TOUGH DAY OUT AT HERBERTONNE

HerberTONNE 100km on Saturday, August 3, 2019 Qld

There is one thing that a race director cannot control and that is the weather. This year, the Atherton Tablelands have had an unusually wet winter. Even on Friday, we were all hoping that we’d get a morning shower, then a beautiful North Queensland day. Coming from a very dry Central West of NSW, the rain was a novelty (for a little while).

The small field of 100km runners and the 100km team runners for the HerberTONNE gathered while race directors delivered the briefing early Saturday morning. The sense of humour evident on the website, came through in their briefing. Laughter at a race briefing is always good to calm the nerves.

We started at 6am under headlamps and with a slight drizzle with a run across a suspension bridge. Our first loop – BarBurrum – was 18km, mostly fire trail, that looped out to the west then back into the village of Herberton.

Back at the Historic Village, it was a quick refill and then head out onto loop 2 – Wild Walsh. A short stint up to the Herberton Range Aid Station, refuel again, then head out for the remaining 18km of the loop which takes you over the Great Dividing Range, crosses rivers and through rainforest.

The drizzle wasn’t letting up and the track was now getting muddy. On a fine day, the views from the top of the range would be amazing and it was easy to pick which section the locals know as ‘where the wild things are’.

Back to the Herberton Range Aid Station for a coke, vegemite sandwich, chocolate and a sit and think about life (I’m sure I wasn’t the only one)!

I loaded up, stashing plenty of treats in my pack, and headed off for loop 3 – Mabi – along the old railway track and through the tunnel. This was by far my favourite part of the track. I am simply amazed at the engineering feats that were achieved without the use of technology. The clearing of the railway line and the building of the tunnel which is still around today just amazes me. The railway led to Carrington Falls and as someone who is scared of heights, scaling up the rocks and a steep, steep climb had me asking ‘how the heck am I meant to get up there’!

The mud made the track more like a slip-n-slide through the rainforest. I was happy to get back onto the fire rail and trot along into Plath Road aid station. Potatoes were plentiful and I was asked if I was going to continue. I looked at the fire, so welcoming and warm, but off I donned my headlamp and headed off.

It was during this stint that I decided I’d had enough. The mud and rain had taken its toll on me, although I could have slogged it out and finished but by this stage I wasn’t getting much joy out of running.

At Halls Falls I was greeted by the vollies and my brother, and after 14hrs and 72-odd kms I called it quits and then ate half a packet of jam drop biscuits. By the time we left, the vollies had convinced my brother that trail running was awesome and gave him details for the local running group.

We headed back to the village for the Sunday breakfast and presentation.

These small local events have something special that you don’t get at the big ones. The local Lions Club comes out to cook a breakfast, a local resident gave us a short history lesson of the area, and lumps of tin were given as prizes. It’s things like this that make these events memorable.

The race organisers and volunteers where nothing short of amazing. They came out in the rain and stood at junctions, manned aid stations, sat on and covered tarps on course in the rain to ensure we went to the lookout. There is nothing like seeing a smiling face and hearing kind words to give you a boost when you need it.

Some days, running isn’t about the finish line. I was happy to get to the start line. And happy to call it quits without having a broken body. I was fortunate enough in that I was spending the next week in the area with my brother and his family who live in Atherton. By Thursday the rain had stopped and I got to take my train mad son back to see the tunnel and it nailed one of my main reasons why I do these adventures. I love exploring new places, seeing things that most people won’t get to see, then be able to share them with my family.

As I trudged through the mud, I was vowing to sell some of my gear, and that 100’s and I would be breaking up for good.

But now the mud has been washed off my shoes, I’m already planning my trip back!

Pictured: Ness Hartge racing in the 2019 HerberTONNE. Photograph – Supplied/Facebook. Contributed by Ness Hartge, AURA Treasurer HerberTONNE 100km on Saturday, August 3, 2019 Qld There is one thing that a race director cannot control and that is the weather. This…

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