Wild ride!!!

Well, that was adventurous!  Pretty much all year my main focus centres around the Glasshouse 100miler (162k for those not good with math).  This weekend saw it come and go again, and man it was a different experience thats for sure!I went into the race feeling pretty confident.  I had no injuries, have had some good success racing this year and was fit, healthy and ready to roll!  My goal since finishing 7th last year was top five this year and I would be doing my best to achieve this!  After the usual rock up at rego Friday night, it was to the start line early Saturday morning for the fun to begin.  The race this year saw a major change in course and apart from everyone being a little worried about getting lost, we were all keen for the new scenery.The morning started at 6am and I rolled out with the lead boys on the first 10-11k loop.  This involved copious amounts of rott talk, laughs and fun.  All good thus far.  We arrived back at Beerburrum School before heading off and summiting Mt Beerburrum.  This was all good but broke the field up a little.  From here, apart from a few very brief conversations, I was alone ALL DAY AND NIGHT!  Bizarre!  Things went pretty much run of the mill until about three hours into the race when things got interesting.  In hindsight, I don't think I ate or drank enough but I had the worst bonk (rough patch where all glycogen stores are depleted) I think I have EVER had!  I HATED life!  I was ready to stop running for six months, just do yoga, not finish and even dreamt of falling over, breaking a bone and getting to drop from the stupid race!  Talk about being in a bad way!I now have enough experience though to know that these things pass....however when your in the moment its not so easy!  This lasted for only...TWO HOURS!  Ugh!  Eventually, I dragged myself out of that funk by running when I could, trying to talk myself positive and taking things a step at a time.  I was also aware this year that in the past I have got cooked early, so I started dousing myself in water early.  This always helps!After this little saga and feelings of self harm had disappeared, things were back to normal.  I knew I was in about the top 8-9 so things were still looking up.  The day moved on well and I really enjoyed the new loops and order of things.  It would be an INCREDIBLE task putting on an event like this!  I ate and drank a lot better although I was pretty dehydrated through the day and tried my best to stay on top of that.Before long, night began to fall and I bid farewell to my dear wife and daughters.  They were fantastic support crew all day and without them, my races would never be as fun!  My good buddy Luke then tool over the reigns as crew man for the night shift.I had moved through the field and heard that a few front runners had dropped so all was going ok.  Upon arriving at one of the aid stations, Luke informed me that 2nd and 3rd had left the aid station exactly five minutes before me and I was gaining on them!  This really lifted my spirits and game was on!Things kept going pretty well until about 11pm.  I wasn't able to get the boys in front of me and I then hit another funk, not as bad as the 'I HATE THE WORLD' first one but still pretty ordinary!  I knew I was still in fourth with some great runners behind me so I did my best to keeping on moving forward.  The course was WAY tougher than last year but I like it that way!  After heading out to Checkpoint 9 through the Dungeon I was still a bit flat but kept pushing.  We then did a loop and by the end of the loop had come a fair bit better and was ready to race.  Heres where things got interesting...Without blaming anyone or going into extended detail, at the 145k mark I was sent in the wrong direction and whilst I should have back tracked after a while, I ended up running around lost for about 1hr and 10min (roughly 7-8km) before getting back to the checkpoint I had left previously, making NO ground in the actual race!  I was so so disappointed.  Anger would be a more appropriate response but I didn't really have much of this, just real disappointment.  I dropped two places and found myself in 6th.  Regardless of losing my way, I believe that my mate Jody may well have caught me anyway, but who knows!  Whats done is done!I worked my way back to the second last aid station with a few people worried about where I was!  I was just so disappointed.  By this stage, I had a pretty sore left knee also as I think I tweeked it earlier in the day.  It was causing me some drama.  I kept moving the best I could, trying to run as much as possible, before literally verbalising grunts as my knee was so so sore.  I reached the last aid station, had some beautiful vegan soup and then continued on to the end.  I reached the finish pretty darn broken and glad the day was over.  I managed to hang on to 6th, one place off my goal but given the day I was handed, pretty happy.This race was like no other.  Last years miler went so smoothly, this one was a real mental and physical battle.  I fought, toughed it out and feel like I did a pretty good job in what was some pretty crappy scenarios to keep my cool, work hard and do my best.  This was one that will be drawn on for a long time to remember how to persevere and get through when things suck.  All in all though, I am proud of my performance.  Apart from slowing a bit when I got lost due to sheer disappointment, I gave it my all and loved the experience.I want to just thank my beautiful wife and kids and bearded friend Luke for being there for me the whole event and being so incredible as support crew.  Without crew, these events would be EXTREMELY difficult and I really appreciate them giving up their day, and night to help me out selflessly!  I also want to thank the race directors, volunteers and other beautiful friends/athletes there on the day.  Lastly, I just want to give a shout out to Injinji Performance Products and At One Food bars who helped me out with gear and also some of my favourite brands I used on the day, Ultimate Direction, Ronhill, Injinji, Altra and Gu.  Much love.Thank you to all of you who have offered your beautiful words of support and love leading up to, during and after the event!  Good times and much respect and honour to you!  Thanks all for sticking with me and until the next adventure, Namaste!