GRINDFEST 6HR IN CANBERRA

Contributed by Matthew Griggs, AURA member

GRINDFEST 6HR – ULTRA Mediocre Runners of Canberra

In this time of COVID-19 restrictions, ULTRA Mediocre Runners of Canberra held a small invite-only 6hr race. The Grindfest was so named due to the gruelling false flat on the 1.75km loop course that would destroy the hopes and dreams of participants, forcing all to give in to the Grind.

Ten local starters and a virtual runner in Japan signed up for the Grindfest. Due to restrictions the race required participants to ‘self-crew’. Changes in restrictions closer to the race allowed for a small number of spectators to watch the Grinders in action.

Prior to the race, all participants were given tongue in cheek nicknames that somehow resembled (sometimes ironically) their running style or preference.

Matt ‘Goes Boom’ Robbie, a local speedster, was attempting his first 6hr ultramarathon and mused prior to the race of how slow the pace of the current Australian record is, predicting that he could rattle off a paltry 87km running at his usual ‘long slow distance’ pace.

Robbie kept his word, and set of at LSD pace, lapping the entire field before he completed his fifth lap. The rest of the field was left to Grind away as they watched Robbie fly past.

Everything was going to plan, but as he started to approach 50km Robbie started to realise that what looks easy on paper is something entirely different in reality.

Robbie mused after the race, “At about 48kms (I thought I was still slow) the strangest thing happened. I lost my passion for running, my heart left me, my mind walked away, my fire was lucky to be a candle! Nothing I tried could get my fire going or mind positive.”

At this point he was posting 6 to 10 minute kilometres.

Local Grinder and race organiser Matt ‘Cheezburglar’ Griggs pegged back a lap overtaking Matt Robbie up the soul crushing false flat. Then Griggs got back a second lap and not long after took the lead with a little under an hour to go. Griggs got a little over half a lap in front of Robbie about 66km into the race.

Then, buoyed by the support from his family (and long aid station stops), Robbie found the strength to run faster than he had all race. He started punching out three and a half minute kilometres and would run 5km in 18 minutes to take the lead with 9 minutes to go.

In the last 20 minutes of the race, participants had the option of running small 1km laps, with marking every 250m, allowing for partial lap distances to be added to the final total. Runners could still continue to run the big 1.75km lap, however partially completed laps would not count towards the final total.

In some last minute drama, Robbie ran through 70km and then continued out on to the big lap. As he was halfway through his laps the message got through to him that he had to complete the lap before 6 hours or it wouldn’t count. With around a minute to go Griggs, who had already started running small laps then come through to record 70.25km and take the lead on paper. Robbie was now sprinting for the line, he crossed over to record 71.75km with 20 secs to spare, his last kilometre run at 3:10 pace! Matt “Goes Boom” Robbie, lived up to his nickname!

Robbie’s final musings on running ultras: “WOW! JUST WOW! What a different sport this is! Feels good to be brought down off the pedestal and see that until I’ve walked (literally) in the ultra world I KNOW NOTHING and have a very long road ahead!”

Cian “The Sensible” Gray rounded out the podium with 61.25km and Allicia “Good Sport” Heron was first female with 57km. Whilst Nick “Water Boy” Hamilton completed his six hours as a solo effort in humid Tokyo.

The Grindfest was a great local event for the race-starved ULTRA Mediocre Runners of Canberra. Undoubtedly, this small local club will be having more races into the future!

Click on the image to be redirected to a video of the Grindfest 6hr Ultra.