Trans NT 52 (and a bit)

The race profile

Ben, one of my new running friends from the Namibian desert race, persuaded me to stop off in Hong Kong on my way back to the UK from Australia, with the promise of taking me on a run in the HK hills. Little did I know exactly what was instore for me.....and I don't just mean all the unrest and violence, but a scenic (if rather undulating) crossing of the whole of the New Territories (the bit of HK that is on the mainland, next to China). I obediently signed up for it with blind trust, and it was only when I read the specific race email from the organisers just before I left Australia, that I realised it was going to be a mere 52km long with over 3000m of elevation gain (and I guessed that those were actually conservative estimates).

I met Ben at registration (I've never caught a taxi to a start line before but when needs must 😊 ), we got our numbers, handed in kit bags for the finish and headed up to the start.There as no check of our compulsory kit but we were told that this would happen at some point during the event. It was a decent walk to the start line, so an ideal time to eye up how large/small other people's packs were...and freak myself out slightly about the fact that it was early morning and already felt quite warm, though thankfully less humid than it can be in Hong Kong.

Up on Ma On Shan ridge

We started (with a countdown in Chinese) on a paved road, but there was no gentle easing into it, as we went straight up a hill. At least this slowed down some of the usual speedy starters so I could weave in and out of them and catch back up to Ben. I knew that we had to climb all the way up onto the ridge line (that my cousin had pointed out way above her house the night before), but before we did this, there was a sudden sharp descent (and you guessed it, many people flew past me again). Soon enough we were onto trail and climbing up and up onto the top of the Ma On Shan ridge.

The first steps

It was too steep to run but this meant we had enough breath and energy to chat as we power hiked up, along with another running friend of Ben's. When we finally topped out (only rather warm and sweating), the views were fantastic...but I hardly had a chance to look at them because the boys were off and running. They knew the trails really well, but as it was my first time there, I was desperately trying to look under my feet as well as around at the scenery as it was just stunning. I could see across to Kowloon and Hong Kong Island to the south and to the Chinese mainland to the north (I cunningly tried to slow Ben down by asking him to point out the sights....such as the highest point on HK island, where I'd been the day before).

More steps

Some sections were rather rough and rocky underfoot, whereas others consisted of some of the endless steps that I'd been warned about. The word "steps" described a multitude of terrain underfoot as there were manicured paved steps, rough rocky steps, built up steps, and also what obviously had been dirt steps shored up with wooden edges, but the rainy season had washed a lot of the soil away leaving wooden ridges designed to catch your toes and send you flying if you weren't careful!! I worried that I was slowing Ben down as we climbed up and down (there was almost nothing flat at all) but he said that he was happy to chill out and go my speed, which was great for me as the miles ticked by much more quickly when we could chat as well as run. 

As we ran into the first checkpoint, I was shocked to hear that I was the 3rd female, but then again, we still had a long way to go and I often take such comments with a pinch of salt as they've been wrong before. Still, it was a nice thing to hear as I filled up my drinks bottles and took on some snacks. Although still undulating, the next section was on more runnable trail as we remained somewhat higher in the hills than we'd started, and I really enjoyed the scenery (well apart from when a monkey jumped across the trail at about the level of head and nearly took me out). I was so relieved to see the monkeys, as I had worried that some of the rustling noises I'd been hearing were due to snakes and other nasties. 

We passed a lady in this section and though she then came along with us a bit for the chat (I think she was definitely more suited to the downhill sections than me), she then dropped back and so we thought we had a decent gap as we tucked into the bananas and drinks at the next checkpoint. From there we had a lot of descending to do, though some of it was actually on tarmac road, as we'd dropped to the level of urban living, and then skirted round a reservoir. From memory, I thought the next checkpoint was by his reservoir, so although Ben seemed to have dropped back slightly on the trail, I just presumed he was seconds behind me and I'd see him at the next CP. 

Unfortunately my memory was playing tricks on me and there was another hot climb and steep road downhill to go. I wasn't convinced that I was still on course as it seemed to take a very long time to reach the CP and there were a lot of walkers around but few or no runners.....but finally I spotted a marshal waving me in. There was some proper food at this aid station rather than just snacks so I ate some of that and unloaded my pack for the kitcheck (it did seem rather odd to be producing my headtorch in the head of the midday sun!!!!). 

Staggering up more trail

Ben didn't appear so I wondered if I had missed him and he was actually ahead of me, so after eating and drinking sufficiently I headed off. The next section involved lots of climbing as we had to go over the highest point of the course (just shy of 1000m), which I would definitely have preferred earlier on when I was fresher and the weather cooler, but I'd been told that a lot of the climbing was on road so I figured I'd be able to make decent progress.

It appeared that this information was also rather misleading, as although I started up a road (passing a couple of guys), the route then turned off onto a narrow track. This rough track climbed up and up, becoming more and more overgrown. It then started to curve round the side of some of the hills and I really did start doubting myself. The markings in trees were few and far between, I often couldn't see exactly where I was putting my feet (hence a few minor ankle rolls on rocks) due to the long grass, and there were a couple of creek crossings. Add in the fact that I didn't see another person for almost 10k, and I really thought I'd gone off in totally the wrong direction, though I couldn't fathom where I'd taken such a wrong turning.

Climbing out in the sunshine

Suddenly I joined a bigger trail, the trees and grass thinned out, and I was climbing up in the hot sunshine again. I spotted a photographer who reassured me that I was going well, and I spotted another couple of runners ahead of me. I was moving at a better pace then them, so the long ascent meant I gained several more places, and we even managed short bits of chat. One guy tried to encourage me to push on to close on the leading lady, but I figured that she was long gone (she was a local runner.....and also the course record holder) and I was really getting rather hot and tired!

Yeah....reaching the summit domes

And another descent

Finally I topped out by the large domes and started the steep descent. Now I was on tarmac, but unfortunately it was so steep and twisty that I was constantly braking as I pounded the pavement. I was signposted off the road onto trail and then eventually reached the final CP. There was a whole family manning this aid station, and they did laugh when I said I'd like a cup of ice......preferably filled with gin and tonic.....so I made do with water, coke, fruit and nuts and headed off!

Having a laugh with my new chum :-)

In my head the final section was a nice runnable trail 5k, but again, reality was rather different. Yes, there was some initial runnable trail, but then there was some steep road to descend (and my legs were so tried by this point that they kept threatening to give out on my), some more paths to climb up, and then an inordinate number of stone and metal steps down into town to the finish line. I caught up with another British runner for the final few kms and so we managed to keep each other going (just about). A few hundred metres from the finish a guy powered past us (he was one I'd overtaken just before the course's high point) and I marvelled at the strength/control he had left in his legs to be able to descend all those steps at such a speed.

Beers with Ben

Prize-giving

Finally, we rounded a corner and crossed the finish line, to be handed a well-earnt beer and our drop bags from the start! I'd finished in a much quicker time than I'd thought I could run, and it was lovely to be congratulated by the winning lady who said that it was a very tough course for a first run in the HK hills, and by the time Ben arrived I had recovered enough to thank him for a beautiful day out - wonderful scenery, great company and (mostly) lovely trails......though I'd be glad not to see any more steps for a while :-) 

I Came....I Saw....I Carcoared!!!

The course

I have often been "adopted" by running clubs and invited to share in their weekends away whilst on my travels and last weekend was no exception. The Kirribilli Runners (KRs) were going out to take part in the Carcour Cup which was a festival of running, including junior races, a 6k "dash", a 10k run, a different 10k walk, a half marathon, a marathon and a marathon relay for teams of 4. The KRs had two mens' teams taking part in the relay race, whilst my friend Angus had entered the marathon.

 During the week I decided to enter the marathon and join them for the weekend (but then regretted my decision after doing my first ever barefoot soft sand run and scraping the skin off my delicate British feet, to leave the underside of my toes raw and weeping.....don't worry, I will not post a picture of that delight!).

Love a DIY carwash!!

It took about 5 hours to drive to Carcoar from Sydney, as we had to go across the Blue Mountains and out into the dry land on the far side......but the journey was broken up with some playing in a DIY carwash (well, the temperature was in the low 30s)!

Early morning at the PoW camp

Pacing a speedy 9 year old

On Saturday morning we headed over to Cowra parkrun which was an interesting course around an old Japanese Prisoner of War camp.....and was rather hillier than I expected (especially when you had to run the hills twice!). After finishing.....taking a surprise first finisher token and new CR.....I went back and ran the last 1/4 with a lovely 9 year old girl, as she had been waiting for her mother and was itching to stretch her legs a little bit faster. She was amazed to hear where I came from and wanted to know what it was like to run in snow 😂

The main (and only) street in Carcoar

It was difficult to refrain from drinking too many beers whilst watching the rugby World Cup final in the pub in Carcour on Saturday as the entire village (the population is about 200) seemed to be there, including the local police officers, but as the marathon was due to start at 8am on Sunday, getting too involved wouldn't have been the most sensible option.

The marathon and team relay both started at 8am (in the main street outside the pub) with the other events starting slightly later in the day, though participants were being taken to their various starts on buses across the morning. As we'd stayed in the pub (I had been on a blowup mattress in the corner of a room) it must've been the smallest distance I've ever travelled from bed to startline!

A quick countdown and we were off, with the usual split of people haring off the front to local applause and the rest of us setting off at a more sedate pace (very useful as the bridge over the creek within the first 50m had large studs protruding out of it, which could have easily tripped up an unsuspecting runner caught in a crowd). The race itself was marketed as an off-road marathon......which was sort of a misnomer as it was all on "road" but most of the roads were unsealed gravel and dirt. It was also sold as rather a hilly course....which unfortunately was a more accurate description, as my watch recorded over 700m of ascent during the race (which also started and finished at about 700m elevation).

Hanging around near the startline

There was no real easing into the course as we had our first steep climb within the first mile (though admittedly this was just before the tarmac ran out). I guess this didn't bother me as much as those who had gone off at a fast pace as although I was initially chugging along as about 6th lady, I overtook a few going up that hill (oddly enough they seemed to be constantly checking their watches for their pace).

It was funny to see a "100" limit sign marking the edge of town, just as we hit the rough gravel.....and I really doubted that anyone would attempt to drive anything approaching that speed even if the road had been tarred as there was hardly a straight stretch as we wound up and down what seemed like every hill in the vicinity!

Waterstations were manned by local families :-)

I could vaguely see a Russian lady disappearing off in to the distance ahead of me, but she looked very comfortable and relaxed, and I had no urge (or ability) to go chasing after her (my main goal for the event was to finish within 5 hours which would qualify me for an iconic Australian run next year.....the 6 Foot Track....and I certainly hadn't trained or prepared for a good marathon race). I was actually rather glad that I wasn't much closer to her and a few men ahead of me when I saw some kangaroos decide to cross the road just as they were running past.....as they were very nearly taken out by them!

Not the flattest race profile I've seen!

The route seemed to do an awful lot of climbing with much less descending, and after passing another man, I was all alone so it reminded me of a lonely Comrades training run (except for the fact that most of it was on unsealed roads). Depending on corners and inclines, I would occasionally spy a runner ahead, but they never seemed to get much closer. The fact that there was a marathon relay did break it up a bit, as a fast second leg runner sped past me soon after her started and I watched him reel in those further up the road, but then I, in turn, passed a couple of relay runners, including one of the KRs.

Ups and downs...

Some of the climbs were very short and sharp but a few times you could see several hundred metres ahead of you. One of these sections was at about the 12 mile mark and so I decided to clock when the Russian lady passed a small dirt road junction....and measured myself as being almost exactly a minute behind her. I was feeling good at this point at we hit the tarmac of Neville and I gradually closed the gap. Being cheered on by the KRs at the next relay changeover helped (those waiting to run and those that had just finished running) as the first time I passed it, I was just behind her, and after looking round the "town" (about 7 houses) and passing them again I'd moved past her.

I remember people saying to me that when they pass someone, they try to pass them definitively and so make it look easy. I've never really done that before, but tried to this time, commenting that she was going well and looking great. The reply was more panted than spoken (with a string Russian accent)....."Are you Team? Not my competition?" I didn't really want to get into a whole conversation about it so I said I was running alone but racing my friends in teams :-)

Some of the views were definitely
worth the climbs

By the time we left Neville, I knew that I was a good 15 miles into the run, and though I thought I'd soon be overtaken by the Russian lady again (the next few miles were on road, and initially flatter before starting to undulate again) I managed to get into more of a rhythm. I felt like I was running really slowly but when I looked at my watch, it reassured me that I was going faster than I thought.....which was also borne out by overtaking another couple of guys, both solo and relay runners, and by getting a nice cheer from a relay team driving past to the next changeover.

As I climbed up to the final relay switch, one of the KRs was in the road looking for his runner. He reassured me that I had a decent gap on the next lady (which did surprise me) and I realised that their team wasn't about to catch me either, as their next runner wasn't yet fully stripped off!

Hanging in an honorary KR t-shirt

The final section was on forestry/gravel roads again, and contained the steepest climbs of the whole run. I was definitely feeling rather tired, hot and bothered by this point (and actually ate the only sweets I managed to take in on the whole run). The run was definitely less lonely by this point as I'd caught up to the tailenders of the half marathon (they started at Neville 45 minutes after we started). I can't say it was fun to be running in the dust churned up by the rural fire service sweeping their course, but at least they weren't going fast enough to stir much up. Passing these guys did make sure that I kept running (well, I guess you could still call it running) up even the steepest of slopes.....though all I wanted to do was walk. The road climbed and climbed with several false summits, and just as I felt that I had to give in and walk, I crested the pass at thankfully grabbed water from the last aid station.

The last mile doesn't look nearly
as steep in a photo!!

From here it was "mainly" downhill.....ha....whilst there were some incredibly steep descents (I was a bit dubious of my grip on the gravel and sand) there were also some definite "rises" to test your determination. Finally I hit the tarmac and knew I only had about a mile to go. I had no idea if I was about to be passed (either by the Russian or the KR B team) but I could do no more than I was doing. The road descent was rather steep and I was rather worried that my quads would give out, but I made it onto the flag and managed to summon on some more energy for the last 800m or so.

 

Crossing the line after a High 5
with the Race Director

Many people cheered me on that stretch, the KR A team who'd already finished, the KR B team awaiting their final man, locals, people I'd met at Cowra parkrun the night before, and several others. The race director was standing in the middle of the high street announcing every runner in and so I High 5'd him before heading for the line and some verb welcome water to pour over my head. I was just happy to be finished, uninjured......and the results were an added bonus!

 

Celebrating with the 2 KR relay teams

Angus had decided to call it a day at Neville so arrived back safely soon afterwards and we all went to the pub to celebrate as the KR teams had finished 1st and 2nd in the relay race with me actually splitting them in the results! What a lovely, if tough, race and atmosphere ......definitely a good weekend away!