Mountain Run - Tough but Fun

I'm not sure why I did it, but I participated in a Mountain Running Race last Sunday at Dandenong Ranges National Park in the worst possible weather. It was three laps of running up and down the mountain, each lap is roughly 4.2km with the first 1km section having a 200m elevation gain. I knew it was going to be pretty tough so I only had three goals for the race.

1. Finish it
2. Not finish last
3. Don't get lapped by the front runners before I finish my 2nd lap
   

I also donated blood the week prior along with extra samples taken for testings to get enlisted on the Bone Marrow Registry. I knew the "new blood" wouldn't be charged up so soon...

Initially I thought it was going to be a race with 200 odd people so it wouldn't be too bad because with that many people I probably won't be last... So I was very surprised when only 35 or so turned up and all of them seemed to be the next Olympic champion. The 3 goals suddenly became really challenging!

In the end, after huffing and puffing the entire 98 minutes, I still have a huge grin on my face despite the following:

• I ran the 1st lap up the hill in pouring rain, driving wind and 5-degree temperature;
• The officials up the summit were briefed on stopping runners suspected of having hypothermia, I thought they looked at me for a little longer than others as I went past them slowly;
  
• It was so cold and windy on the summit I thought my arms were frozen solid;
• The downhill running bits were a bit testing on the knees and ankles as well as testing my courage to sprint;
  
• The 2nd lap was all about trying to survive and focus on getting up that hill again and shutting all thoughts about the THIRD lap;
• A few front runners overtook me near the end of my second lap to finish the race so my third goal was smashed...
  
• The 3rd lap was a killer. I was really exhausted and just wanted to get to the end, knowing I'm the last one holding up the officials who were working in the rain because of me;
  
• It was pretty cold once I finished the race as the body cooled down rapidly;
  
• Ran another 100m up the hill to Upper Fentree Gully Station to catch the train, only for it to wave goodbye to us. Thankfully, it wasn't the train going back to the city;
• I've been coughing for more than 24 hours since I finished the race, hopefully I haven't got the flu or pneumonia!
  

Most of my friends and colleagues said, "What a miserable weekend Tom!"

It's hard to explain, but it was quite a challenge, something that I wouldn't normally do and it was quite an experience I actually enjoyed in the end! That even surprised me! I learned a bit from it, especially how to deal with internal voices telling me, "This is absolutely ridiculous! What's wrong with sitting at home and watching TV? Give up now! Walk don't run anymore! It's cold!!!!!" It kind of reminded me how not to give up walking on 9 August 2007 in Tasmania when my body was telling me to give up.

Hopefully next time I can do better! (Internal voice: Do it in warmer weather at least!).