Guzzler Running Weekend 2022

Words and Review by Gary Leckie.

Argh 5:30am alarm – the Guzzler (Glass Half Full) begins.  There you are in the centre of a cacophony of colours and nervous chatter at the start line.  Big, small, short, tall – there are all shapes and sizes.  An ominous sign held by a volunteer just above my right shoulder states “Those running less than 8 hours in front of this line”.  Should I step in front of the line or behind it?

Sharon, Danni and Fi alongside – all looking calm.  How do they do that?

The crowd surges, the briefing is complete, the go button has been hit. Activate watch remember your mantra “Walk the hills”, “Walk the hills”. It’s a beautiful day, fresh air of the rainforest.

Bunch up ahead. I’ll just push past these guys.  This lot seem to be “amateurs” moseying around – take them on the right. Young bloke with heavily tattooed arms – brush past him.

Oh a hill. Bit of flat. Another hill, mud, ‘nother hill.  Creek crossing – tip toeing on rocks and log to keep feet dry. Don’t look at watch.  Where’s the first aid station?

Gel, lolly, sips of electrolyte.  Ahh finally the first aid station. Yeah feeling alright.  Looking at watch – only 18kms.  Still two thirds of the race to go -…….ooookay.

Push on.  Walk the hills, walk the hills.  There’s lots of hills. A few people passing me (and they were talking while going up the hill!).  Second aid station – inhale some salted chips (I need salt).  Watermelon? Yeah yeah I need watermelon.  Watch – what? Only 26km – not even half way!  Hell Hole Hustle awaits.

Big hill, small hill, middle size hill.  Another creek crossing – bugger the feet – run straight through. Mud.  Gels, shitty tasting electrolyte drink, another sickly gel. Hill.

Guy with tattooed arms passes me….. Hang-on! I’d left him for dead.  Engage after burners – running up hill (what was my mantra?).  Pass guy with tattooed arms.

Reservoir and nice views across water. Bloody hell its hilly around this reservoir.  Another gel? … ah no! Guts feeling terrible.  People passing me.  Was that the tattooed arm guy?  Watch – what! 10 min per km!  What was the mantra?  Walk the hills – does that mean uphill and downhill?

Ahh another creek crossing.  Lay down like Ophelia and float. Lovely. Done. Focus not done – run!

Up up up out of the reservoir.  36km mark.  Why the f#%& am I doing this?  I’m giving up running after this.  Where’s Danni, Fi and Sharon?  “Running” at 12 min per km pace and people walking past me.  Sunny piece of grass off to the right – I’m gunna lie down.

14km to go.  Eat the kilometres.  Head up, lift feet.  Gap Creek reserve – 6km to go.  Take a break. Pull yourself together.  Toilet, drink, bit of Clif bar – onwards!

Kokoda!!!

This is the king daddy of the hills with 5.5km to go.  You cannot run this.  The mantra applies.

No more hills, Clif bar kicks in.  Not feeling too bad. Pass a few runners.  Is that the music and sound of the finish line? Pick up the pace (8 min per km).  Yeah – I’m an ultra-runner.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen I’ve been running like this, perfect form, the whole way. 

Familiar faces – Matt, Jacqui, David – the lovely Tonia (with a choccy milk).  Finish (8hrs 48 mins 311/522)!

Mates all there – Rod, Mary, Mallory, Susan. 

The tremendous trio come in just after me. First Danni (9hrs 5mins 347/522), then Sharon (9hrs 14mins 361/522) and then Fi (9hrs 48mins 423/522).  All finishing strong but all showing signs of the physical and importantly mental battles raged over the best part of the day.  Danni looking strong enough to do another round.  Sharon completing despite being injured – tough as.  Fi sprinting the finish just to show who’s in charge.  All recounting similar mental gymnastics that I had experienced. 

After a bit of recovery with the BBR team around “Who’s up for a spicy Indian curry down at West End for dinner”.  That would be a big NO from our 21km runners (Tonia, Mary, Susan, Rod and Mallory) who were looking for some bland pasta and a quiet night ready for the 6:30am start of the 21km on Sunday.

6:30am at Walkabout Creek Lawn and the fresh faces of a cold winters morning (well cold for Brisbane!) mingle at the start line.  An added bonus catching up with Inger at the start.

Nervous chatter about taking 4 hours to run this and then bang the start guns go.  Hang-on Mary and Mallory are still in the toilet queue!  Are you guys ok?  They’ve all gone.  No probs – Mallory likes some bunnies to chase and Mary had her own ingenuity to tap into to make up ground!  Everyone finally across the start line with Susan looking super determined.

At the 10km mark at the Dam wall - surprised to see Rod going strong, chatting and gesticulating as he went past.  He had only just recovered from knee problems. And a little later Tonia also chatting and smiling as she powered on – post Covid, post not enough training!  From the start at Walkabout Creek, Mary had gone walkabout.

The BBR Big Sipper runners toiled on, all contemplating their strategy for dealing with Kokoda.

First across the line for BBR was Susan (2hrs 54 min 135/263) really confirming what a dark horse she is in the running game. Then Mallory (2hrs 59min 149/263) even after giving up at least 5 minutes at the start when caught in the loo queue!  Rod charged in at 3hrs 7mins (181/263).  Tonia danced in to the music at 3hrs 36min (228/263) and recounted how once she had crested Kokoda she decided to “kiss the earth” for good measure.  Fiona the champion cleaned Tonia’s hands and knees.  Mary had taken the walkabout creek start literally and to her credit got back on track and finished the race (albeit with a few edits).  A very strong showing from our 21km runners – confirming that “there are no limits”!

A weekend of hills, pushing limits, testing mental aptitude, Brisbane inner suburbs, did I mention hills? – and above all a journey with friends.  Until next time.