Another one over

The Kokoda Challenge 2010 has been done and conquered by the IntelliTrain Team (no. 124) in 21.32.13 (they were some of the toughest 96ks I have ever walked or ran). The Kokoda Challenge is a walking event (a lot of teams actually run) that commemorates the 1942 effort on the Kokoda Trail in PNG, where Aussie Militia held off the Japanese from taking Australia.

Our team consisted of (from the web site):
Anton Guinea: A professional speaker based in Gladstone but endlessly roaming the country, Anton has completed various triathlons, marathons and ultras (should have learned by now you would think!) Daniel Standen : A fitness trainer awaiting his professional triathlete ticket. In the interim Daniel will be kept busy piggy backing the rest of us across the finish line. Mark Hetherington: An aquatic centre manager by day (and night), Mark still finds time to train in Victoria's antarctic like conditions whilst somehow maintaining his ever cheerful disposition. Andrew Hetherington: A financial planning/broking trainer based in Brisbane (with nearly as many frequent flyer points as Anton), and clearly out of his league in this team.

The 96k event was huge, for our team of 4 (you had to start and finish with all four people in your team to register a full finish time). In the end, of the 321 teams that started the full event, we finished with 4 team members, we finished 55 overall (actually 44, of teams that finished with all members - which put us in the top 15% of finishers). Also, we were the 16th all men's team over the line (out of 97). We were really pleased with that, and to get there was, in the end, no mean fete - here is the story:

On Friday afternoon, the team and the support crew (who were just amazing) grouped at the Gold Coast and collected our gear, and collected our thoughts. After a dash to the shops for all things that you need to get through an ultra endurance event, we agreed that our goal would be a 20 hour finish time, and that is what we aimed for for the whole race. If we travelled at 6k per hour (16 hours of time on our feet), we still had up to four hours at checkpoints to regroup as required, and we would get home in 20 hours, without much trouble).

As Saturday morning came around, and the 7am start time approached, we did the regulatory toilet stops, the last minute preparations and we grouped behind the 20 hour finish time placard. We all listened, saluted and got caught up in the moment, as the Last Post was played, and after a 20 minute delay, at 7.20am, we were away and running. And, we felt great.

Team 124 was pumped and were running strong. We ran up some of the smaller inclines in those early stages, though most inclines were walked up, while the down hills were nearly sprints in some cases. How much fun were we having.

There were 12 checkpoints along the course of the run, though only at checkpoints 2, 5, 7, 10 and 12 could we meet our crew. At checkpoint 2 (12.8k), we were on fire - 1.34.59 hours had expired and we were doing 6k per hour. Then, at checkpoint 5 (36.4k), we were at 5.34.20, and travelling strong. Still on track for under 20 hours. It was during leading up to that checkpoint that the challenges started appearing. Mark
was blistering, Andrew was chafing and I was cramping. No show stoppers, but all required attention. Dan was just a power of strength, his 26 year old legs just kept pushing. He ate the house down for the entire event (and it was terrible being behind him, as it was going through his system quickly - for the whole 96k).

One thing that did happen (at the 19.37k stage) was that we came across a 16 your old (Jason) who had collapsed, and had to be rescued by an ambulance. He had not eaten or drank enough - he was in a bad way. We were the first on the scene, and Mark took the lead to make sure Jason was treated properly before we moved on (a 20 minute delay - but worth it). Mark was also involved in a 'face plant', where an older (60 years plus) guy slid down a hill on his nose. Mark was on hand to help out there too.

Prior to checkpoint 7, we hit the half way point - we did the first 48k in 8.5 hours. All little problems had been treated, and we were looking forward to the 51.4k checkpoint and a rest (we got there in 9.09). Our outstanding crew, as they did the entire event, looked after us admirably, and we were fed noodles and sandwiches and anything else we needed - we enjoyed the rest that much that we were at checkpoint 7 for nearly 50 minutes (probably too long). Off we went again, and little did we know that the Gold Coast was about to get nasty, and we were about to run into about 30k of solid hills, both ascents and descents. It was a tough stage of the event.

We ran strongly into checkpoint 10 (at 68.2k) and 13.25 hours had expired. We could still register a 20 hour finish time, if we pushed, and between that and beating some of the other teams that were ahead of us, we ran and walked on, depending on the terrain. We really pushed hard for the next 13k (there were some suburban roads running out of checkpoint 10, and we used those to run hard and fast). We were still pushing hard when we pulled into checkpoint 12 in 15.58 hours. We had covered 80.6k, and we had over 4 hours to cover the last 15k. How easy was this going to be.

Then, it started to go bad for team 124. At checkpoint 12, for some reason, we thought a feed of McDonalds sounded like a good idea, and we all tucked into a Big Mac and a hot chocolate - now, I never eat that sort of food anyway, and it was a food decision that I now regret. That stuff just sat in my stomach, trying to digest - what the hell do they put in it - and as we came up over potentially the toughest climb of the race, at 86k, Andrew had vomited it all up and I would have loved to do the same). With 10k to go, we had 2 hours and 10 minutes in which to travel if we were to reach our goal time. We were in trouble though, with my illness and Andrew's cramps (that really hit him hard at that 86k point) looked like being potential show stoppers.

As we tried to move on, Mark and Dan supported Andrew's weight until we could get him some trekking sticks on which to put his weight. That helped, but in short, his legs were spent. Mentally strong, physically done in. For all of us to finish this event together was now our goal. We all had to get home, and the finish time of 20 hours was soon forgotten. We were shattered to see all teams that we have been passing now going past us. This was now a battle of wills, and we were going to cover that last 10k, even if we had to carry someone over the line.

We walked across the finish line in 21.32.31. We were ecstatic. What a day and what a performance.

To Mark - what a leader - he was a tower of strength the entire way, he must have been tired, but he was focused on helping the rest of us. Mark was born to lead, and without him, we may have struggled more than we did.

To Andrew - My god - how did he did it. He trekked (or stumbled really, over 10k on two tree branches after being helped up a hill at the 86k stage). Very inspirational. I hope his body has pulled up alright.

To Dan - the youthful legs of a triathlete - Dan was still running strong at the very end of the event. To see how fit someone can be was also truly inspiring, and his upbeat attitude and (even when he was laughing at me as I lay comatose trying to digest horrible junk food) positive attitude was just great.

To our crew - Ian and Noel (and Simone and Eva (the baby girl who gooed and garred over he weekend to cheer us up), you guys were amazing. Thanks for your support, and thanks for the effort and commitment. We could not have done it without you. Ian, I reckon an event like that might be something that you could attack one day and Joel (Noel), mate, we may have put you off running ever again, but thank you for your effort and support. Nicole (Simone), thanks for the lift to the train station. I got home to share the story with the family last night.

Overall, what a great event, what a great team, what a great crew, and what a great finish time (although slower than we wanted). It was all in the aid of charity, heaps of money was raised and the diggers were remembered. We were living the dream. A good day all round. What is next, I wonder ...


PS, by the way, I thought I would just give you my perspective of the race - although it was a team race, it was a personal challenge. I suffered from chafing, more than I have ever done before. I ran and walked at least 40k with either a glove or my beanie (as it was softer) down my pants, to protect the softer sections of my groin. Groin chafing can quickly end your endurance event, and I (and Andrew) were suffering badly. My under arms and my back (from my pack) also chafed badly. It was painful. My feet held up well, which was great. The recovery from the Maccas really was tough - that cannot be understated - I suffered badly, and could not go on for about 20 minutes (at the 86k point). Before that, at 78k, as we came up over the top of a hill, and were heading down into checkpoint 12, I was also gone. I really now understand the hit the wall theory. I have not hit it like that before. I said to Andrew that I was not sure that I could make it to the end. I was shattered. The turning point was that Marc McLaren, a mate of mine and fellow North Face 100 runner was texting me at that stage. He said he was following us on Google Earth, so that gave me energy - it proved that it is always mind over mater - thinking about something else helped me get over it. At checkpoint 12, we really all were shagged. I had the feeling that I was nearly the worst, but I was probably quickest to get going again, surprisingly, which was good.

What really got me at one point was that, I looked down, and I had broken a shoe lace. And, my shoe laces are elastic. I managed a quick repair, but would you believe, with no spares, it could have been a major issue - isn't it amazing how the smallest things can cause the biggest issues.

Finally, I struggled with cramping for 80k of the event. It was amazing how early they came on. I could not shake them. I was lucky, though, as it was only the tops of my legs. They can be managed, but I was in a world of hurt at times. It did not hold the boys up for more than a few minutes, but it could have been a lot worse. Especially going from uphill to downhill was the worst. My legs would just lock up, and the pain would start, and not subside until I could completely straighten out. Absolute agony - that would have happened about 10 times. The message is to work out how to prevent them coming on - that I am not sure about, as yet.

Anyway, keep running, and keep living the dream.