Part 1 - True Grit 2015 Race Report

I cannot believe the day is finally here I think my prescription diazepam (valium) may have helped with my overall nerves otherwise I believe a lot more time would have been spent on the toilet.  We had enough time in the morning to grab a coffee, get some cash and explore the streets of Windsor before checking out of the Windsor Terrace Motel. 

Then it was time to head off to Lower Portland, we got there in good time.  This way we weren't rushing around with the tents, getting set up after being allocated our 'camping spots'  and working out what we were actually going to do.  The 3 x 3 camp spots allocation were large enough especially as we had two of them 6 x 3 (we actually struggled to fill the second allocated section).  At this point you could tell whom did it last year, as their tent set ups were quite spectacular, tent envy was happening!  Our team of four neighbours had their own kitchen, bedrooms and changing rooms all set up.  It was quite amazing especially compared to our $49 Kmart tent, ground sheet for our little camping area with its own camping stove and of course the Mace Fitness Roller.

Quite glad we did get there earlier, as:

1. If you got there too late your allocated camping spot could have been quite messy and muddy
   
2. the valium didn't squish all the nerves and a few visits to the porta loos were required. 

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The Briefing

At 1pm we had our group briefings, outlining the course, rules, health and safety etc.  Also we got given our timing chips.  Our numbers were allocated at the registration tent, it was only because I saw people queuing that we thought we best do the same which was lucky we did so.

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The countdown is on...

It was then time to get ready as it soon approached the designated start time of 2pm.  The crowds gathered, I was so surprised just how busy it was, being a little concerned that obstacles will have some massive queues with all these people.  However you could feel the excitement and pump in the air, as well as the nerves.  The countdown began and the flames went and it was time to go.

As always once you got started the nerves and fears start to deplete (I think I was more nervous then usual as this is the first time I had actually ran an obstacle course on my own, I usually have Dave there for support and help so not to have him there was kinda scary and weird). It wasn't a hard run and the plan was to take it nice and easy, trying to set out a pace that was going to last for 24 hours.  This is a lot easier said then done.

I had also had an action plan with contingencies about how we would plan out the change overs (this was before I got hit by a car, so things did change), including if we wanted to continue round more than once or if we would swap at every lap.  I don't think we even looked at this and it was decided that we would do a lap each.

Lap 1 - 1hr : 36min (Sabrina)

The first lap would always going to be one the best laps, since your nice and fresh, excited, adrenalin is racing and of course your eager to go.  You try and establish a maintainable pace that will continue throughout the day and night.  In my head, I would have been happy with completing every lap in under 2 hours, I was also aiming to complete 5 laps.  This just goes to show my own naivety and ambitions, the first lap I did well and was thrilled to complete it in 1 hour 36mins.

Lap 2 - 1hr : 23min (Dave)

Dave smashed out his lap and completed his first lap within 1 hr 23 mins.  Thats both of us completing our first laps within 3 hours (not sure where we were at this point on the leader board).

The wait between the change overs came quickly, so while I was waiting for a few people my tactics sort of changed.  Originally I was going to head out in my shortie and then change into my full wetsuit when it got cooler, but I was advised by those that had already done it that it does get extremely cold as soon as the sun goes down.  

Lap 3 - 2hrs : 17min (Sabrina)

The start of the second lap and it was still sunny, and then suddenly you found yourself needing to switch on your head torch.  I can't even pin point when I needed o turn it on.  The darkness gave you an automatic feeling of disorientation and in typical 'Sabrina' fashion managed to steer off course briefly, then I had to work out where I was on course and if I had missed anything out (it actually felt more like I went backwards which is weirder? Not sure why this was, must have been a moment of insanity). I need to learn to stop following the people in front and pay attention to where the arrows are heading (since it wasn't just me that this happened too). 

It started to become quite therapeutic running at night, as the stars were bright and clear, the moon was shining, the ground was soft and easy enough on the knees.  The darkness also added an extra spin on things during the obstacles. 

I was so disappointed in myself for talking 2hrs 17minutes on this lap (thats nearly an hour longer than then my first lap.

Lap 4 - 1hr : 45min (Dave)

The change over to Dave was quick and easy, with him giving me a nice warm Quiksilver Ski jacket.  He also made some hot soup, so it didn't take me long to stay warm.  His second lap had him wearing a long sleeved thermal top with a 2mm wetsuit singlet over the top, still just shorts on. He said it was too hot still. My main concern has always been my hands and feet, so I took my wet shoes and socks off and got my feet dry and warm.  The wetsuit I had on was a boys one, so I had enough room to move around and change my socks when I needed to.  Dave did another awesome lap in 1hr 45 mins.  The hot soup and jacket were at the ready for him and I was ready to go for my third lap.

Lap 5 - 2hrs : 39mins (Sabrina)

The third lap is where it got interesting for me, as my torch ran out of battery.  Probably at one of the most crucial stages on the course.  By this time I was mainly power walking instead of running, the pain in my right side started to set in and the pain killers started to wear off.  The impact started to takes its toll, and you start getting extremely emotional as your mind drifts and your torch goes black.  Panic really does start to take affect as well as your own imagination.  I am not sure what happened but by this stage there didn't seem to be many people of the course at all so you start questioning yourself: are you going in the right direction? is there anyone else around?  When you did find an obstacle, this is when you realised how far you still had to go.

During the rocky (Goat Trial), Marty had caught up with me, so helped me with making my way through the rocks and the crevasses.   I felt guilty holding people back and encouraged them to go on without me.  The Muddy Mile wasn't too bad to navigate because of the open space and moonlight, there were points that I started to freak myself out with the frogs, mistaking the water vines for snakes and goodness only knows what other creepy crawlers lurking in the water.  As my navigation skills still went slightly off course (towards the end of the muddy mile), I managed to find the next obstacle - and unfortunately my least favourite of all the obstacles - the Sand Bag carry.  Since having done it twice before I knew that the ground was unstable as we are trying to get up a steep and slidey slope.  You did really need to see it.  The sand bag carry is both physically and mentally draining, and needing to see would also help.  So I waited until someone appeared (not sure who it was but he was wearing a full camo suit, which was kinda cool) so I could complete the obstacle (unfortunately this one you had to complete regardless how long it took and you couldn't opt for a burpee penalty instead).  'Camo man' went behind me so I could see where I was going, I felt so guilty keeping him behind, but the light was amazing especially to see were I was going.  He did ask if I needed any more help along the path but I said I was cool, I really didn't want to slow him down.  The path started to get darker and denser and the moonlight didn't quite break the trees.  The fog also didn't help much with my continued anxiety levels, the only comfort is that I knew I was so close to finishing.

Eventually reaching the monkey bars, I ran over to the pit area in the hope that I could see Dave and change my  torch (the only time he wasn't there), I started to freak out and in a state of despair and franticness a wonderful women reached out and lent me her torch (I so wish I knew who it was, but at this stage I really wasn't think straight, I should have asked for her name or something just to try and find her).  I swear she saved my life (it may seem melodramatic but at this stage I am going a little crazy and every tiny minute detail seemed like such a big deal).  I tried finding her when I got back to thank her and to give her the biggest hug, I hope that she got her torch back too.


During the final stages along the path, I could see the drops along the path (which I probably would have fallen into as i was would have headed towards the camp lights).  By the time I crossed over the timing chip, I was surprised I clocked in at 2hrs : 29mins, considering I fit half of the course in the dark and was waiting around until someone appeared at some of the obstacles I was actually pleasantly surprised.

I was also extremely deflated, emotional and in pain (the pain killers had worn off, and my right side just felt numb, I presume from the impact of the car).  I couldn't take any more otherwise I would be close to overdosing so had to wait until morning.  Dave told me to get some sleep whilst he ran the next 4 laps.  I did try and make sure he had enough hot water and soup to try and keep him going and warmed up as much as possible.

Lap 6 - 9 (Dave)

While I tried to rest ad sleep came in dribs and drabs, it didn't really help with the snores coming from next door, but it also hurt every time I moved.  I almost felt like I needed to be oiled up to get all the mechanics working again as they seized up during the night.  I also woke up when Dave got back and asked how he got on, I think he was on a high as we currently moved from 4th place to 3rd and he wanted to try and keep up the pace.  He was doing an amazing job just to keep going.  His torch battery also ran out just after I said to him about mine, for some reason he thought he had changed the battery but hadn't.  I think he felt a lot more comfortable then I did running in the dark, weirdly  the lap where Daves torch died 2km's in was also his fastest night lap, he said everything just felt right, his feet knew where to go and he was confident enough to let them!!   After his 3rd lap I decided it was probably best to get up and start moving around plus I could actually take my painkillers.  Lying still was obviously not helping, I slowly started to get myself together and Dave was back from his 4th lap. 

Daves Lap times:
Lap 6 - 2hrs 21min
Lap 7 - 2hrs 17min
Lap 8 - 2hrs 30min
Lap 9 - 2hrs 25min

Lap 10 - 3hrs 3min (Sabrina)

I head out onto my 4th and final lap, at this stage the sun had risen and was shining.   My back had the heat pads attached as well as on my knee (held in place with some duct tape).  I had my shortie on as there was still a chill in the air, but found I was speed walking with the top bit down until I reached the water.  Everything was going great and I actually felt really confident that i could maybe squeeze in another lap.  I was keeping up with people fresh on their first wave and then either delirious set in or the pain killers started to wear off, I couldn't quite decide as in my head I was moving quite quickly when obviously I wasn't.

Slushing though the muddy mile, my right side started to hurt again and getting through it took so much longer then anticipated.  The knee and ITB issues started to haunt me (and I think everyone else on course) as I headed down hill.

I had no burpee penalties and actually felt confident with the time even thought everything was hurting, I reached the final stage of the rope traverse, when I just lost my grip and at that point fell into the water.  Annoyingly if it wasn't for this I probably would have had a time still under 3 hours but I guess you live and learn.

The end

Of course there are a few things I will do differently and will create a different post outlining all of these, but the main things would be:

• Take a spare pair of batteries on course either in a camelback or runners belt (which we had neither)
  
• Breath and take my time on the some of the obstacles including the pontoon bridge

Overall it was an amazing experience and if I had another opportunity I would do it all over again tomorrow.  Unfortunately we came 7th out 23 teams of two - which Dave should be proud of, since he did do most of the work.  I am disappointed in myself that I didn't do more and am intrigued if it would be different if I hadn't been hit by a car or if I am just using that as an excuse.  I guess we will find out next year, when we do it on our own.