2014 Marysville Running Festival

Two years ago I ran the 10k event at the Marysville Running Festival, and I loved the course. I was also pleasantly surprised at my 5^th placing. It was a coming of age so to speak – the event where I realised I could run well and the dawning of my love of trail running. So, to say I was looking forward to this year’s race was a bit of an understatement. While there were 4 & 10k events, the half and full marathons and the 50k Ultra, it was the 10k that had my name on it. 

#Srydaforce #RoyalBay

The night before I completed the mandatory gear check – the DTR singlet, #StrydaForce Styrda compression shorts, #RoyalBay Extreme calf sleeves and the beloved #inov-8 f-lite 252s while Mrs Fish put together the picnic for our lunch.

As we woke on Sunday morning, the forecast drizzle was non existent and there was only a light breeze, perfect!

The trip to Marysville was a hoot – a reasonable blast along the infamous ‘Black Spur’ and beating the GPS arrival time surely a sign of things to come…

The bib and showbag pick up was a very smooth process, the predetermined times for each event kept it hassle free. The kids also loved the free Chupa Chups.

After one last look at the mountains and possible hill climbs, we took off right on 10. Not fully knowing what to expect of this redesigned course, other than that the first 6ks was generally going to be uphill, I settled into a comfortable pace, keeping the lead pack of 20 or so in my sights. It was hard not to get caught up in the moment, as younger runners streamed by and people powered up towards the hill. I was hoping that they had underestimated what was coming.

We were heading up there...

We did a half lap of the oval, then peeled of onto the track that took us the short distance towards the road to the falls. Last time I was here we went up that road, today we simply crossed it, followed Mt Kitchener Avenue straight up the hill (thanks Trails Plus) past the residential zone and hit the first trail. The trail itself was well marked – red arrows on the signs and white arrows sprayed on the ground kept us in the right direction. This first section of trail was great, a wider access track with a gradual climb which soon spread out the field. The top three or four runners were now in the zone (and gone with the wind!) while I kept track of the five or six who were now in front of me.

The trail took us through a series of sections – beautiful narrow single track through the bush, wider tree lined access tracks and it rose and fell in all the right places. The climbs were just long enough for me to peg back a place or two and the descents fast enough to be fun, but gradual enough to be fast! As we climbed up towards the road to the falls, I felt strong, and had confidence in what my HIIT training had given me over the last few months. Although I kept a fairly constant speed, I was able to put in surges just near the peaks of the climbs or on the flats and it was these moments where I was able to make the passing moves. It seems funny, but as I was smashing out the trails on the Southern Track, I was visualising my moments of recovery on the treadmill as I eased of the pace after each pass – this gave me the confidence that I could ease the pace for a brief moment, catch my breath and then make my next attack.

At about the 6k mark we hit the main road and started the 2k section that would take us to the falls. After enjoying the trails this was tough, but it was also a little bit of relief as the road was a constant climb. I managed to keep my pace at about 4:25s and reeled in another one or two runners. Just before the falls I saw my first leading runner starting the return to park. I counted two, and knew that there was possibly just one more in front of me, an amazing young fella in the famed Two Bays shirt, who had managed to keep just 100m or so in front of me for the race so far.

It was just after the turn around point at the falls that I caught him, and after briefly running side by side I hit the Tree Fern Gully track for the fast descent to the finish. Last time I took it easy down this section, this year there was a guy in green who was always just ahead of me, and he was getting away. I took it as quickly as I could, but I was starting to fatigue as the finish drew near. I was now catching some of the 21k runners, so I was able to leap frog from one person to the next. Even though I knew they were in a more gruelling event, chasing them down and moving to the next runner was the motivation I needed.

As we crossed Yellow Dog Road and onto the final section of the Tree Fern trail I was willing the end to be near. Last time I hit this last section I let my legs get away from me. Hell yeah it was fun, but this time the quads were a little sore and I just didn't have it in me. The trail twisted and turned, rose and fell and I found myself searching for the next corner and next runner, knowing that each one would bring me closer to the finish.  As I hit the last little rise in the track you could see through the bush and over the creek to the park, and you could hear the hum of the crowd – the end was literally now in sight. With a few more lefts and rights and a couple of little inclines, just for fun, I turned left over the bridge and into the finish area.

As I often do, I dug deep for that last little kick to the finish and finished strong, around the 47:30 mark. I had entered the race wanting a strong top 10 finish to reconcile with myself that my training had given me the grounding to run well and to prove that last time was no accident. After how my race had unfolded, I was also hoping to have come in 4^th or 5^th.

While we waited for the presentations, the family and I went and had a look around the town centre and we were amazed at how much the town has grown after the 2009 fires. We visited the lolly shop – yummo and the farmers market before returning back to the festival where we had our picnic to the tunes of the steel drum band and the kids were then entertained by the roving clown.

So, in summary, I had an absolute ball! I achieved my secret goal of another top 5 finish (bang on 5^th), and I am proud of my 47:26 finishing time.

Next year, I might have to do the ten again and also have a crack at the 4k event with Mrs Fish…

Cheers once more,

Lachie

2012 Marysville 10km trail race

On yet another beautiful Sunday morning we set off as a family for the 2012 Marysville Running Festival to compete in the 10km race.

It was an interesting set up, at the Marysville football oval with the finish line kind of in the middle after a half lap. We were there early to collect our bibs and it gave us the chance to watch some of the 21km runners come through on their second lap of the course. We were very pleased to see my wife’s sister come through as the leading female runner, in a very impressive sub 40 time.  

We cheered her on as she continued on for the last 10km and we began to mill around at the starting line.

The starting line was the ovals edge, and we had to take care not to stop any of the 21, 30 and 50km runners who were coming through…

238 runners toed the line...

The starting instructions were issued and the countdown begun, we were still saying goodbye to the kids and the horn went off! See ya later kids, dads gotta run! I took off with the leading pack and let the runners run while I found my comfort zone for the hardest part of the run.

As this was a trail run I had studied the course and worked out my race plan. Would I stick to it?

The first 4.5km was up a 5% incline on the road to Stephenson’s Falls. My target was to pace at 5 minute ks and hit the first downhill at the 20 minute mark. Having found some of the hardest local hills in the area my wife and I were pleasantly surprised at how well we managed this first section. I was running well, breathing hard but with a little smile as I watched the other runners drop off along the way or really huffing and puffing their way to the top.  I was even able to encourage and keep another runner kicking along beside me – we had the same sub 45 minute finishing goal.

I reached the falls in 20ish minutes, this section perfectly timed. The first trail section beckoned and I watched as he took off. I eased into a rhythm, picking up speed and picking off other runners over the next 2.5kms. From this point no one passed me, ultimately a great feeling! I think I looked pretty at this point...

Thanks to Wildplans [Tegyn A]'s photostream for allowing runners access to the above image (from the days collection of course) - great shots of the day!

At the end of this section I had caught him and we had a chuckle at his effort and then settled into the next 1.5 on the gravel road. At this point I had planned to push the speed and I eased into a really nice stride and managed to leave him behind and weave past another dozen or so runners. How many had I passed, who knows as we were now well mixed with the half and 30km runners.

I made the turn at the 8km point and knowing this was where I would make up clock time. From here to 9.5 it was a fast section on the walking/hiking track that was essentially downhill with a few brief but sharp rises. I picked up the pace and threw caution to the wind as I almost sprinted this section to the finish. It was fast and furious and the best fun that I’ve ever had running. There were a few little twists and turns on the path but as it was man-made gravel I felt pretty secure with my feet. The Trailroc 235s also did exactly what they were made for – gave me traction where I landed and let me feel the track.

As I drew closer to the oval and the finish the track flattened out and I was starting to search for the finish, I’d almost run my race. At the final turn back onto the oval I was spent but gave one last kick to do the last 200m half lap to finish under my goal time – 44:31 - 5th Overall! Official results page if you don't believe me

So, yes, I stuck to the initial race plan. It was the best run I’ve had and I’m now looking forward to the Victorian Trail and Cross Country Championships next year.

My amazing sister-in-law won the females 21km and my incredible wife beat her goal time of sub 55 with a very respectable and I’m proud of her time of 52:30 to come in 7th of the females.