Anna Pillinger takes a hold of the Duval Dam Buster

Kate Dzienis • October 30, 2023

Contributed by Anna Pillinger, AURA member (Fairlight, NSW)

DUVAL DAM BUSTER 50KM, ARMIDALE (NSW), 24 September 2023

I entered Duval Dam Buster 50km not really knowing much about it – but I had come across it on the AURA calendar when researching the route for our school holiday family road trip up to Queensland. Knowing I would be training for LMU 104km while we were away, I had a quick look to see if there was anything going on along the way that I could use as a training run. Being navigationally challenged a marked course is definitely preferable for longer trail runs in unfamiliar territory!

The race started a bit out of town and given I had my husband and 3 kids I just needed to work out the logistics of how to get to the start without having to drag them all out early in the morning in the freezing cold. Lee Anne (the RD) very kindly helped me out and found me a lift to the start with Tim (love the trail running community!).

The start was out at Dumaresq Dam, it was pretty cold but there was a great vibe out there and lots of activity getting everything set up. We had a short race briefing (with mentions of snakes and cows along the course – neither of which I am keen on!) and then we were off.

I started in gloves and thermal but it didn’t take too long to warm up as before long we were going up the first climb to the summit of Mt Duval. I started running with local running legend Hannah McRae chatting away and the kms quickly started passing. It was a mix of forest trails, fire trail, ups and downs, grassy paddocks and the dreaded cattle grids! I spectacularly failed on my first crossing and ended up flat on my face with arms and legs through the gaps – still running with Hannah at this point she just looked at me and “You can tell you’re from Sydney – but seriously, how did you not break your ankle?” (or something along those lines!).

A bit bashed up but still one piece I carried on and was much more cautious on the ones to come (approx 1 million more!). After a stretch of dirt and bitumen road came the grass airstrip we got to run the length of – that was pretty fun! One more steep climb about 40kms in which was definitely one to hike and by this time we were on the same course as some of the other distances so there were a few more people around.

After that it was mostly downhill to the finish back at the dam. I really focused on trying to get my nutrition right and felt pretty strong throughout as a result – really happy to come away with first female and 2nd overall (had no idea that the overall winner was less than a minute ahead of me until I finished).

The volunteers out on course were all great which really made the event what it was. After the presentation we headed to the local brewery, Great Hops, for lunch and a cheeky beer (& to pick up the case of beer which was one of the prizes) before continuing on our trip. Really fun morning out, great to run new trails and meet new people. Definitely one to do if you’re in the area next year!