Next race: Beerwah @ Daybreak 50km

April 26, actually; thanks Marcia!

Over the weekend I entered my next race, the Beerwah at Daybreak 50km in Queensland's beautiful Glasshouse Mountains. This race was actually rescheduled from its original race date of 21 February because of the terrible weather as TC Marcia approached, so that worked out very well for me as injury had prevented me from doing that original date anyway.

My last outing in the Glasshouse for Hounds & Hares didn't fare so well - I was still nursing a rolled ankle that had not fully healed, and it bade me DNF at halfway. Worst of all was that I didn't really get to enjoy the run along the way, despite covering 27kms before calling it. Worrying about the ankle hung over me like a cloud, and even on the flats I found it hard to just relax into the run and enjoy the scenery. So I'm looking forward to getting out there again, and I have never run this course before either so that will make it extra interesting along the way.

The 50km event comprises the 20km event loop followed by the 30km, which is basically the 20km again with an extra bit tacked on. Total elevation gain over the 20km is 403m, so whilst the details of that extra 10 don't give elevation it should end up somewhere between 800-1000m ascent for the whole 50kms. That's half the average for TNF and less than I ran yesterday - it's certainly going to be novel going into a trail race without dreading the hills!

My goal for this one will be pacing myself correctly, as in not going off like a bullet from the starter's gun as it fires. I read a quote once that went something like, "If you feel like you're running too slowly at the start of a marathon, you're probably still not running slowly enough". I need this tattooed upon the back of my eyelids, or recorded and replayed ad infinitum through headphones as I sleep every night, as it is doubly true for ultras. I have no idea what time goal I should aim at, but if I can run a steady first 30, run all hills with some degree of dignity (i.e. no crawling), and then a strong last 20 - and NOT fall over or otherwise damage anything important three weeks out from TNF100! - well, then I shall be a very happy little vegemite.

First this: 20km route.

Then this: 30km route.