwealth Games swimmer who repeated her mantra"focus on the process, not the results". I was at a point in the race (8 hrs) where to finish, I couldn't think of how much still had to be done and adopted this for myself. This ride was therefore broken down into the climb, the descent, and the undulations. I met the hastily derived goal to never stop turning over the legs on the climb, enjoyed the descent on the bitumen and really felt through the shoulders the descent on the corrugated section. Overtaken by the last team rider. I was now on my own. Tried to ride in a very conservative way in case I end up injured down an embankment. Had to push up a few of the hills. Near the end of the track, the sweep came up behind me, stopped, and took a few photos.

Swim 3
As I donned my wetsuit, two team swimmers were about to come out of water, but only a handful of people around. One of the volunteers fed me some seaweed in little packets and Endura, saying it was much better than Gatorade. Decide to break the swim down to 1 marker at a time. Get toe cramps between 1st and 2nd markers (ignore). Hamstring cramps at 2nd marker I can't ignore and need to hang on to second marker's ropes as Adam spins around the Kayak and paddles closer for the rest of the swim. Need to hang on to kayak twice more with cramps.

Paddle 3
Thankful for the decision to bring a slower plastic sit on kayak for this leg. During the practice paddle of this leg in January I learned that the wind and waves were more than my limited paddling experience could handle in a tippy fast kayak. The downside of this craft was that it was heavy and slow. I looked over to the SES boat who was shadowing me to see spray flying off its bow. It was a full on headwind. The distant East Jindabyne is not gettingcloser. Shoreline not changing. Use an anchored fishing boat as a beacon, who as I pass asks"bout time we head in don't you think". Yes, that is what I have been trying to do for the last hour. I start to wonder if the organisers will pull the pin on my day, can't remember what the cut off times were. Getting dark and I start to feel the cold. The waves coming over the bow warm me up momentarily, but then the wind cuts deeper after each drenching. These are the times that set up the situation I think people get into endurance racing. This is the pointy end of the day that one must struggle with the temptation to quit and to overcome the"why am I doing this?" type questions. The answer today is"because you started and besides, it would be embarrassing to ask the SES guys to give you a lift to the finish". Manage to drink quite a bit of Gatorade but my newly acquired seaweed packets are floating, bloated, in the footrest of the kayak. To fearful to stop (even for 5 sec) paddling for the entire journey, lest the wind blow me backwards. Finally round a point and the wind and waves start to subside. The SES guys motor up and point me to the right bay, and then ring somebody on their mobile to find out precisely where to go. I see a dunny being driven away on a trailer and figure I must be close.

Run 3
Shivering and with teeth chattering, I put on some dry clothes and start to walk to the finish as volunteer Nigel helps Adam put the kayak on the roof. I am told that one of the other soloists have pulled out with cramps. All I need to do is finish for 2nd place. It is now dark, though I can see the orange ribbons for the track. Nigel catches up and we start to run towards the finish. It is a level run and we seem to be going at a good pace. Glad to have him there to talk to and find our way through the campground. Legs still feel fine on the flat and seems like we reach town in no time. The finish is anti-climatic as there are only about 8 people there, most of which are volunteers eager to pack up. I am handed a trophy as I cross the line, walk a few strides to the car, chuck my things in and leave.

Mark Davis

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The Long Course starts and finishes with a 4 km run - one full loop of the delightful Yerrabi Pond. Start and finish at the compound in Yerrabi Pond District Park. Head south west on the cycle path and continue in a clockwise direction. Do not cross on the pedestrian bridge over the little island, but continue all the way to the far eastern end of the pond, and back to the start/finish compound. After the first leg, transition to the paddle leg.

The second leg of the Long Course is two loops of the route shown above. Starting from the left hand side of the wooden pontoon, head out to the first buoy and turn left towards the dam wall, then follow the course in a clockwise direction, passing to the left hand side of the little island heading out, then to the right hand side on the return. Continue for two laps of the same course. Upon exiting the water, bring your paddle craft to the paddle compound and transition to the mountain bike.

The third leg of the Short Course is a cruisy 28 kms on the mountain bike. From the compound, first head south west and follow the cycle path around the pond. Turn left (north) off the cycle path to pass under Horse Park Dr next to the storm water channel. Continue on this bitumen cycle path through the new suburb of Forde, until you come to a gate leading into Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve. Climb this gate and continue over grassland to another larger gate. Enter through this gate into the reserve proper, and turn left onto the main trail which you follow with a fenceline on your left. Ignore the first potential right hand turn but then turn almost immediately right onto a main dirt road. Follow this mostly flat and fast track in a large arc.

Continue on this track until you reach the first hill, which brings you up into Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve.

Follow the dirt road through Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve all the way until you reach a dead end, near the intersection of Horse Park Dr and the Federal Highway. Here you simply do a U-turn and head back the same way you came. The riding is flat and fast. Depending on whether there are sheep grazing in the Nature Reserve, you may have to climb a gate or two.

When you re-enter Mulligans Flat, turn left at the first fork.

Follow this track back in a westerly direction, then take the next fork to the left. After a few hundred metres, continue straight ahead to follow the "Bird Walk" signs. Continue on this track until you return to the gate through which you originally entered the Reserve. Climb the gate once more and return to Yerrabi Pond by the same route, heading to your left around beside Yerrabi Pond to the finish. Transition to the final run (see above).

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