Run the Gap race report…

Where do I start on this race report… let’s go back to the beginning of the year, when a trip to Bannockburn Bush parkrun, and a lunch out with the event team, found us signing up to a weekend break and my first official half marathon. You will remember that I actually injured myself at Bannockburn parkrun the day before I was due to run a half at Melbourne… Coincidence or fate… we will never know…

We started our journey to Halls Gap on the Friday, having taken some annual leave to make the most of the trip. The weather was glorious, for the last weekend of Autumn, with a top of 19 degrees forecast. Thank goodness for that, because if it was raining, I was downgrading to the 12km run. Saturday found us at Ararat parkrun, a 4 lap, yes, you read that right, 4 laps round their Botanical Gardens. A very friendly event team met us on our arrival, and explained how their course is run. There were a few tourists here, all ready for the Run the Gap race the next day. That night, our group from Bannockburn Runners took over the early sitting for a meal at the pub. We had 45 runners taking part over all distances – 6k, 12k and the Half – all out to “carb load”…

Sunday morning brought out a chilly start, and everyone was excited a raring to go. Just before the start, the Race Director mentioned the course and said the back half was like a rollercoaster… eh, I didn’t see that mentioned before… We started right on time at 7.30am and headed out along the bike track to the main road to Stawell. Across one main road, up a few Kms and then crossed the road again. This brought us onto the first bit of trail, and by now, I was dead last… Coach G was staying with me for this run, and keeping me at a pace to try to get in under 3 hours (little did he know)… The trail had a few undulations, but, nothing spectacular or hard. The sun was rising to the side of us and the views were perfect… just after a selfie, I turned and stopped dead… two emus were running around from one side of the trail to the other… and these can be nasty beggars… and as soon as they were there, they were gone again… Soon we were at the 10k point, which, according to the elevation map, we had a bit of a climb. Who were they kidding. Mt Everest would be easier… We had reached the only aid station, and were asked if we needed anything. Nope, I had stuff in my pack and plenty of water, so we carried on… One old lady, who was volunteering, and had seen me about the 3k mark, passed the comment of “oh, I thought you would have pulled out by now”…. did she know something I didn’t… probably, but Mrs, I’m gonna show you… I’m not pulling out…

OH, EM, GEE… who put that there… This was the climb to the summit, and, could be reasonably climbed if I hadn’t already run (and walked) the last 10k… I kept stopping to catch my breath, tried to eat a jelly bean, and couldn’t. I had to suck the sugar off of that thing… This was HARD… Coach G was way in front, shouting and telling me what to do, and how far I had to go, before reaching the top… and then it was all down hill from here. Over rocks, boulders, slippery moss and sand. It had everything. Did I tell you I was accident prone… that didn’t help. It was baby steps all the way down. My brain was thinking, thank goodness, less than two parkruns to go. I’ll be home before cut off… or would I. It appeared before me like a brick wall… how was I going to get up that. I’m stuffed. But, up I went…and down I went, and up I went, and down I went… hill, after hill, after hill. That Race Director was right, this is like a rollercoaster. I’m so glad I didn’t know about these beforehand, because I would never have signed up. We kept going, and soon enough, one last climb, before heading back into Halls Gap. The SWEEPER had been behind me for the last 10k and that kept me going. I had to stay in front of her. We crossed over a small bridge and back on to the main road. The vollies were happy to see me, as their job was now complete and I carried on to the main road. The local Police stopped the traffic to let me across, and then happily jumped in her car and away she went, also finished for the day. It was the last TWO kilometres into town, and I knew I would finish, and probably out of cut off, but, little did I know, that EVERYONE knew I was on my way, and were waiting patiently for me to finish.

“Come on Maggi, you are nearly there”… “well done, Maggi, keep going”… “Maggi, you are doing great, come on”….

My support crew were awesome. I had the rest of the Bannockburn Runners waiting for me AND the boys from the timing crew with the finish line still up. Yay, I finished. Hours after everyone else, but finished… and DEAD LAST… but, done.

Will I say never again. Yes. But not because it was tough, but because I hadn’t trained the hills enough. Will I do it again. You bet. I have a score to settle here in Halls Gap. It was a great course… those hills… OMG. BUT, it’s a race you all need to do, at least once. Why, why not.

Run The Gap… you were fantastic. A great event, created by locals to help their town after flooding a few years ago. I will certainly be back for another go.

Now…. what’s next?????????????