So with the annual Puffing Billy Train Race being on again last Sunday, what better time to renew my acquaintance with racing than to do it...12 long months later. It certainly wasn't meant to be such a long gap, but it was, and it certainly refreshed my memory of how hard running races are, how much your legs can hurt afterwards...and how much I enjoy the whole experience. But gee, did my legs hurt on Monday and Tuesday...
I've done the Puffing Billy race about 5-6 times before last weekend and love it for the challenge of the course (it is hard), the concept of the race (against the train), the setting (in the Dandenong ranges), and the good times when friends also participate. Each of these things were to the fore on Sunday, which all made for a great day out.
This year we had 11 from our running group entered, with two teams being formed amongst them competing for bragging rights, plus some supporters (spouses) also heading up to cheer us on. Some of us were chasing PBs, some there for the first time, and some really wanted to beat the train which recorded a scorching time last year. Best of all is that everyone wore their "Love the Run" tops!!!
After a delay, an interview with Tony Abbott (visiting Melbourne for the weekend) and the train driver, the 3200 runners were sent on their way for the 13km from Belgrave to Emerald. The first km is mostly downhill, and fast, but then the road turns upwards, downwards and upwards - and onwards - in varying grades, for varying distances - it is a hard course to race on!!! Along the way the train crosses the running route four times, where runners must give way and thereby stopping momentum and slowing overall time.
As for me, well being 12 months short on racing form, and doing little in training to suggest good form, I started conservatively and used my knowledge of the course to (hopefully) measure out my effort across the full distance...which is easy to say!!! So the start felt quite good, especially down the hill, and still strong up the first hill from 1.5 - 2.5km. Then came a long, gradual downhill which feels great to be able to stride out and run smoothly with little effort - bliss!!!
As we approached the first crossing I could hear the train, then see the train coming alongside and couldn't believe it - the train NEVER goes this fast. I was in about 10th place and could see only the first two runners getting over the crossing before the train, which is unheard of. I came to a halt (costing about 10sec) with a group of others which bunched us up as we waited for the train to pass...which seemed to take forever. When we got going the field spread out again, and I settled into about 9-10th placing.
All the downhill makes for a fast first 5km (16:45min), which counts for little since right after 5km mark the route turns left onto a dirt road and upwards, starting out at about 4-5% but feels really hard. This is the hardest stretch of the course, 1.5km of gradually steeper dirt uphill. Even in slowing down I still caught a couple of place to about 6-7th place but with my legs really struggling...although apparently less than the guys I passed, I guess!!! Up to the top it barely levels out and one guy pulled away a little along the plateau before a steep downhill kick.
We crossed the train line twice more but without delay - the train was stopped, waiting at a station right alongside one of the crossings - and I ran steadily in about 7-8th place as the course went along the bitumen road for a couple of kms. The final crossing is just before the Emerald station, at the 10km mark (36:03min), and the road runs alongside the train track before crossing it, and as fate would have it the train drew up alongside as we headed towards the intersection...dammit. It was clear I wasn't going to get through and so along with 4 other guys we stopped, again, to let the train pass...this time for about 20sec.
The only good thing about the stop was seeing the train passengers and getting some cheers, including our group's supporters, which was nice.
The train slowly passed and yet we had to wait a little longer for the flashing lights to stop, then we were on our way for the final 3km to the finish. As if to torment us, the train waited at the station as we ran past, perhaps waiting to make a final sprint itself down to the finish...
Anyway, the 5 runners all ran on and once again spread out for the gradual downhill finish, filling places 5th to 9th. I came in at 8th placing just not having the leg speed to keep up with the faster guys, in a time of 46:22min. Pre-race I thought that top-10 and sub-46min would be a good day, so perhaps without the stops I would have achieved both goals...so in all, a pretty good return to racing.
But our running day wasn't over as 6 of us ran back to the start again, making it a good long run day, and fully deserving of a fantastic brunch at a cafe on the road back home. In our group three of us ran < 50mins, ahead of the train that did an even faster time than last year, in 50:32min. Some more details of our results are here, and photos are here.
The days after the race reminded me of the other parts of racing...sore legs!!! But it was a good kind of sore, and it felt good to be racing again and seeing there is good room for improvement as running continues on. So I think I can say that I'm "back in the game"!!!
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