Archive for June, 2011

Athlete: Keith Darwin

Hi Everyone,

I also just want to start by saying a great big thankyou to the whole gang at NSRG for their fabulous support in making such a great day so much more memorable and enjoyable.

The weather was great, fine, slightly cloudy, no wind, the odd little shower and the sun not too hot. There was a real buzz at the clubrooms leading up to the start, everyone a bit anxious and the cameras coming out for a few group shots.

It was real nice to see those not running, there to wish everyone well, including Lui, Howard, Dennis, Fiona, Heather, Tori, Terry, Lee and the girls, just to name a few (sorry if I don’t mention everyone).

The race started and I was off to a fairly quick pace (for me) and had to try and hold back. It didn’t seem long before I remember Dennis and one of his signs saying there was only 35 km’s to go – great, is that all! Along the way everyone was so friendly from the other runners to all the spectators and marshals and helpers. Thanks Lui and Bob G. I had a run/walk strategy where I would run for about 2.4km’s and then walk for 100m (repeat this 17 times – just a long interval session really). Most of the time is sort of coincided with the water stations so that was good. It felt a bit unnecessary at the start but I was sure I would be glad of it later. It does help break the race down into little parts and when the going gets tough it’s not that long before you get a ‘rest’ and then you feel revived again and off you go with a bit more pep. And it doesn’t do your head in thinking about all those km’s left just run for about 12- 15 mins at a time – anyone can do that.

By the time I got to 28 km’s I was starting to feel rather tired in the legs and was getting pains in my groin and feet, but 2 thirds of the way there so I kept pushing on. I would see the occasional runner from NSRG up just ahead or behind like Chris and that would spur me on. After a while the quicker runners started coming back from the turn around point like Bob W, Simon, Brucey, Kevin, Ed, Rob F, Vince and it was good seeing everyone again. When I started back I saw another bunch of NSRG runners that were behind me and everyone was encouraging and seemed in good spirits but also probably starting to feel the pain. I remember seeing Heather and Terry and Dennis, Ali and so many others numerous times as they would make their way around the circuit ahead of us and then cheer us on and take photos etc. It was fantastic and I thank you all. Even complete strangers were cheering us on as well as other runners that you would end up alongside for a few k’s.

They recon the race starts at 32 k and I guess in away it does. That’s when it started to get tough and it just gets harder all the way to the finish. But with all the wonderful support you get it makes you find that little bit extra and you don’t want to let everyone down. Terry even made me sprint the last 200m to the finish as she ran along side me for a while.

Thankyou all for helping me achieve my first Marathon, from all the support on the day, to all the encouragement over the last eight or nine months running with the group, Bob’s interval training and all the friendships made. If you have never done a Marathon before but were unsure you could do it, give it a go, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. I have been running for just under a year and I never imagined that it was possible for me. I wasn’t that long ago that a 5k race was a big deal. So if I can do it so can you.

Cheers
Keith

Athlete: Neph Janssen

Dear All!
Last Sunday was the culmination of 5 months of training. It was a steep “training” curve for me but I learned a lot from you, my fellow runners. Four weeks ago I thought I have to pull out due to an injury. But I made it to the start line with “butterflies” that comes along with all the excitement. I was relieved when Gail, Lynette and Annie turn up alongside me just before gun start.

It was such a glorious day, I couldn’t have asked for anything more. The weather was great; the crowd was exhilarating, great support from hubby and a lot of familiar faces from members from the club. As I ran the first few kms of the course there is that quiet confidence building up in me knowing that there a good number of people out there like me that will be plodding through their first marathon.

I would like to extend my special thanks to Rob Robartson that kept me company and chatted through the good half of the course that made the time goes faster. I would like to extend my special thanks to him. As I progress through the course, I keep seeing you guys on the sideline, it was fantastic! I couldn’t have done it without you cheering us on –Lee, Sylvia, Nicola, Helen, Sam and many others…of course not to forget Dennis!

They say the last 5kms would be the most difficult and I believe you now! Many full grown men and women were brought to tears at this point of the run, I did too! They also said that you will be a different person when you completed your first marathon… I think a have mutated from being a weekend warrior!

You all are an inspiration to me!

Thanks heaps!
Neph

Athlete: Sean Cooper

I ran with the Monday night group last night and Rob Rob pushed me to send this to you. So here it is.

As you know four years ago I went along to a NSRG meet and started running. Never did I believe I would run over 100kms in a race. Attached are my recollections of 103 kms up and down hills along trails from Northam to Mundaring Weir in the Kep Ultra 2011.

The Kep Ultra is in total a 103km or 75km race from Northam to Mundaring Weir. Over three years ago it was the dream of Rob Donkersloot from NSRG and Perth Trail Runners to run this event. He invented it, manages it, and as a result of his skills and abilities it is becoming one of the races on the Ultra Marathon running calendar in Australia. He is the premium race organiser in WA and should look at doing this for a career.

Preparation for this event was good, for a change. It times well with the marathon season in Perth so there are many from NSRG that I can tag along with, and if not Rob Fowler is always there to help out for extra runs and motivation. Apart from training (with NSRG members) it took me a day to prepare for the race with packs and gear tucked away for every aid station which were all about 20k apart. I even practiced aid station stops. I’m sure I’m going nuts but it was worth practising.

The race kicks off at 7am in Northam. I was lucky to score a lift with a few mates who are all well accomplished ultra runners (Dave Kennedy and Nathan Fawkes, 24 hour and 12 hour running freaks) and they were talking about running 4.45 pace for the whole 100k and the other was talking about doing the 75k in 6 hours. I had two goals, the first was to finish as I have never run over 66kms before and the second was to do it under 12 hours. I didn’t want to talk it up more than that but at the start line felling good, anything can happen.

Rob kicks the race off, (he is very strict) and it’s perfect conditions. Freezing cold but clearing to a beautiful Perth day with a slight breeze. I started off a bit quick and got stung by the first hill/mountain. I eased up a bit, was happy to see a couple of runners go past and paced myself up the hills from Northam to Clackline. It’s a lot hillier here than I imagined or wanted and I was in about position 7 for the 100k runners into Clackline which is about 19k from Northam. I must point out I made a mistake of borrowing a mates Garmin GPS watch as mine has poor battery life. I didn’t check it and it wasn’t displaying what I wanted. Where it helped me was I just kept it on day time and I was able to calculate how I was travelling which worked well. It was that hilly here that a guy on a push bike who was supporting someone else would try and get away from me. I would pass him on the hills and he would pass me on the descents. Running is much more fun and the hills were too big for bikes.

Clackline to Woorooloo (Station 1 to Station 2) was a better place for humans to run as it flattened out a bit. It’s quite scenic taking in Bakers Hill and running through old railway sidings and machinery as well as farms and fields. The trails were soft, damp but easy to run on and enjoyable. I passed David Deany for the second time, then worked out I was doing 4.20′s so eased up again. Just prior to Woorooloo I ran past Nathan who was talking about a 6 hour 75k finish earlier but was not in any condition to go on. I knew that the Kowalski’s would be up ahead so I focused on trying to look OK as I entered their aid station at Woorooloo. Its a great feeling when you see faces you know well and they are super supportive. At this point I had probably run just over the marathon distance and was feeling good. A quick stop and I was off again.

Damn hills. It’s hillier than I thought out of Woorooloo and again David Deany went past me, that’s the 4th time I’d seen him so far and I had another runner up with me pushing me along. I ran past Dave who was intending on running the 100k in 4.45 splits, he took off again but had pulled out of going the whole 100k and opted for the 75k. I went past a horse show and had a couple of riders riding large horses in front of me for a while which was great until they left their lunch in there wake for me to stumble over.

The hills flatten out near Chidlow and I found a comfortable rhythm to enter the Mt Helena 61k point just behind a couple of runners. At Mt Helena I entered the aid station at least 30 minutes earlier than I had hoped for, and about an hour ahead of where I thought I would be. It was a good feeling and a sign of encouragement especially to see the familiar NSRG faces there and I had to use all my strength to stop Rob Fowler from trying to kiss me. His support was fantastic for the rest of the race and he would just pop out of the bush occasionally and encourage me to keep going. I don’t normally run away from pubs, it’s more the other way round so it was sad to see the back of the pub as I pushed along.

I gained and kept up with another runner (John) and close to Bellevue (Aid Station 4) had the occasional view of David Deany at about the 82 km mark. I liked this section as we have done it a lot with NSRG. Going past the old railway tunnel I thought of Nigel hitting the wall (literally) and had a laugh. I had the confidence to get through this and without thinking about it had run further than ever before. I was looking forward to catching up with the NSRG girls at Bellevue but was too early for them, but again got great support from Rob Fowler who saw me off. I had a swig of beer at this stop, only I know how good it tasted! I needed the carbs, trust me.

The last 20 k’s are mainly uphill and I started to really struggle. John and I worked together and we made a pact that if we got to near the finish together that we would in fact finish together. So running with him we pushed each other towards Darlington. Amazingly we caught and passed David and I’m told we went past another runner but I don’t remember that. Half way up the mountain to Mundaring we caught site of the guys coming second and third. I never thought I would be in a position to race for a podium and whilst we tried to catch them, they were too far ahead so we eased up a bit to ensure a safe finish.

As equal 4th was becoming a reality I was starting to really struggle. I had eaten and drank well (except for the swig of beer) but I found that I had pushed myself so hard I was struggling to balance and see. Oddly I could run straight but if I slowed to a walk I would almost fall of the track and go side wards so I just kept pushing ahead as quick as we could. This feeling lasted for about the last 15k’s and I managed to stay upright, although I was kicking the insides of my ankles heaps which were bleeding badly. I didn’t want to stop and lose a position so we just kept going until the last steep hill 400m from the finish where we decided that we would walk and try to gain our composure.

At the top near the finish we jogged up to the line to achieve equal 4th. We also went through the 100km mark just under 10 hours. I wasn’t crook at the finish, but was out of it and felt like I was disorientated from pushing myself so hard. I remember some NSRG people were there, but I’m sorry if I didnt talk much, I couldn’t. I struggled to eat or drink and I had trouble balancing and Rob and others helped me to the car where I went and had a shower and freshen up. After that I was fine and went back to the finish to watch the majority come through and enjoy their race. I must have been unwell as I tried to drink a beer and couldn’t.

The next couple of days were rough on the legs but they are ok now apart from the insides of my ankles which look messy. I would like to thank everyone I have run with over the last few months, you all know who you are. Running in a group like hours makes us push each other, set goals, learn from each other and assist each other in achieving our goals. This was my goal for the year and everyone helped me achieve it.

I’m going to go to the Perth Marathon to cheer on our group runners, I may even jog along with some of us to help them achieve their goals.

See you out there.

Coops.