OXFAM 2011 Trailwalker

A happy and NAIVE Team at the start

The more you disappear down the rabbit hole of Adventure Racing the more the "normal" world warps.

The OXFAM trailwalker is a great example of this - most people consider walking 100km to be a major outing and one that requires significant dedication and preparation! Our Team had fallen so far down the rabbit hole that we now have fur, long ears and stupidity to match. How's that? Well, we thought it would be a good idea to "do" the 100 as a simple training day, in preparation for this year's AR World Champs - the XPD in Tasmania.

17km down - crossing at Cowan Station

Warping and weirdness ensured that we and 2000 other walkers toed the start line at Brooklyn on the shores of the Hawkesbury River in NSW. The competitors were a mixture of regular folk, teens, oldies, clubs and corporates. Hiding in the crowd were a sprinkling of serious runners and the odd ARer - a few GeoQuest, TNF 100 and XPD logos gave the game away. The start was literally a circus, with horns blowing, party hats, costumes and officials "pumping" up the walkers - a party atmosphere prevailed but was short-lived as the clock counted to zero and the first steep hill appeared.

Col ensuring he has enough vegemite sammies

The game was on. Walk as fast as you can. Minimise your stops - manage your tiredness, boredom, fatigue, hunger, pain, blisters, knees, crutch and any other "bit" that could hurt. Remember to eat, drink, refill water, change socks and shoes, lube up as required - tape up bits sooner rather than later. Stay warm, stay cool, stay dry - keep rocks out of your shoes. Ensure you have enough light to get through a dark night. Don't forget the chocolate coated espresso beans, no doz, painkillers and rescue blanket - walking poles are handy if you want some form of knee left at the end. Oh, and a good sense of humour is required - you'll need it. Some parts of this walk are exceptionally tedious and painful!

The best way to describe the Hawkesbury to Sydney Harbour walk is as a continuous series of short steep 100 - 200m hills - up one side, along a ridge top then down into a creek bed - long stretches of tree roots, slippery rocks and technical walking - if you put your brain on auto - you would trip almost instantly! Occasionally a fire trail would appear and give respite to creek beds. We walked non-stop between checkpoints that were spaced every 10 - 15 km. Starting at 9 am, we had covered 35 km by dark - the conga line of walkers on the narrow tracks created a line of headlamps disappearing into the distance. The first 50 km went by in a respectable 12 hrs and 30 mins - our aim was to complete the 100km in 24 hrs. Nothing flash - just consistent walking - the sort of effort that we envisage will be necessary for the XPD in Tasmania.

Wildflowers in abundance

Pizza for dinner at midnight - a slug of coke and we were on the move again - with 60 km down our wheels fell off! Knee pain and blisters began to seriously hamper Carey and I wasn't far behind with my own problems. Colin was suffering
from Monkey Butt and Emma was challenged by the late hour. Maybe a touch of reality would have helped in our preparation - 5 weeks is not enough time to prepare for something as arduous as the OXFAM trailwalker! Living in the AR rabbit hole, it becomes easy to think - yep 100km - no worries - we're fit - stick it in the training plan. Opps - 100km is a LONG way - especially in the type of terrain this walk covered!

A bit of humbling is good for the soul!

Dawn Day 2 - 75 km down

With this in mind, the midnight to dawn stages dragged on and on. Carey was a champion - her feet were becoming bloody pulps. Add a painful knee to the feet and going downhill was becoming a mission - with taped paws and gritted teeth the night disappeared. First light found us close to Roseville Bridge and the 80 km checkpoint. Carey spent an hour in first aid having her feet repaired. A cup of coffee later and we followed the Middle Harbour track along the foreshore until we came out of the bush and into the suburban jungle of cars, noise and expensive houses.

Just another bash along a creek

Carey receiving blister aid

What a shock - we had managed to walk almost entirely in bush through one of the most densely populated areas of Australia. Such is the quality of the Great North Track that it was only now; at 90 km did we encounter the noise and rush of a big city.

Down and across the Spit Bridge - the urban experience was a surreal juxtaposition to the previous 24 hrs, up the hill and down to the "glamour" of Balmoral Beach and the Saturday morning brunchers. We must have looked very shabby and alien in our sweat stained clothes, muddy legs, weary faces and distant eyes. By now our feet felt as though a cheese grater had been run over them. Every step burned.

Not so glamorous walkers at Balmoral Beach - 95km down

One last hill and thankfully it really was the last one! And the finish line loomed. A very pleasing sight - a bit of fanfare and Team Five Ten had completed the 2011 OXFAM Trailwalker.

6600m of elevation change - 100km - 28 hrs and 20 mins.