Mt Nebo Festive Fatass trail run 2011

I heard about this running event going up a mountain: the 24km fatass trail run to Mt Nebo. 
"That’s for me," I thought. Coming from the Cordillera mountains, anything with ‘mountain trail’ sometimes piques my interest. The event was scheduled for the 27th of December. Good to sweat off some of the extra weight I had put on during Christmas.

The previous day (boxing day) was quite warm. Even until late in the night the heat was still there, and I could not get to sleep until after midnight. Sometimes mountain runs make me anxious. It shouldn’t though because I race mainly with city slickers/ runners from the big smoke. Yet one of the mysteries of my running life that I’ll never understand is how everyone goes faster than me. Maybe i’m getting soft and slow in my old middle age. Maybe they're just slick.

On the day I turned up early and eagerly for the start at around 5:30am. I joined the group gathering at a makeshift carpark on the grassy verge of the junction of Payne Road and Dillon Road in the suburb of The Gap. 

The sight of these battle-hardened elite mountain runners was very intimidating to a newbie funrunner attempting his first run up Mt Nebo. I said hello to a couple of familiar faces and met a few more runners who posted in the coolrunning forum for this run.

This run is along 'south boundary road' in the southern section (formerly Brisbane Forest Park) of the 36,000-hectare D’Aguilar national park. This national park in Brisbane is the only park this large just 12 km from the CBD of any Australian city.

Some 20 to 25 runners turned up for the run. A couple of the veterans gave instructions and directions for the route. Others kindly dropped off water and drink replenishments up along the way, and at the end of the route, 24 kilometres away in Mt Nebo. And as we started it was then that the real difficulty of this run hit me. It wasn’t just 24k, it’s a full 48 kilometres up and down!

It was too late to organise a lift back so I thought of doing 12 or maybe 15km and then walk back. That was the plan. And it was a good plan - at the time. Good I had all day.

The folly of the plan immediately laid itself bare. First of all, this was the first time i had to run with so much extra weight on, and not just from indulging excessively in some rich Christmas fare. I had a 2-litre hydration backpack. On top of this was two 250ml smaller bottles (one with water carried in hand, and the other with juice in the pack), a digital camera, mobile phone in belt pouch, energy bar, gel pack, electrolyte sachet, extra pair of foot pads and socks. Everyone else had packs on, but I bet I had the heaviest. And they’re veterans, I’m just new at this. And this was not a stroll on some paved path down the road to a park. This was a mountain run with an elevation gain of some 450m (1225m ascent/775m descent) over at least 20km.

The start was okay. I plodded along and settled into my pace. But almost immediately started panting and sweating profusely.

Craig a very coolrunner, kindly stocked up an esky with plenty of ice and water at the 6km mark off Hillbrook Road. I thought I was okay for water so I just left an empty 250ml bottle for when i got back. Soon I got to some familiar trails, part of the Pinnacles classic last April. I did not really recognise too many landmarks of the 4km or so trails common with the pinnacles route, but that’s how it is with running.  When running in a race, you’re usually simply intent on putting one foot in front of the other, and not notice too much of the surroundings. But at about the 8- or 9-km mark, I could only walk up the ascents. And so from about one-fifth distance I walked the uphills and jogged the downhills of the rest of my eventual 40km journey.

Craig was waiting patiently at the 14km mark to make sure we didn’t take a wrong turn towards lake Manchester in the south. He also advised to take a left turn at a shed near the 17km mark on Scrub Road.

This is the 14km mark. You can make out Craig's makeshift right-turn arrow.

 I noted all the instructions at the race start but thanks indeed for responsible people like Craig. This being a fat ass event, he did not have to worry about directing other runners and providing water for them, yet he did, so good on you mate. May your tribe increase - at a fast rate.

At the start of the race I ran with Keith who I knew. He did not seem too well and gave me a handicap start. I then tried matching it with Nikki, but after a couple of kilometres I could not stay with her, so I told her to go for it. I then alternated with a couple of speedy ladies who were not impressed with me pretending to sprint past them once or twice. They eventually got so far ahead of me and left me to my own battles with just the serenade of the bellbirds for company.

I managed to keep pace with Jeff/Geoff for one or two kilometres before he scooted off into the rainforest where now we are deep in. Boombana is a dry type subtropical rainforest with eucalypt woodland commingling.

Chris and another runner went past me at the 17km mark. Then the backmarkers also eventually caught me near the 18km mark, and so I brought up the rear as usual. The reluctant rear guard was put in his place, on his post and on his own again.

Sometimes I turn, there`s someone there, 

other times it`s only me.

I kept an eye on my watch to just past the 20km mark, at a junction in the tracks on 'township break' where I stopped, rested, then turned back.

KP20. Township break junction.

My outward run/walk took almost 3 hours which was fair enough going generally uphill, but the return also took about 3 hours!

Just after turning back I met Keith who kept on soldiering on though he was obviously not well. He wished me the best of 2012, but really he should have stayed home. Dare I say it but Keith is the epitome of a runner – of the never give up kind. I simply said ‘see you later’.

I would have settled for a glass of milk, but this is the land of no-milk and honey
(amidst the home of honeyeaters), just off the trodden track.

On the way back I did take time to look around and about. I even took a few photos. I wasn't resting, no.

The bush camp at Scrub Road junction near the 17km mark.

Somewhere down the road, a girl runner went sprinting past me a like a gazelle. I believe she won the race if anyone cared to note. A few minutes later, another runner (male with his shirt off) went scooting past. And then at the 12km mark, I was putting on my extra pair of foot pads when a third runner  (redshirt) came past asking if I was alright.

See, running’s not always about winning or getting a PB.

Many a runner I met over the short three years I have been running, have always lent a helping hand first and foremost, before worrying about their finishing time. If the general society learned this attitude from the running community, life would be so much better.

So ladies and gentlemen take up running, you’ll unleash the better angel inside of you. And if you're already a runner, you should have this event on your must run list. You'll discover things about yourself.

The Gold Creek/Lake Manchester junction.

I was parched and wobbling in the legs but the only way home is down by the trail of aching parts of this forestry road, where nobody's hiding their fears. My body had stopped sweating and I feared dehydrating. Did someone say no fear? I still had a little water left but I was mindful not to drain the pack dry. I have resorted to a walk/jog tempo since the 8km outbound mark (walk uphill jog downhill) and on I walked and jogged.

Under the powerlines looking south towards Gold Creek Reservoir. Had I looked north I might have caught a glimpse of Camp Mountain or bellbird grove where I went to watch the 2011 Australian Mountain Running Championships back in May. I was in the box seat, I mean the backseat, way way way back.

Back at the 6km mark off Hillbrook Road, I stopped to see if there’s any water left in Craig’s red esky. There were still two full 600ml bottles buried in ice. I filled up the 250ml juice bottle I left earlier that morning for a cold slaking drink. Ahhhh. And then I trudged on down the road...

I paused to take in the sights of the Enoggera reservoir now and then and to rest the wearied legs.

I composed a couple of shots of this body of water near the 3km mark. With 2km to go I squeezed out what was left in my hydration pack. I got in a choking fit when I started sucking water droplets into my lungs.

a choker's cap and slow time.

mt coot-tha mousdash 2011

2011 Mousdash 13 November
I 'counted' at least a thousand people (700 runners, 200 walkers, and 100 teams) who converged on mt coot-tha botanic gardens for the 3rd mousdash 10.5km run and 5km walk.
It was a fine morning, warming up to a typical late spring/early summer day in November in Brisbane. Runners with their attire are a colourful enough bunch, but the addition of walkers, and the teams event, and supporters give an extra lift to the 'keeping fit' spirit. The place was buzzing with excitement and anticipation.

The event has grown again in numbers this year (15% increase in runners) and looks to be a fixture in the running calendar for the next few years.

We congregated under the palms at the carpark.

The event ‘ran’ smoothly, except for a few minutes delay at the start, and also a lack of toilet amenities, which was maybe part of the delay. A race official even suggested to runners to help 'water' the trees and plants in the gardens.

Some put a bit of effort into growing a 'mo for this year's movember dash. Others just faked it.

And then they were off.

I definitely did not run smoothly, but many of the others did. I’m amazed how they sprint up the mountain and sustain good speed to the finish. The top 10 placegetters finished in under 40 minutes and a great number (the first 100) under 50 minutes. The faster half (first 340-350) finished in just under one hour which is very good going for this route. I managed to not go under my age which is -I don’t know - a good thing or a pity. Good that i’m not that old, or a pity that i’m so slow, so I’m told. Not that I need reminding. The results were promptly posted by the event timers. I believe photos are available for purchase.

I took some candid ones pre-race.

The race was last weekend, when i was on a break from working in central queensland. While on away work i had precious little training for any running event let alone mt coot-tha. But I had grown a stubble on my dial to pass off for a 'tash.
Twas early last Sunday morning, i fronted up at the mt coot-tha botanical gardens with not much expectation. Having joined a few funruns I knew where to take my place - near the back. The net time was to be adjusted from the gun time, but like last year, this did not happen.

Last year I parked on a grassy verge of a sidestreet under the purple splash of a spreading jacaranda tree. I did so again this time but had to get in really early.

The third running of the Mousdash - a 10.5 km run up and down Mt Kuta. Is a great way to finish the 2011 running calendar.
I described the race route before (2010 mousdash) but briefly:The first 2.75 section of the run is the hardest. It is all uphill, with an average gradient of just under 10%. This is exactly like running up to Mt Sto Tomas, or Camp 6 to BGH in Baguio-Benguet in the mountainous Philippine Cordillera. The next section (3km to 6.5km) is along the road snaking through about a half-dozen picnic parks under the gum trees of the rolling ridges of kuta, home to the various television stations. The third section (6.5km to 8.5km) is all downhill. The final 2km flat has one more tricky little climb.

map of the mt coot-tha mousdash route

Toowoomba half-marathon

Toowoomba half-marathon. 16 October 2011.
This run is for a good cause. The fees go to charity, good enough reason for me to get up early and drive one and one-half hours, to run a half-marathon. The start/finish line of the 30^th Annual Toowoomba marathon event was at the USQ grounds. It was a bright sunny morning and ominously warming up to baking temps – in Baker Street.

I got to the race venue early enough. The marathon and ¾ marathon runs started at 0600h and already in full swing when I arrived. A coffee van serving hot drinks enticed me to a cappuccino.

After coffee, I had a little stretch before the start of the half-marathon at 0700h. Some of the marathoners blew past, on about a 40-45 minute first lap.

I don’t know how many entered the races but the finishers and results are listed in the TRR site as follows: Marathon 54, ¾ marathon 12, ½ marathon 89, 10 km run 77, for a total of 232.

There were runners there from South Pine Striders, Moreton Bay Road Runners, Gold Coast Runners Club, other clubs and from many other places around the world, including from the cool country of Mainit.

I can only describe what i went through in the half-marathon. Many other runners described their own races at the coolrunning forum. We started off at 0700h in the half-marathon and 10km runs. After just 2kms i could feel the humidity kick in. The route is all on street pavements or pathways. The choices are either the softer and less safe bitumen or the more shaded but harder concrete paths. Sometimes there is a bit of grass though usually uneven. Most runners alternated between the paths.

The race route comprised between one to four laps of a 10.55km loop incorporating the streets of Toowoomba. I got giddy in Darling Heights, where my sweat flowed like from a bucket. The flaming sun was stinging in Kearney Spring, and I went dry in the mouth in Toowoomba South.

The runners quickly spaced out into their places in the run. Four laps, three, two or one lap. This was the first race where I availed of fluids at all the drinks stops. Thankfully there were four water stations spaced at about 2.5kms. Even then the final few kilometres was a struggle. And instead of being wet with perspiration, I was actually quite dry from the heat and humidity.

From 0735h onward, runners trickled in to the finish line led by the 10km finishers followed by the top finishers in the other races. The 232 finishers would take about four hours, from the first place in the 10km to the last runner in the marathon, to cross the finish line. The race duration though is about 5.5hours from the start to the finish. After I finished, I saw an ambulance attending to a runner just a couple of hundred metres from the finish. I hope all's well with him/her.

Thanks to the Toowoomba Road Runners club for organising this event. And to all the club members, race officials, marshalls, volunteers and everyone else involved. Many of them would have been up and working on the event for much longer than the race duration. Great job all! Great event.
I would like to commend especially the lady volunteer at the water stall on corner of West and Stenner Streets who first of all directed me (before the face) to the registration tables, and then during the race kindly checked on me (I sat down for a couple of minutes to fix my foot pads and laces), and to see that I had sufficient water.

There is indeed a good future for the smaller, cheaper, friendlier provincial marathons in Australia, such as this event.

Toowoomba is a town I like visiting, and I've been visiting here in the last 21 years. This town is like Tabuk, on a plateau  in Kalinga, in my Cordillera homeland in the Philippines. I live in two worlds (the first and third :-)). Who says one can't live in the best of both? A university city, Toowoomba has developed into a regional centre for business and government services.

The city was in the news in January 2011 when a massive flash flood "Inland Tsunami" resulted in deaths and destruction in town, through the Lockyer Valley, and all the way to the east in Brisbane 125 kilometres away. Last year I came here for the flower carnival. I think that was the time of the 2010 ridge-to-ridge half-marathon, which I missed. I also skipped this year's R2R run, so for penance I came for this event, and to run Table Top Mountain.

On the way home I detoured off to Table Top Road to see Table Top Mountain. I was going to run (yeah?) up to the summit but from the roadend, it appeared to be in private property and offlimits. I did not have the time nor energy to find the access to the mountain, so I added another entry to my 2012 resolutions.

bridge to brisbane 2011

11/09/11. 42,500 people entered the 2011 bridge to Brisbane 5km and 10 km fun runs. They can't be wrong. The race started from the south end of the gateway bridges (Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges) and finished at Brisbane's ekka grounds.

It was a windy couple of days leading to the 15^th running of the bridge-to-Brisbane last Sunday. There was even some good rain on the Friday though you wouldn’t know it come the afternoon. I went for a little jog that evening and most of the rainwater had evaporated or got absorbed by whatever kind of sponge was in the ground.  There were no puddles or mud. The land was still as dry as the previous winter long.

Saturday was quite windy too. I stayed indoors mostly except to buy the paper and some milk and food. It was blowy well into the night on the eve of the b2b funrun.

The morning of the race was cold as expected and I rugged up in some old clothes worn over my running gear. I drove to Bowen Hills arriving there around 0445h. The streets looked deserted except for some nightowls, nightshift roadworkers, midnight volunteers and earlybird runners like me. Most of the parking spaces have already been taken, so I drove around for a bit looking for a spot to park. I then joined some runners heading towards what i thought was the train station – for the train to the start line. The group was actually going to the shuttle buses – they obviously had pre-paid tickets – i did not. When i realised this i backtracked quickly, entered a no-through-road or two, before finding signs to the trains.

At the platform, I joined other runners, more than I was expecting to see, trying to keep warm – waiting for the next train to Murarrie, to the start line at the south end of the gateway bridges.

The 05:05 special train (b2b event only) from Albion was already quite packed when it pulled up. We packed it to capacity in Bowen Hills. The train picked up some more runners from Fortitude Valley and Central Stations, but is was SRO from there and all other stops to the Murarrie terminus. Many other runners were forced to wait for the next special train, some five minutes behind.

From the Murarrie train station to the start was a good 750m or so. I jogged and walked briskly to warm up. My watch said 05:50 so I hurried along around and through the crowds of runners.

I quickly threw off my old jacket and trackpants into a donation collection bin before joining my race starting zone, just as the starter set off the wheelchair racer – i think there was only one. I noticed some green and yellow, even grey-bibbed runners, in the red zone (blue zone = elites and sub 40minutes, red = sub-50 minutes, green sub-60 minutes, yellow sub-85 minutes, and grey are walkers). Maybe these sneaky runners are world class, but what about the rules? There would be chaos if no one followed them.

Just before the race start at 06:10, the greens were allowed to join the back of the reds. And then the show got on the road.

Every participant in the bridge-to-brisbane run has a story. Mine is a twice-told tale. I’d like to tell it for the nth time, but it would be just a rehash of excuses, a sorry tale of woe. I even saw that thing that really gets my goat. It was a variation but the sign on the back of this girl’s shirt read: ”I train like a girl.” And she runs like a 'girl' too. I mean it’s fine if she was behind me, but she was speeding past me like a train, as if i was standing still! Ban those shirts.

So anyway I somehow did a PB for this event. I was thrilled that I finished about a minute under my best from last year's bridge-to-brisbane. The extra few days of preparation must have helped. I got back from the gasfields nearly three weeks before the race. I even managed a couple of runs back in camp. Now there’s a story I can tell. From my tales from a suitcase.

Sidebar.

Running around camp one day, this pretty young woman intercepted me. “Hi. Can I run along?” Her name’s Kathy, from the Gold Coast. She is with the camp management staff. She said, “I saw you jogging around and I thought that I could keep up with you.”

She of course meant I was slow enough not to leave her behind. The lap around the camp is about 950m, and I’d already done a couple and was panting and gasping about to give up, when Cathy hailed me.

It took me a good few seconds to get a reply out, “please do.”

We ran around for a couple more laps and between panting and catching breath, I tried showing her the route. Some of the young fellows around the camp looked up admiringly as Kath and I jogged along. I told her, “Do you know about the emu that roams the territory around camp?” Katie nodded, "Yes." That's all I got for chit-chat. Emus.

There are rough surfaces around the fences of the camp that should be avoided, and I told her not to go there. Actually Cath did most of the talking while I was busy catching my breath and keeping up with her. The route was indeed a little rough with rocks and holes and even damp spots. Mostly we ran side by side but I had to concentrate on the curves in front of me when we ran along in single file, Kathy in front of me  – yes those paths are curvy, I almost stumbled a couple of times. Most of the pipeliners are males, and I asked Cathy, “Does your boyfriend mind you working here where it’s mostly males?” I think she’s on a 2-weeks-on, 1-week-off stint. She answered plain and simple, “I’m single.” I went quiet for a bit. She asked me, “What do you do?” “I do deliveries” I replied, "I can deliver." Kath looked at me with a whodoyouthinkyou'rekidding look and said, “I want to be a truck driver. I want to drive one of those big mining trucks with wheels bigger than a 10-storey building.” So much for boys and toys. Katie’s going places I think. Anyway she got bored with old slow me, and begged off after another lap. I plodded along punishing myself. The boys raised their eyebrows. One asked, “Where’s your new friend?”. I had to admit that Cath dumped me after a couple of laps. “She said I’m too old and too slow,” I said.

Another time, I ran into Therese from the Sunshine Coast. She’s into walking, a lot. I asked to join her one evening while she was walking around the mini-oval. I met Therese a few weeks before at the projects office, or maybe the staff room. She’s an environmentalist. I asked her, “How do you get so slim and all.” She looked at me with a ‘don’t be a smartass’ smile, and I smiled back and said, “Just trying to make some small talk.” Therese started talking about her kids, and which school they went to. I thought so much for small talk. She bid good evening and I was by my lonesome self yet again. Story of my life.

There’s a few other women who work in the gasfields and in camp. They are all beautiful lovely ladies. Especially after a couple of weeks, and one drink too many. But one can only take so much rebuff... Two more sleeps and I’ll be home – to train for the bridge-to-brisbane...

Too much digressing there Martin.
Map of the route below. The run is from east to west.

All the 42,500 entrants are the winners in the bridge-to-Brisbane. They have taken massive strides toward better health.
Keep up the running, and have fun.

The placegetters:

10KM, Males

1st, Reuben, Kosgei, 0:29:37

2nd, Geofrey, Terer, 0:30:00
3rd, Peter, Nowill, 0:30:21

4th, Jackson, Elliott, 0:30:45

5th, Daryl, Crook, 0:32:45

10KM, Females
1st, Cassandra, Fien, 0:34:12
2nd, Clare , Geraghty, 0:35:25
3rd, Tamara, Carvolth, 0:36:17
4th, Tamlyn, Mathiske, 0:37:14
5th, Rina, Hill, 0:37:4

Brisbane Running Festival 2011

Half-marathon run.

Brisbane this year suffered some of its worst flooding ever. And to repeat myself, the spirit and character of Queenslanders is typified by their resilience. They get knocked down but they get up again, and run around the river again.

The camera, like the runner, is still sleepy.

On 7 August 2011, I arrived to an almost deserted Brisbane about 0515h. The city’s streets of course were well lit and also well occupied by cars. I have no idea whose cars are parked in the CBD at this early time, but I am certain many of these cars are driven by early-bird runners. After doing a couple of laps around I found a spot on Edward Street about 300m from the botanic gardens, venue for the start and finish line. The gardens was still dark at 0530h but already the place was milling with runners, volunteers, and a couple of mobile coffee stalls. There is a newly installed flood marker  at the entrance to the gardens. This showed the flood levels of the 1974 and 2011 floods. The 2011 flood line was about waist height but not as high as the 1974 marker at about head height. I only saw this marker after the race. It quickly roused me from feeling totally buggered, to thinking of how truly frightening and devastating, are the forces wreaked by the fury of nature.  The high and mighty floodwaters have swamped these gardens only seven months ago. One could not imagine that, on that morning of the 20^th running of the Brisbane running festival.

The annual Brisbane running festival is a major running event. Many bemoan the fact that Brisbane does not have a proper marathon event but that may change. The run was staged around the botanical gardens and then along the southern banks of the beautiful Brisbane river.

The venue of the festival has shifted from southbank to the northbank at the Riverstage in the city botanical gardens.

The Brisbane river was at its roaring worst in January. I have mentioned the floods a few times now and will do so again, for the 1 in 100 year flood event, is just that – a 1:100 year occurrence. I may not see one again in my lifetime, but then again I may. The Brisbane river winds around about 50 kilometres of the City that bears its name. From Wivenhoe dam west of the D’Aguilar range to the sea on Moreton Bay, I have traversed much of the length of the river.

I ran the 10km run in this event last year. But this year I thought to have a go at the half-M. I got back from the gasfields 12 days before the runfest. In those 12 days I managed to sneak in a 10km run in the park2park, as well as a couple of 7km Wednesday runs with the bunyavilletrailrunners. I rounded off my 12-day preparation with a few short runs.

The start and finish lines were moved to the riverstage in the city botanical gardens.  The route of the Brisbane running festival includes a loop though the botanic gardens and across the river on Goodwill bridge. It then follows a good stretch of the southern banks of the river from West End through South Brisbane to Kangaroo Point. Along the section of the run route, there are seven bridges across the river. Four of these are for vehicles (The Go-between bridge, Captain Cook bridge, Victoria Bridge and Grey Street bridge), two for pedestrians (Kurilpa bridge and Goodwill bridge), and one for trains only (Grey Street bridge). I think the organisers are considering calling the Brisbane marathon ‘the seven bridges’ run. We can include Story bridge in place of the railway bridge.

Along the run route are many of the iconic spots in Brisbane. The start line is right next to the City Gardens café. The loop around inside City Gardens is about 2.11 km.

The course heads south through the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Gardens Point campus courtyard before going towards Goodwill Bridge. These places seem vaguely familiar. And I have a feeling of deja vu, like I may have been here before, one cool night in the past.

Once across the 700m bridge it enters the South Bank Grand Arbour (3.8km) and then joins the Clem Jones Promenade in Southbank Parklands going upstream. At Victoria Bridge it gets onto River Boardwalk through Kurilpa Park and on towards Riverside Drive. It then goes under the Go-Between Bridge and continues along through suburban streets and Davies park (7km) in West End, to a turning point in Orleigh Park in Hill End (9.6km).

From this upstream most point of the run, the route turns and goes all the way back to and past the Goodwill Bridge to Lower River Terrace (15km), then continues downstream towards Kangaroo Point. It goes past and under Captain Cook Bridge to the Kangaroo Point cliffs (16km) and on to Captain Burke park (17.7) under the Story Bridge. Again it turns around and heads back towards the Goodwill Bridge (20.5km). It turns right for one final little incline at the  Goodwill Bridge and then back towards the finish line at the lower section of Riverstage. The marathoners do two laps with a slight variation.

The race started at 0600h on the dot. Some 21.1km and 2:11 later I crossed the finish. I actually finished in a net time of 2^h08^m49^s, exactly 2’11” under 2^h11^m. I was feeling okay up to about 15 or 16km, when the lack of training told and I faded away from a 2-hour finish time.

Having said that, after two half-marathons, this is my second best time ever J (and I did a PB on my first half-marathon).

Thanks to the army of volunteers, race marshalls, and the secondary school students who make it possible for those of us to serve our penance, but that’s just speaking for myself.

And the winners are: All the runners.

The place-getters:

Marathon
1    Justin Creek 2:44:31.7
2    Ralf Hamann 2:44:58.3 
3    Chris Taylor 2:49:03.8
Half Marathon
1    Trent Harlow1:12:45.0
2    Geoffrey Berkeley 1:16:52.9 
3    Craig Pascoe 1:19:05.6
10km
1    Peter Nowill 30:26.7 
2    Matthew Hawke 32:04.2
3    Ben Shaw 35:12.9
2km Beginner
1    Caleb Ackland  8:06.6
2    Alexandra Clements 8:14.9 
3    Liam Hampson 8:22.6

    Place    Name  Bib No  Overall   Time

Overall Female Overall Winners               

 1    Clare Geraghty  1324       4      1:19:11.6  

 2    Tara Gorman     1342      22      1:25:01.5  

 3    Tammy Egstorf   1263      37      1:28:36.2  

Female U18

1    Lauren Dixon    1239     756      2:00:08.3  

 2    Kayla Gilbert   1329     833      2:03:24.6  

 3    Lauren King     1486     996      2:09:58.3  

Female 18 to 29

1    Charlotte Hockey         1411      64      1:31:37.2  

 2    Nathan Lindsay  2130      85      1:33:26.8  

 3    Nicola Potter   1735     106      1:34:57.7  

Female 30 to 39

1    Pieta Hynes     2343      40      1:28:46.5  

 2    Andrea Appleton 2344      51      1:30:17.4  

 3    Liz Fancutt     2391     103      1:34:39.9  

Female 40 to 49

1    Jo Sherman      2353      62      1:31:38.1  

 2    Clare Williams  2093      99      1:34:14.7  

 3    Carolyn Seipolt 1810     134      1:36:38.7  

Female 50 to 59

1    Muriel McLean   1607     170      1:38:41.5  

 2    Betty Wedding   1977     285      1:43:48.9  

 3    Lesley Noreiks  1672     322      1:45:04.4  

Female 60 to 69

1    carol coburn    1182     442      1:49:39.5  

 2    Sandra Brett    1107     698      1:58:30.5  

 3    Denise Drury    2135     961      2:07:40.0  

Overall Male Overall Winners                    

1    Trent Harlow    2139       1      1:12:45.0  

 2    Geoffrey Berkeley        2484       2      1:16:52.4  

 3    craig pascoe    1713       3      1:19:04.5  

Male U18

1    nicholas scarponi        2094      29      1:27:29.9  

 2    Louie Hadfield  1364      35      1:28:19.5  

 3    lachlan pascoe  1714     132      1:36:33.4  

Male 18 to 29

1    Dan Nunan 2302       6      1:19:56.8  

 2    Daniel Wright   2335       7      1:19:59.1  

 3    steve whiteman  2415      17      1:23:33.4  

Male 30 to 39

1    Stephen Gurr    2354       5      1:19:30.7  

 2    justin hunter   2164       8      1:20:03.1  

 3    Nic VAN DER MAAT         1935       9      1:20:03.2  

Male 40 to 49

1    Andrew Douglas  1246      15      1:23:02.2  

 2    David Whiteman  1989      16      1:23:27.3  

 3    David Sharpe    1815      18      1:23:33.8  

Male 50 to 59

1    Alan Peacock    1718      28      1:27:28.5  

 2    Tim Lanham      1506      31      1:28:04.1  

 3    Geoff Oliver    2105      41      1:29:00.2  

Male 60 to 69

1    Michael Briggs  1110     141      1:37:14.4  

 2    Christopher Paul         1716     148      1:37:50.4  

 3    Peter James     1439     190      1:39:38.7  

Male 70+

1    Colin Woods     2017     504      1:51:59.5  

 2    Reg Hogan 2092     707      1:58:51.2  

 3    Bob Williams    1996     847      2:04:01.9  

 

Park2park 2011

Park2park fun run. Ipswich, Qld. 31 July  2011.

Parts of Ipswich suffered the worst effects of the devastating floods back in January this year. But the resilience of Queenslanders is typified by the attitude of the people of Ipswich. They get knocked down but they get up again. They run the park2park again.

The annual park2park fun run is a major running event in Ipswich. The last Sunday on the last day of July was the 7th running of the park2park. The run is staged around Limestone Park and Queens Park, up on the heights of Ipswich.

First, a big thank you to all race officials, SES volunteers and emergency service personnel. Also the water station masters and the secondary school students who chanted and cheered the runners on.

I come a few times each year to Ipswich mainly for work. On previous assignments here, I ventured to Emerald Hill heeding the call of Brassal; checked out Woodend with a friend; sauntered up the hills of the well-heeled in Springfield; strolled along the creeks of Brookwater golf course with no driver; glimpsed the river and leas of Karalee; lunched off a dam near Bundamba; drove the heights and downs of Karana; laughed to the banks of redbank; and saw many of the surrounding picturesque riches of Ipswich. The place has grown from a small provincial city to a bustling and growing centre with industrial and residential growth areas sprouting up all around. The nearby areas in Swanbank, and satellite precincts in Springfield and soon Ripley, all contribute to sustaining the future economic growth of Ipswich.  In 2007 Ipswich was voted the most liveable mid-size city (populations between 75,000 - 200,000) in the world.

On the last day of July 2011, runners arrived to a bright though quite cold and sleepy winter morning at the Bill Paterson Oval, venue for the start and finish line. The hardier half-marathoners started a lot earlier, in the still dark hour of 6 o’clock but they’re the serious runners. The 10km and 5km runners are the real funrunners, well most of us are, but that’s speaking strictly for myself. Earlier I looked around for a place to park for the 2011 park2park. This is my first time to run here. I quickly registered, collected a race bib, tied on the timing chip, and just as quickly rugged up again. Soon announcements for the countdown to the 10km run blared over the airwaves. Some runners warmed up with some fun zumba exercise.

We started off at 0800h. From the oval we raced out of the turfed grounds, to the southern bounds of the park. The course went anti-clockwise and uphill on Salisbury Street. Soon we got to the ridges on the lengthy Chermside Road. A couple of crossings intersected the rolling pathways on this eastern bound of the park.  Great views of Ipswich and its surroundings flitted in and out of the tree-lined route as we headed north. The route turned left, westerly and downhill at the northern bounds of the park on Brisbane Street. At the intersection of Limestone Street on Milford Street, the fun had all but gone as we turned south to a twisting turning and hilly obstacle course. The uphill stretch on Griffith Road between Queens Park and Limestone Park was painful. A drinks stop was set up along the way between a couple of testing hills. Then we came back to the start line completing a 5km loop. 

I stopped for a drink and a rest before I rejoined the 10km runners and ran around the course again. My split time at the 5km was not flash. I tried to keep up the same pace for the second lap, but barely managed a sub-30 min. My total race time (sub-60 minutes) for the 10km park2park, is on the slow side of my average over the past two years. I blame it on the hills, but realistically you can’t run a good run on a mere 5 days of training prior. Maybe I should run to and from the gasfields. It's only 300 km one way.

My time was just better than the average. Cold comfort indeed, but I had some warm breath left. I heard that the local member took part. Good onya Mr Parliamentarian. I hope you will work towards more healthy lifestyle initiatives in parliament. Such as legislating for prizes for everyone joining and finishing a fun run. A vote-getter right there. And a good incentive towards building healthy communities.

The festivities of the park2park came to life in the 5km run where 1000 people lined up to take part. The run is a family affair, but friends and work colleagues make up a great number of runners. Good to see.

And we'll do it again next year.

10 km Results - Males

Place              Bib #  Name                                         Net Time

1                     476     CLAY DAWSON                          0:34:20

2                     337     GRANT GWYNNE                      0:34:40

3                     464     BIOR AROK                                0:35:24

4                     189     TIM GADO                                  0:35:28

5                     245     MASAYUKI ATSUMI                   0:36:03

10 km Results - Females                                                                                     

Place              Bib #  Name                                         Net Time

1                     206     BRIARNA MACKIE                      0:38:15

2                     463     APRIL SLOAN                             0:38:46

3                     470     EMILY DONKER                          0:39:01

4                     472     GLENDA BANAGHAN                0:39:27

5                     320     RENUKA SATIANATHAN            0:40:24

Polichay's 10 km Rivals. These guys are up to 5 minutes faster than me. They had better watch their backs.

121                 158     DAVE MORROW                        0:55:14

131                 405     JOHN BRADLEY                          0:55:39

132                 468     JASON DAVIDSON                     0:56:01

140                 329     STEVEN TOZER                          0:57:10

142                 236     STEVE SEARLE                           0:57:20

147                 324     WAYNE STEELE                          0:58:04

149                 408     RUSSELL EARLE                         0:57:47

154                 480     JUSTIN WATSON                       0:58:35

157                 486     ROGERIO COUTO                      0:58:58

158                 432     JOHN KRAUSE                           0:59:03

161                 172     SHAYNE NEUMANN               0:59:15