TheGoat 2018
1st December 2018https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/3195793001
https://my5.raceresult.com/113297/results?lang=en
After the intense anticipation.... finally TheGoat arrives!
(Normally a run from Whakapapa to Turoa)
Our group consisted of Me, Will, Barnaby, Neville, Colum, Brett and Neil. We drove down in two cars (Neil with Brett, and Barny with the rest of us) on Friday night. The silly forecasters were predicting heavy rain and gale force winds, so the organisers unfortunately had to change to the alternative course. (this being a run from Ohakune to the Turoa finish line, about 50% on trail and 50% road).
The race now included both the Goat competitors and also the Big Kid competitors. Nearly 1000 runners!
The accommodation was an old villa just a short walk from the pub / start line. Very handy!
The morning dawned clear and calm. GRRRRR!!!
No wind, no rain, quite warm.
Morning at the House
Race Start
All set. Nev, Will, Barnaby and I were in the first wave to start.
Race Report
Nev set out at a breakneck pace, as normal! I remember Barnaby asking me "Are you going to let Neville run off like that?", and I could only answer him "what choice do we have?"
After a short section of the lovely, manicured Mangawhero Forest Walk track, we headed back onto the road for a decent uphill section. By the end of this, Nev was almost out of sight, and I had drifted ahead of Will and Barnaby.
We entered into the Old Blythe track, which was a bit muddier than I was hoping for. At various points, I was thinking that the eventual choice of road running shoes (and not my trail shoes) might have been a mistake. (and thinking that Will would be cursing me!) Overall though, in spite of some sliding around, probably it was the right call. Certainly, later on the road sections, it was great to be in road shoes.
I didn't see anyone I knew throughout this track section. I did manage to trip on one jump up section of the muddy track, and completely tip/fall backwards - saved fortunately by the sad dude who was following too closely behind me, who I cannoned into and hence saved myself while bumping him over into the mud :)! {I said sorry, but he seemed too grumpy to even respond to me, heh heh}
There was a lovely downhill part of the track, which was great to fly down and forget the uphill toil for a short while. Such a relief to be running down! The bridge near the bottom was a good place for photos before we got back onto the road.
Neil
Colum
Barnaby
Will
Neville
Brett
Dave
Unfortunately, after getting back to the road, there was no way but up, up, up.
Shortly after I got back onto the road, I spotted Neville in the distance. This was a relief, since I didn't know how far ahead he might have been by that stage (5km to go?), but since I could see him, I could (maybe) catch him...
I got up even with Nev with about 2km to go. I hadn't walked up until this stage, but I was puffing from the effort of chasing him, and decided to start racing tactically, so I walked for a very short while with him before lurching back into a shuffling run. I did my best to crush him. 😀😀😀
I finished about 40 seconds ahead of Neville in the end.
The Goat himself was on hand to greet us all.
Will and Barnaby came in shortly after Neville and I.
Brett and Colum and Neil made it 7 out of 7. A very successful day!
For some crazy reason, Barnaby and Colum decided that waiting for the bus to take them down to Ohakune was too slow... so they decided to run back down!!! A big day of 38km for them! Whew!
I got first in the over 50's, and Brett got second in the over 60's. Prizegiving was long (albeit funny at times), and we somehow failed to get any of the 70+ spot prizes!
My time was 1:55:32.
Coming home early on Sunday, we managed to fit 6 of us into Barnaby's car.
Michal Petrus ran well (from a slower wave start position), and John and Suzanne and Alison ran also.
The overall feeling was that perhaps more aggression / speed in the earlier sections of the race would have produced a better time. For me, I felt that my pace was reasonably optimal, given the unknowns of running uphill for such a long time. Certainly the alternative course wasn't so challenging as the real Goat. Next year beckons...
It was a really great weekend, with great guys, and super fun. Thanks guys!
Personal Training Notes
I had a reasonable buildup to this event. A sprained ankle a few months ago had restricted my training for a while, and I got an inflamed left shin muscle a few weeks ago, but neither stopped me exercising/cycling/swimming or required too much time off running. So my overall fitness was ok.
I have been eating without restriction lately, which definitely isn't the optimal plan :( My weight was about 71 leading up to the event, and 73 after tapering/carbo loading. Given my disappearing muscle mass, I could/should be well under this weight... However this was counterbalanced by recent training efforts which went well - specifically 3 long trail runs with 'the guys' (2 in Te Henga, one in Riverhead), plus some really effective stair climbing rep sessions. (50 up Tohuna Torea at 58 second lap time). So I felt slow but strong, which was always the goal for this run.
In the last week, I reduced the volume (40 stairs on Monday, jog Tuesday and just 4 laps Dingle Dell Wednesday), and ensured that I ate predominantly carbs (little fat or protein).
Race morning, I had a nurofen (to reduce inflammation), and the normal strategy of toast/jam 2 hours before run, and a gel 30 minutes before start. During the race, I had 3 gels at 35/70/105 mins on schedule. I started with 750ml water on my new front-pak, and drank most of it. In retrospect, I could probably have had less water and maybe used my older camelbak. (but then it is harder to access/reach the GoPro...)
I forgot my anti-cramp vinegar, but my calves were ok. (but another hour on the proper goat course might well have been a different story)
How to run faster? a) more training, and more brutal training b) less weight c) perhaps a slight bit faster on the earlier sections of the run?
Definitely happy with road shoes on this course - even though the weather was fine on the day, there had been lots of rain recently, and the muddy sections were a bit of a problem... but still correct decision.
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