Hares and Hounds 2021
This past weekend saw the yearly running of the Hares and Hounds 50k (actually 54k). It is always scheduled for the second weekend in January; however, this year was rescheduled due to Brisbane/greater Brisbane being shut down for three days (COVID). So, the new date was set for V-Day, 14th of February.
I had a massive base from last year and was ready to rumble on the original date. If you are a regular reader of my blog though, since then, things have not been great. I got tattooed and then got fairly unwell making training scarce. I managed three days (17k, 20k and 25k) of good running once well, and felt strong before a three day taper. Certainly not a conventional training block but I kept getting told ‘the rest will do you good’….well, we’ll see!
After an eventful, very different route driving down, hanging out with Tim and Greg, seeing mum and dad and then meeting some new folks, it was early to bed before our 3am race start. I slept ok and was actually super keen to race.
We head off onto what was a COMPLELY different course to previous years. H&H is generally a flat, fast course, however this year heading in a totally different direction and with over 1200m of climbing, it was always going to be a different outcome to normal. I settled into my groove and fell into step with Dan who I coached last year. I felt really good and like the pace was super comfortable. We were ticking off sub 6min km with no issue up to about the 9k mark where some climbing started.
At this point, I still felt great and was moving well. We progressed through the hills nicely in drizzling rain before we missed a junction and went a bit over 1km in the wrong direction! Ugh! That's trail running though. We found our way back, lost a heap of positions but got moving down the trail again. We started running even more solid, missed another turn, added some more distance and then trekked out to the turnaround at Beerburrum School.
After a quick check in at the aid station and refilling my bottles, we kept running strong but Dan surged ahead a little. I was still super happy with how I was going and content to trudge along on my own. Dan and I met up again a little down the trail but upon going though the hilly sections again, at around the marathon mark, I started to feel the pinch a bit. Dan again surged ahead as I had a little pitty party…..only for a little though. I got to the 12.5k to go aid station, slugged a coke and then came good. I again was moving well and kept picking people off.
Upon reaching the 9k to go point, where the trail flattens out substantially, I started running even more strongly. I paired up with a fellow tattooed runner Antony and we were moving solidly. Dan was always a little ahead, however I was able to catch him again with 5k to go. We then proceeded to lay down 4:35-5:40 per km pace and I was starting to feel the pinch! With only about a kilometre to go, Dan surged again and I couldn't hang. I finished about 30sec-1min behind him, well spent.
All things considered and given the fact that I ended up running 57.5km in 6hr 7min I was super stoked. I was 9thmale finisher (11th overall) and absolutely completed the best close (last 8-9km) I ever have in a race. I felt super strong all day, apart from a couple kilometres in the climbing section, and my nutrition was completely on point. The weather was fantastic, the company amazing and all in all I was stoked. I am really proud of this one. I would have liked to finish a little higher but given the course, getting lost and my build up, I cannot complain.
A massive thanks to Tim who crewed for me and his wife Helen for doing a shotgun trip, bringing Tegan and the girls down. Thanks to Dan for the push and company through the race. Also to Altra and Fractal, your support is so appreciated I cant put into words. Lastly to AAA Racing, thanks for another great event. It was so great to pin a number on again and get amongst it. Well done to all my friends and competitors who finished the event, particularly Greg and Hamish for finishing their first ultra. Good work boys!
So there it is…2021 kicked off proper! A super fun event, a strong run and a good time had by all! I will now have my traditional week off from training, get tattooed tomorrow (yes again) and then put together a big 12week block in the lead up to UTA100 in May.
Thanks as usual for the support, much love and have a rad week friends.
Gear/nutrition used
Altra Lone Peak shoes, Injinji socks, Nike Trail shorts, UD Handhelds, a buff and Petzel Headlamp.
The best VW Transporter van around.
7x Cliff gels, four bottles of Trail Brew, , water, one can of coke and some watermelon (thanks Dan’s parents!)