Kepler Training

It's that time of the year for Kepler training, so I took Heather for a trip around the Ultra Fun Run short circuit. The weather was supposed to clear, but it ended up being cold, grey, and very windy up on top of Mt Climie.

Descending past the Birchville Dam

Our plan was to run parts of the circuit, although neither of us felt like running a great deal. 46:59 to the top of Cannon Point, so in line with what I had done previously. Down via the Birchville Dam rather than the steep bush track, then up the river and out to Te Marua. Around behind the water supply lakes and up to the SH2 underpass. Reached the gate at Kaitoke loop road in 2:37:58.

The first transmitter tower emerges in the wind-
blown clouds.

Down to Tunnel Gully and tagged the gate on the Mt Clime access road in 3:01:53 (3:04:45 previous best). From there things started to unravel a little as Heather discovered just how tough the long ascent can be with 77:21 to the top. At the top it was cold and windy, and we were in the clouds, so we both changed into some warmer layers, rain jacket, and hat/gloves.

Part of the route off Mt Climie. No track particularly
discernable, but there is a clear route through the
vegetation.

The descent was a little slippery, requiring slower going in some places. We reached the road 79:05 after leaving the top. A quick refill of water at Mangaroa School and we walked most of the rest of the way home for a total time of 6:41:30.

Short Circuited Again

The Tararuas, completely obscured by cloud and rain.

Another training session around the short course for the Ultra Fun Run, only this time the weather was a bit wet and miserable. But it was a good training session and would definitely pay off if the weather was wet at Kepler.

Another 6am start, just like it would be on race day. Started off with fairly heavy drizzle. Up to Cannon Point in 48:20, just a few seconds slower than last time. Views were all but non-existent with the low cloud and rain, so not much opportunity for photo stops.

Although my legs felt tired and sore, overall I was going well. I tagged the gate at the start of the Mt Climie access road in 3:04:45 (3:15:33 last time). Made up a couple more minutes on the ascent (58:02 vs 60:43). Cold and wet up on top, so I changed into a dry polypro, dri-fit t-shirt, hat and gloves. Although this cost extra time and I was still 10 minutes ahead of the previous fortnight's time when I left the top (total time was 4:13:12 vs 4:23:26).

On top of Climie...
This time.	Last time.

The descent was a little more slippery than in the dry, but it was still not too bad. The forest section had a lot more mud, with motorcycles (and possibly other vehicles) having churned up the track in places. Made up about 8 minutes on the descent to Collets Rd (61:51 vs 69:39).

On the way down...
This time.	Last time.

Refilled a bottle at Mangaroa School and then headed home. The weather was starting to clear a bit by now and I was getting quite warm. Hat off, gloves off, but it was too much effort to take my jacket off! Back home in a total time of 6:03:51.

Training on the Ultra Fun Run short course

On top of Climie, the Wairarapa in the background

I figured it was about time to get some serious training in for Kepler so I decided to have a crack at the short course from the Ultra Fun Run that I put on a few weeks back.

Up in time to have breakfast and then a 6am start. It was a lovely fine morning, but the sun hadn't quite made it over the hills yet. Off to Cannon Point. Up to the top in 48:16, I was making good time even with photo stops. Down the steep descent, and on up the river trail.

I was hoping to buy a bottle of Powerade or Coke at the Te Marua Store, but it was closed! Had to settle for a refill of water at Kaitoke Regional Park. Up the hill track, and I was already feeling like I'd done enough climbing for one day. At the entrance to Tunnel Gully I stopped for a quick stretch and then continued on.

Walking along the gravel road it was pleasing to see that the green was returning after the logging several years back. The seedlings were now large enough that their foliage dominated all the offcuts from the logging, rather than the other way 'round.

Tagged the gate at the start of Mt Climie access road in 2:48:14. Time was still reasonable, although I was likely to be a bit slow heading up. Perhaps about 2/3 the way up I met "Malcolm", whom I would often see on the Cannon Point circuit. We pushed each other on to the top, and I reached the first antennae 1:00:43 after leaving the carpark.

A bit of time spent on the top taking photos, eating a tangelo, and changing into a dry polypro. Then it was off down the hill. Malcolm tagged along to see where the track went. It was just as steep as I remember, but the path through the gorse seemed to have been cleared a bit.

Down to the gate on Collets Rd in 1:09:39, and then we ambled along to the school to refill water bottles. Malcolm went down Alamein Ave to head back to Tunnel Gully while I headed for Mangaroa Hill. I hadn't been looking forward to the hill, but it was just a minor rise compared to what I had been on. And then it was just a shortish stretch back home. Total time including stops was 6:23:59 for 36km.



More photos available on Flickr. For larger versions of any photo click on the photo to open the photo page, and then click the 'All Sizes' button.

Ultra Fun Run & Ride

The Map. While stocks remain a copy of the full-size A3 topo map is available for $5 plus postage and packaging.

More climb than the Karapoti! - Graeme S

This was originally conceived as an event to link all the various trails that I had trained on around Upper Hutt. I wanted to try it out as an organised training session before making it a real event - partly to test logistics and partly to get feedback.

8 runners started at 6:45am in pleasant light drizzly rain. A further runner, a "duathlete", and 5 mountain bikers started at 9am, but not long before their start the rain began in earnest. It never really "cleared" until much later in the day, once all the hardest and coldest sections had been done.

Michael B, who would last the longest of the runners, has a Leppin soon after dropping off Cannon Pt. Liam, who would run about 35k and ride the rest, fixes his shoe.

Michael W leads the MTBers off Cannon Point.

Graeme exits the Mt Climie section.

The MTBers seemed to love it - it had some gnarly adventurous parts, some good ridable single track, and stretches of easy riding between the harder parts. Five riders started, and all five completed the full course. Four of them stopped for refreshments at a cafe at around the 45km mark, and then continued on to complete the 65km. Apparently they did a little over 1500m of climb. One chose to do some extra distance to complete 70km plus some extra climb.

Rachel chats with Jenny, while Paul chats with Michael W (hidden).

Brenda enjoying the puddles as her and Ian exit the Mt Climie section.

The runners were more equivocal about the course. Several runners had been planning on doing the full course, but by the time they came down off Mt Climie several were concerned about the potential for injury on the road and opted for the short version. They also suggested that a duathlon might be a good option - the first 30km on foot, followed by a 35km ride. Michael B was intending to run the full distance, but fatigue and the thought that he might be the only one completing the full distance saw him withdraw at 47km.

The tougher parts of the course were fine for (and enjoyed by) those that do rogaines and adventure races, but 2 runners were unprepared for that. The run had only been advertised on the "ridge runners" email group, so I had expected that everyone would be fine with the conditions. Another time advertising should perhaps be more explicit about the gnarly bits. Conditions on Mt Climie were such that full wet weather gear was definitely required, and even then anyone that was moving slowly got very cold.

Special mention must be made of Rachel. She is a machine. Having made it to the top of Mt Climie ahead of the rest of the MTBers she went back down a way to meet them and then rode back up again. Coming off Climie she rode off to go and find Liam, who had run the first half and was having a cup of tea at a mates place. Having rode some extra distance to do that they both continued on to complete the full course. Rachel clocked 70km for the day (the course was 65km) plus the extra climb.

Post-race musings:

• It seems I can plan a good MTB course, even when that's not the intention;
• Don't have a hybrid road/trail course for runners unless it's easy trails and your primary "market" is road runners;
• If there's gnarly trails, exposed sections, and mountain "adventure" then these need to be over-emphasised in the advertising;
• If injury strikes it will be in the most hard to reach section of the course. One runner had bad cramp coming down off Climie, but his experience and the group he was with avoided the need for a rescue;
• The unadvertised aid stations were well received. All the water proved superfluous on such a cold damp day, but probably would have been essential on a sunny day. Lollies, snakes, and bananas go down a treat.

These photos and more are available on Flickr.