RACE DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR BRISBANE TRAIL ULTRA

Contributed by Shona Stephenson, Race Director for Brisbane Trail Ultra

Brisbane Trail Ultra, 3-4 October 2020 in Brisbane, Qld

Wow what a weekend for the Brisbane Trail Ultra. In conditions that were brutal with temperatures reaching over 30 degrees we still watched in amazement when four records fell across our 10 events.

We found the most stunning trails in the region, taking our runners to the Brisbane Hinterland Virgin Rainforest. The BTU course is beautiful and brutal, the course has it all, steep climbs, a few stairs, loose descents, technical trails, sweeping goat tracks, a few long fire trails and of course a bit of road at the end to bring you into the Red Bull Party finish line that was proudly supported by Newstead Brewing Co.

We know we are the toughest in Queensland, our ITRA/UTMB points prove this, it’s why we’ve tried so hard to make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck on our course and get you prepared for other prestigious events in Australia and worldwide. 

It was an exciting day of trail racing at the BTU, we tested Track Me Live GPS trackers on our BTU110 and BTU100Mile athletes which was a huge success, and we popped them on our elite BTU60 and BTU30 runners so we could stay ahead of the game and also warn support crews, check point staff, photographers and medics on the course about the location of our runners. The GPS trackers were an awesome tool for our ultra runners and will be utilised again for our event in 2021. We also trialled live tracking which was a massive success for the event with 20 timing mats on the course giving our officials and supporters regular splits on the course throughout the event. Check out the live tracking links below to see how the event unfolded: 

http://live.trackmelive.com.au/btu2020/?fbclid=IwAR09Ctl6s4fnQMYausIURWhDz9MlZizQAn0CSpIx4F94IsgQ68onmXzRcIQ

https://events.onetime.sport/event/665/?fbclid=IwAR2NZazbeRRLQbE5eTpFKo2x3l_qloQhra1TlTAjZk4ZKtLqfhO4ob5nnt0

On Saturday, BTU100 Mile runners kicked off at 5am in a wave together. We had a 60% drop off due to COVID-19 in the miler event and 40% drop off on average across the other events. This didn’t stop us from putting on an amazing event for the Queensland, NT and SA trail running community though.

The BTU110 5:30am started in waves of 10 every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. Then the BTU60 8am started in waves of 10 every 5 minutes and were all running by 8:40am. The wave times helped us manage the runners social distance at the start line, check points and finish line locations. We had loads of hand sanitiser and antiseptic wipes, Cora and I marvelled that it wasn’t that much different from our hygiene last year as we both already practice a high level of hygiene at our event. We just had it official with signage and followed closely the contact tracing and signing in of support crew for each check point, start and finish line. 

2019 BTU100Mile winner Keiran O’Brien was back for more with the Blackall100 record holder Ryan Crawford also towing the line next to 2019 4th place winner Noelis Rheault and Canadian-born South Australian runner Damien Espinase.

In the women’s race we had young gun super star Jacqui Bell, she was the only female brave enough to take on the BTU100Mile challenge. The men ran closely together with Ryan Crawford leading into CP1, yet he missed the turn-around at the check point and actually ran straight past me at the time. I just thought he needed to use the toilet, yet he returned saying he lost the trail adding 100m onto his race. This allowed for Kieran and Noelis to jump ahead of him and Damien to catch him. Jacqui looked relaxed coming into CP1, chatting away to the other BTU100 Mile runners. 

At the same time the BTU110 was off and running with Hayley Teale leading the women’s event and Carol Robertson stepping up from the BTU60 to gain the rare 5 ITRA/UTMB Points for a completion of the distance with Andrew Dey, Tom Brimelow, Aaron Dower and Paul Pettit racing together until Mount Nebo – Jolly’s Lookout section out and day where Andrew Dey pulled away from Tom, making the most of his local knowledge.

We knew Andrew was going to be in for a chance as a few weeks prior to the event he was smashing the Strava segments around the Mount Nebo section of the course. 

At 8am the BTU60 runners took off with local legend Ben Duffus leading Anderson Moquiuti and Andrew Hill, Benjamin Foessel with Toowomba runner Janet Smith, Katie Mackenzie and Rebecca Idens leading the women’s event in tough conditions, as the heat was rising as the day lengthened.

The BTU60 event hit the hottest areas of the course at the hottest part of the day and required a heat management strategy to overcome the potential dehydration/overheating on the course. Our remote athlete support vehicles from All American Wheeling were put to work early in the event with runners pulling out after only 20km in with severe cramping.

With three ultra events running all at once we were treated to mini races all over the course.

Ben Duffus in the BTU60 was first to finish, setting a new course record for the event with a stellar time of 5:21:18. He looked fresh on the finish line and was soon joined by local runner Andrew Hill, then Fosse and Ando showing absolute solidarity for their fellow ultra runner deciding to run across the line together and taking an equal 3rd place. What a way to round off the men’s BTU60 podium.

1st Place: Ben Duffus (Course Record) 5:21:18
2nd Place: Andrew Hill 6:48:54
3rd Place Benjamin Foessel & Anderson Moquiuti 7:01:26

It was then the BTU60 women’s turn to finish. Janet Smith flew across the line in a time of 7:41.24 with Katie Mac only 11 minutes behind and Rebecca within 15 minutes of her. It was awesome to see the strength in the women’s BTU60 distance. The course is ranked a tough 3 ITRA/UTMB points for the distance, almost as much as a 100km event and the times reflect this degree of difficulty.

1st Place: Janet Smith 7:41:24
2nd Place: Katie Mackenzie 7:52:24
3rd Place: Rebecca Idiens 8:05:10

When the kilometres get longer the BTU gets tougher. Boasting a 5 point ranked event it is as tough as it can possibly get for an event in Australia, ranking as tough as many European/Asian events.

Local runner Andrew Dey took out the win followed by GC runner Tom Brimelow both Tom and Andrew were stepping up to the 100km distance for the first time. Aaron Dower took out the 3rd place on the podium playing it safe in the early stages of the event, overtaking Paul around the 1/2 way point. 

1st Place: Andrew Dey 12:02:42
2nd Place: Tom Brimelow 12:50:25
3rd Place: Aaron Dower 14:12:06

Hayley Teale led from the start and showed her character by working through tough hot conditions and was joined by her daughter of 13 and a friend as a pacer to run in the final stage of the event together. She took out first place in style with Carol Roberston and Jade Davis making up the final place on the podium. 

1st Place: Hayley Teale 14:44:47
2nd Place: Carol Robertson 17:06:24
3rd Place: Jade Davis 17:23:54

Watching the BTU100 Mile race play out, it’s hard to imagine how one can remain controlled, focused and in race mode for so long. We were treated with a stellar takeover by Noelis Rheault of Kerian O’Brien at the infamous Kokoda Hill. Who would dare to run up Kokoda with 136km in their legs?!

But Noelis did it in style, running up the 30% climb encouraged by his pacer Cambo, to move into 1st place.

Keiran led the BTU100Mile with Ryan Crawford pulling out after 85km, but Noelis set himself up nicely for the BTU100Mile win. He set the record for the BTU100Mile at 20:36:17. Keiran then cruised into 2nd place and new kid on the block in his first ever 100Mile event on a mountainous course Canadian-born South Australian runner Damian Espinase took out 3rd place. 

1st Place: Noelis Rheault (Course Record) 20:36:17
2nd Place: Kieran O’Brien 22:18:44
3rd Place: Damian Espinase 24:39:44

Due to border restrictions and COVID-19 postponements of our event our women’s field was reduced to only one classy runner. Jacqui Bell, more known for her multi-stage 4-day desert crossing events, decided to take on the BTU100Mile and step up her continuous distance to the BTU100Mile. Jacqui managed to see Township Break twice! She managed an awesome time on our course and we are super excited to see what she can do on our course in 2021. 

1st Place: Jacqui Bell 28:11:39

With much of the action happening on the Saturday for the BTU60, BTU110, BTU100Mile, we had to do it all again and get the BTU30 runners up and moving at 5am. This was an exciting start to the BTU30 with the wave times being staggered 5 minutes apart due to COVID-19 restrictions and we could see some tactics playing out at the start line. I was pushing them through as fast as possible within the Queensland Health Department guidelines knowing that it was only going got get hotter out on the course the later it got. The restrictions on the Friday before our event changed from one person every 4sqm to one person per every 2sqm. Some runners wanted to kick it off in the front wave, others were being cheeky and waiting for the front runners to take off in the hope that when we did the count back on the finish line they would be moved up into a podium position.

Lachlan Jamieson chose this tactic, which threw us all at the finish line forcing us to wait a full 2 hours and 20 minutes after our final wave at 7am before we could announce the winner for both the female and male events.

Male
1st Place: Lachlan Jamieson (Course Record) 2:19:43
2nd Place: Daniel Buenen 2:23:31
3rd Place: Oliver Waddingham 2:30:27

Female
1st Place: Rebecca Goad 2:54:12
2nd Place: Laura Veal 3:07:16
3rd Place: Tatiana Marinho 3:12:38

Now onto the race within the race, the BTU Red Bull Climb. This event was a special add on and part of every entry at the BTU. It’s a 1.7km hill climb from CP7 – the top of the Pinnacles Trail, only a 178m vertical climb, but after already so much climbing before you reach this section of the course it is one test of your VO2Max threshold. 

We were blown away when we saw the record go by almost two minutes this year in the male event.

Male
1st Place: Luke Davison (Course Record) 9:15
2nd Place: Lachlan Jamieson 10:33
3rd Place: Daniel Buenen 11:06

Female
1st Place: Rebecca Goad 13:21
2nd Place: Tamara Trotman 14:48
3rd Place: Sarah O’Dwyer-Mazur 15:09

The Brisbane Trail Ultra is a logistical ultra marathon in itself with 180km of course to mark, water stations with over 3000L of water that was consumed and transported to our seven check points and three water stops.

Our check points were all managed by running groups or adventure sports stores, Bunyaville Trail Runners CP1, K2 Base Camp CP2 mandatory gear check in and registration support, Kokoda Kids CP3, AAA Racing and Coaching CP4 and Mount Nebo/Mount Glorious Logistics, CP5 and Remote Water Stops, Remote Athlete Recovery All American Wheeling, CP6 Springfield Runners Group, CP7 Brisbane Trail Runners, Arnie helped with mountain logistics, Bernadette and Henrico helped with logistics and GPS trackers.

Our finish line was managed by River City Runners backed up by Red Bull Australia (start, finish line and CP7 Red Bull Climb), Newstead Brewing Co supplying the free beer to every finishing runner as they crossed the line. Massive thank you to La Sportiva our official shoe sponsor for the Brisbane Trail Ultra 2020. 

We also has the first aid assist medics on hand backed by 1300 medics in the remote areas of the national park. We were treated to amazing burgers by River Life with the BBQ and bar open to all. The party kicked on and I had a freak out as everyone started to get loose standing up (OMG not everyone is seated! New Covid world). Little did I know (due to setting up the event and helping out at rego) that the restriction changed again on 4pm Friday night to allow for standing and drinking in groups that were socially distanced.

I could breathe a sigh of relief as we really could relax and enjoy ourselves with the restrictions eased. Everyone had a great time at our finish line, the atmosphere was electric with the Red Bull party DJ playing anthems into the night, burgers and chips being served around the clock.

We know that when we move the line, just a little further down the path to the iconic Storey Bridge in 2021 it will be an addition to our event experience.