4 Peaks race report.
Day 1 Mystic Hill. 10.7 km circuit 850 m of elevation gain.
Heavy overnight rain meant the course had an extra element of challenge, 40 % gradient on both uphill and downhill on this one.
My early climbing speed was ok and I reached the 3 km at the paragliding launch mat in 36 mins, my goal was around 35 given the slippery footing. The legs didn't come back to me as I'd hoped on the next downhill and my remaining climbs were too slow. I did get through the technical descent ok and the last 4 km was solid 4.40 kms while trying to leave a little bit in the tank.
82 mins. The goal was sub 80, my O/50 best is 76.
Day 2 Mt Feathertop 11.5 km 1475 m of elevation gain.
This one is straight up to the summit, no downhill. We do have to make our way back down by foot after the race.
I started sluggishly, 6.28 for the first uphill road km to the start of the trail.
I was just under 30 mins for the next 3 kms, aiming for 28 so not too bad. 21 for the next 2, not good as I was looking for sub 20. 7 and 8 were better, 19 mins about on target. The 9th km is where altitude kicks in. The forest drops away and gnarly snowgums take over. There roots protrude above ground and now the knees have to lift higher get over these steps. The pace always drops noticeably. I struggled with a 12.58 km about 2 minutes slower than I hoped. I battled on to Federation Hut above the treeline. Visibility was now only about 20 metres and he fog was being lit up by lightning. Across the saddle to the summit ridge I started to feel stronger. The last climb was going ok. and I was going to scrounge out a 1.58 ish time, the goal had been about 1.55 ( O/ 50 best 1.49). Just below the summit the timekeeper and a big group of runners came belting down. Lightning had forced them off the top and the race was being called off.
Day 3. Usually Mt Hotham but for the 2d time in 3 years the Bon Accord track was considered too dangerous.
So it would be back up Feathertop but this time by the rarely used NW Spur.
9.6 km 1500 m of elevation gain. Steep, oh yeah!
The first 2 kms were quite gentle, undulating uphill. Then a short steep descent to a river crossing before reaching " The Wall".
Km 4 and 5 took me a total of nearly 45 mins, yep 3/4 hour for 2 km and I was powering past people. Things did get easier, sub 30 mins for the next 2 kms. By km 8 I was cooked and paying big time for my lack of longer training sessions. At 9 km we met up with the summit ridge and somehow I found something for the final climb. My final time was 2.29.
Day 4 Mt Buffalo 10 km 1200 m of elevation gain.
I had lost time to a few people the previous day and was keen for a better run and maybe gain some back. In 2013 I had run a very pleasing 1.30 on Buffalo. This year a sub 1.40 was the goal.
The early kms were strong, the first 2 kms is the steepest section. Rhythm was good through the next 3 and I hit Mackys Lookout in 48 mins. This is always a good reference point, usually this reflects half way by time.
The rest of the race became a battle though and even on a nice downhill I was only running 4.30 ks. I struggled up the steps to the finish with a time of 1.40.
My lack of long conditioning work bit me on the bum as I expected.
I pulled up ok and feel like I have something to work with going forward.
It is always a fun 4 days. We had 9 of us in the house so post run was good value. My son completed all 4 days and my wife hiked the last day. My son now 24 has done at least 1 mountain each year since he was 12.