Six Foot Track - Blue Mountains. NSW

Saturday:
Distance: 45.0 km
Time: 4 hrs 52 mins 15 secs
Rate: 6' 30" per km
Altitude gain: 1500 metres
Altitude loss: 1600 metres
Calories used: 3000
Weather: mostly cloudy, temp 12-19 degrees, wind calm
Week: 78.45 km, Mar: 148.05 km, Year: 970.75 km

Ran and finished my 12th Six Foot Track, under 5 hours for the 10th time out of 12. Running in near perfect conditions except for the height of the river, at chest height on me, feet off the bed of the river. I had to use the rope to pull me across.
Started in wave 2, 5 minutes after the gun runners, but as usual there was a log jam at the top of Nellies Glen. Everyone was cautious, it was wet underfoot in the top half but dry further down. The remainder of the course was dry but the other small creek crossing meant wet feet for much of the trip.
After getting some space along the Megalong Valley, I got caught behind a runner who fell twice in front of me as we approached the Coxes River. I cleared him and then had an incident free run.
The hard training runs paid off with being able to run all of the Mini saddle and the up hill to the pluviometer except 100 metres before the top of each peak. That was to get the heart rate down and allow a reasonable pace afterwards. The Black range 10 kms seemed easier this year, usually that it the time of day when it gets warm, this year low cloud kept the temp down.
A couple of walk steps on the rocky section of the deviation then run as best I could to the finish. Soon you can hear the crowd at Caves houses, then Belinda's voice gets louder, you know you are nearly finished.
Some how managed to hold out some very good performances from the local group, a couple of minutes in front of Pam & Nick, a big Pb, Carol just over the 5 hours, the two Kerrie's in there as well, Michael T another big Pb and Mick C did well after an injury plagued preparation to get under 6 hours. Special mention to Ewen on 5 days notice to easily beat the sweeper despite no specific hill training.
The lead up to this year's event was as good as I can get it, the Maroondah Dam run slotted in perfectly, plus those long pre Christmas runs in the mountains.
A few days to recover, an easy few weeks to get back in to a routine, then on with the next major project in May. No falls, no injuries, some fatigue that will go in a day or so.
A great weekend away with very nice people, catching up with my ultra running mates as well.