Mt Oxford
The Bedrock Ultra has three main sections: a lovely trail run across the Coopers' Creek and Wharfdale tracks; a "road" run along shingle roads through the Lees Valley; then a mountain "run" over Mt Richardson. Each section had its own challenges, and by the end of the day we certainly knew we had done an honest 53km!
Mud!
At race briefing we were warned that it might be a bit muddy on Cooper's Creek, and it certainly was! There was lots of mud puddles along the track, ankle deep in places, and wide and long enough that there was no way to avoid it. This section winds through the bush, but there were also areas where it opened out, in one place giving us views back towards where we had started, and in another giving views of Mt Oxford.
On to the Wharfdale track there was a lot less mud, but more sustained climbs and and several stream crossings. I was hoping to top up my water at the Wharfdale Hut, but the marshalls there advised there was no water, so a quick photo and then on down to the river.
Wharfdale Hut
At the first river crossing.
The first Aid Station.
We stopped and refilled our water at the first river crossing, then followed the marked route along the rocky 4WD road and across two more river crossings to the first (25km) aid station. What an excellent spread at the aid station: chippies, salted potato, pizza, lollies, pretzels, soft drink!
Lees Valley Road
Back along the 4WD road then off across a farm track that led out to Lees Valley Rd, an unsealed gravel road. This section was very flat - just a few minor undulations - and extremely hot. We would run for a bit, then walk for a bit, all the while slowly gaining on the runners we could see ahead in the distance.
In to the second (38km) aid station, it was time to eat and drink some more, top up the water in our hydration bladders, and I made up another bottle of electrolyte drink. We walked off down the road while eating the last of the food we had taken from the aid station.
Across another river crossing - this one apparently strategically positioned so that the unwary would go for a swim. Heather led wide around the hole, then it was across another shallow crossing and into the long slog up Mt Richardson.
Looking down into the valley where we have come
from - it's a long, long way down!
The climb up Richardson begins with a hike up farmland, following a fence line, before zig zagging higher and eventually reaching the bush. Even once the bush had been reached we kept on climbing and climbing. The temperature dropped and the wind picked up, but we still kept on climbing! We eventually popped out on top into low cloud and cold wind.
Again there was more mud across the top of Mt Richardson, only this time even deeper! Through and past the mud, and on to the Canterbury SAR volunteers marking the turn down off the tops.
The unexpected, hidden trig.
The downhill started well and was generally quite runnable. We were expecting it to be all downhill, but unfortunately there were still a few climbs left! The most significant of these occurs about half way down, and it was not long after this that Heather spotted an old trig in the bush. It was less than 5m off the track, so we had to stop and get a photo!
From here down there were several big "steps" where the track would drop steeply through a rocky, washed out section. We had anticipated running easily and quickly downhill, but instead had to pick our way carefully down through these sections.
After the last steep descent we emerged at a large mud puddle. Making our way around and through that we had several hundred metres of mainly flat track, then rounding a corner we could hear and then see the finish line. One more short section of downhill and then we were at the finish line, greeted by Tracy Benjamin, Heather's mum, and race director Lisa Nicholl. It had taken us about 2 hours longer than expected, but we had finished!
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