WILSON HAS DONE IT AGAIN

After hour five I settled into doing what I knew worked from last year, which was walking the straights and running the bends. What I didn’t know, but was about to discover, was whether I could maintain it for another 19 hours. As race director Matt Eckford had said then, “If you want to break records…walking will not achieve it.”

I had gone through 6 hours about 9km behind my pace at Campbelltown three weeks earlier and my 12 hours (97.1km) was more than 10kms behind what I had set off aiming for. I then took a 15 minute break to hopefully prevent the 15 hour ‘collapse’ of last year.

We did the maths and I set off to attempt a better second half than last year. Simple really, all I had to do was continue my routine for another 12 hours and I would be in record territory in the final stages. Easily said, but it did entail hardly ever stopping and forcing my protesting legs into a run each time I came to a track bend. How long could I sustain it, before settling into long periods of walking and resulting failure.

The hard part was from 12 to 20 hours, as there was nothing to look forward to except many hours of cold, dark drudgery. If I got through that, I could then envisage attaining a new 100 mile record and then the race finish just two hours later.

If you don’t keep putting fuel in you grind to a halt. Common sense really and I tried to oblige whenever Justin offered me something. However my brain and body were telling me I was going to throw up if I had anything more. It was correct and now there was a problem, as there is no point eating if it is not staying down there to be digested.

In the last 6 hours I cautiously resumed eating and drinking and just hoped it would stay down. I had been banking an extra kilometre and when assured that I could have a walk and still attain the goals I did so with much relief. Always niggling though was “Don’t get to comfortable doing this, or it has all been for nothing.” With my eyes on the 100 mile record, I was soon upping the pace again to ensure it was as decent as I could make it. How did I spend those final laps leading up to a new Australian M70 Age Group record for 100 Miles? Three laps of walking nibbling at a delicious Hash Brown I had been offered and then stopped, throwing it all up again. What a waste!

Back to it! Stuff the food and just run some laps to get to 100 miles. I was pleased to improve my M70 Age Group Record by 44 mins 18 secs, by covering the distance in 21 hours 47 minutes 42 seconds. It was only a day after the event I realised that I had surpassed the long standing Australian M65 record held by Cliff Young. Unfortunately I didn’t manage that over a year ago when in the appropriate age group!

That’s better, as a goal has been achieved and in an hour the sun will be up for the last stages. Just keep doing more of the same and it’s just possible to attain 175km. All the same, it was now a very unusual experience to spend hours running on what was almost a skating rink. The track had become moist with dew and had now frozen solid.

Wearing multiple layers it was a constant challenge to stay warm enough, whilst not sweating too much. Head coverings tended to become too warm and yet my ears had to be covered as they were freezing. My thick mittens had become moist with sweat and were now freezing up. ‘Super domestique’ Justin found a heater and returned them dry and warm.

I continued with as much running as I could manage in the final hour, as the champions down in lane one were all inspiring with solid finishes. Out in lane six the early leader Ayden Boxsell had been 10kms in front of me at halfway. He had never run further than a marathon and now had a PB for 100km and 100 Miles. Even though injured in the second half, he stayed out there at a walk and completed a courageous first 24 Hour. Susan Marshall our sole female was flying through the final stages, as she also attained the magical miler mark.

In my briefing notes to Justin I noted some final remarks, which stated that my schedule was ‘Pie in the Sky’ and may only be attained if everything goes perfectly. I noted that otherwise, I would be elated to go sub 22 hours for 100 Miles and get to 175km for 24 hours.

I pushed the last few laps as much as I could, whilst having no idea of my real distance, as it was very approximately 4-5kms below Garmin display. The gun sounds the finish of 24 long hours and we rug up on chairs while distances are measured. Then it is off to the gazebo and lie down and keep warm until presentation.

Some extraordinary performances in the Invitational field. The depth was just what you would hope for, in this type of elite event. For me the superb running by Michael Hooker to attain 260.401km and a PB for Allicia Heron of 225.428km including multiple W35 Age Group Records, were the highlight.

In the open event there was proof that the second half is as important as the first. As I remained uninjured and doggedly stayed the course, I won my first event against all ages this millennium. The distance achieved was 175.034km. With a sensible Plan and an invaluable crew in Justin Hiatt, I had improved my Australian M70 Age Group Record by over 4km. It was pleasing to also get past one of Cliffy’s non-record achievements after narrowly missing it the previous year.

How long my comeback will endure I do not know but it is nice to be out there doing it.

Featured Image: Greg Wilson post-race at the 2023 Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational. Photograph – Unknown/Supplied FB.