Six Foot Track Marathon

Saturday March 14 2009
The 26th running of the Six Foot Track Marathon was on today in the Blue Mountains. The race billed as Australia’s toughest off road marathon covers a distance of 45 km starting at The Explorers Tree at Katoomba finishing at Jenolan Caves. First time I have been a spectator at the start after dropping Al and The Hammer, who were running. It was interesting being at the start but not running. I cannot say that I felt the desire to run even though I have done the training. Just not feeling very confident at the moment but maybe if it were not for my painful hamstring and hip I may have been tempted. On the drive up the mountains on Friday my left leg was numb and the sciatic pain made the trip very uncomfortable. The idea of running 45km when I was in pain sitting down was surprising not very appealing. The atmosphere at the start was calm but very tense. After months of training the day has finally arrived and suddenly all the nervous tension in the air was released and the 850 runners were sent on their way in 4 wave starts. Within 30 minutes the start area was all calm again. The supporters silently walked back to their cars to get breakfast and contemplate the long drive over to Jenolan Caves. And the volunteers got about the business of packing up and handing the trail back to walkers who take between 2 to 3 days to cover the distance. The winner of today’s race covered the 45 km in 3:15 and the first female finished in 3:58, both outstanding and record setting performances. I was helping out at the finishing area at Caves House and reporting for my shift a little early I noticed the massage tables were free. I jumped at a chance to get a quick massage to relieve my sciatic pain. It ended up being the best $20 spent in some time. The masseuse worked on my glutes and lumber spine finding exquisitely painful spots. At the end I felt great, the hamstring was free and the sciatic pain almost gone. Bliss – there is hope for a good run tomorrow. After 11:15am the runners started arriving at the finish line and this continued for the next 4 hours. The race reports were mixed ranging from best conditions ever to maybe a little warm or total disaster for runners who got cramps or got injured. Lots of PB’s to pay off for months of training and for those for whom things may not have worked out – some reflection and perhaps a desire to come back and settle some unfinished business. There was a lot to be happy about for our team - Al ran a huge PB to finish in a time of 4:39 and The Hammer finished looking stronger then his previous two attempts and a 19 minute PB. We finished the day in the mountains with a pizza and a beer at Govetts Leap lookout watching a wondrous changing landscape as an almighty storm rolled in from the west. As The Hammer once famously said “Ain’t Life Grand”.