Bush Capital Ultra - AMRA event

Today:
Distance: 60.45 km
Time: 5 hrs 55 mins 24 secs
Rate: 5' 52" per km
Calories used: 4634
Elevation gain/loss: 610 metres
Weather: mostly sunny, cold to start, 0-9 degrees, humidity high, wind calm mostly then light but cool south/west
Week: 114.0 km
July: 396.6 km
Year: 2956.85 km

The Australian Mountain Running Association conduct this weekend of running to raise funds to help fund runners going to the World champs in mountain running. This year over 400 runners turned up on a crisp Saturday morning in Canberra to run from distances from 5 km to the marathon to the 60 km ultra.
I have previously ran the 25 km event which I think is a beauty. A bit of everything, one climb to negotiate near Mt Ainslie but really a good fast event. Not far enough to be too taxing, but when finished you need a rest.
The ultra is a big step up both in distance and time. Not all that much more difficult, no big hills except the up after the underpass of the Federal Highway with about 9 km to go. I had a little walk here today.
Started out keeping pace with the middle of the pack of both ultra and marathon runners, first small mistake, lesson 1, run your own race. But as you would expect, feeling in cruise mode, ran the up hill to Mt Ainslie saddle and up to the reservoir above Hackett. Out to the Federal Highway and over to Horse Park Dr, I was leading a group of talkers, including Kelley Flood, who went on to record 2nd in the women's marathon. That is her story to tell, running I think, around 3:45 hrs on that course.
I kept on going at the marathon turn out in Goorooyaroo Nature Park as the others waved goodbye. Still feeling Ok but knowing that calorie intake had been insufficient to date, lesson 2, eat early and more often.
Reached the ultra turn in good time, only stopping to remove a stone from a shoe, no blisters today. Kerrie Bremner didn't stop at the drink station and cruised away going well. I kept pace with her on the up hill, but lost distance on the flat and down. And so she should, running just over 9 hours for 100 km on the Gold Coast only a few weeks ago.
Going past 40 km the wheels loosened, not falling off, but I slowed considerably and, while not struggling to the finish, just lacked the zip I expected I would have had. Certainly not much walking, and lessons 1 & 2 above didn't help.
Self doubt about GH160 in 7 weeks but a few days rest to reflect. A trip away this week may help. I know I didn't handle the cold very well today, Qld will be different. And GH will be much slower with more walking and even pacing. Today's km rate slowed from 5'15" for the first 15 km to 7' 15" for the last 11 km.
In summary, a good event, a long way to run, broke 6 hours which was the plan but it could have been better, no injuries except a sore right hammie at times during the final few kms, a sore right shin which lasted a few kms and went away.
Too tired to go to the lake for a recovery 10 minutes but may get a chance tomorrow or Monday. On duty at the monthly handicap at Mt Taylor tomorrow.
Must finish now, Cadel rides tonight, go Aussie!!