WTF UNDER ROBERTSON’S BELT

Bianca taking a selfie with Sue

I was dreading the downhill, but took it carefully, and it wasn’t long before we hit the bottom, and again more single track and a couple of creek crossings. We end up back at the aid station for a refill of liquid and a bite, then back up the hill to do the loop again! The technical downhill definitely felt better the 2nd time, although Rob Donkersloot passed us as if it was just a simple flight of stairs! We even managed to keep our feet dry on the creek crossings this time. Back at the aid station we said goodbye to Tim who had fed and watered us and we were back to NBC, first leg done. 

We quickly refilled our bottles and grabbed some food, but didn’t bother to change our socks and shoes as they actually felt okay. The next section is some gravel road leading into about 5kms of single track before hitting the first aid station on this leg. We were greeted with hugs and love from Cassie and Sharon who looked after us, before we were sent on our way up the King Jarrah Trail. This section although a bit hilly is so pretty and we enjoyed the wild flowers and just the beautiful bush. 

It is a total of 18kms before we see the aid station again, with about 12kms of single track, and then 6kms along flattish gravel road. So good to come around the corner towards the end and there is the hugs and love from the girls before we enjoy the 7kms back to base. Bianca is doing well while despite not being 100% I am still struggling to keep up with her walk! This time when we hit the NBC it is decided we will change our socks, my shoes were okay, but Bianca needed to change hers. Simon was here, our pacer, and he kindly looked after Bianca’s feet, and I sorted mine out. 

It looked like I had waterlogged feet, although they did feel fine and they enjoyed clean, dry socks. A quick fill up, I might have had a cup of tea, and a croissant and we were on our way to Leg 3. The course on this leg had a diversion from last year’s event, so I didn’t know it. It started off great with track I knew and then track I didn’t but was pretty. We also passed a few friends in this first section who were either doing the 50kms, or the 50/100 miler, so some were finishing up and others were still going, but it was nice to see them for hugs, and possibly a few tears.

We came along a section of flat gravel road, and then we hit the big hill, that just went up and up! By now it was dark, so headlamps were on, and it was probably a good thing I couldn’t see the top! But when we did get there we were confused as to where the track went as the sign looked like it went straight ahead, but that was into dense bush. Fortunately just as we were working it out we saw a headlight coming along from the right, and it was Heath, so now we knew which way to go. 

(L-R) Simon, Bianca and Sue

He was doing pretty good, had had a rough patch but was over it, and now getting on with the run. Good to see him. We set off down the path, and again ended up on single track which was lovely even though it was dark, and kept asking ourselves where was the turnaround? We finally saw another light and it was Del coming towards us, it was lovely to see her, although she was not happy with just a cone to turn around. We daren’t ask how far it was, but another km or so we had also arrived at the cone, and turned around. 

At least the hill was downhill this time when we got to it, but my left knee started getting niggly, so I put on the brace I had and that seemed to work. We passed Ashley coming up, who like us was wondering where the turnaround was. There is no aid station on this leg, but it is the shorter of the 3 legs, so although it seemed to take a long time, once we got to the carpark at the entrance to that section we knew we were nearly back to NBC, and we could pick up Simon. 

Spoilt with hot soup, cup of tea, some warm clothes, I even sat by the fire for about 5 minutes, it was heaven and I had to force myself out the door. Literally just as we were setting out, Michael Hooker came in having finished, his 100mi done in 16 hours, just wow! A congratulations shouted to him, and we were out for the second half of our own 100mi.

It was great to finally have Simon keep us company and push us along. Some chatter from him kept this section going well, although I was now dreading the technical downhill in the dark. We finally met up with Tim and Nathan at the aid station, they had a nice fire going, and they sent us up the big hill. At least this time we only had to do the loop once, and I was certainly grateful for that. Last time up this hill that also went for ever, and finally we were at the top and Bianca was skimming along at her fast rate walk. We got down the technical piece without any dramas and even managed to keep our feet fairly dry on the creek crossings.

Once back at the aid station Bianca was feeling her cough and Nathan kindly boiled up some water so she was able to sip on that for a while and warm up from the inside. Thanks both of you, Tim and Nathan, friendly kind faces, who then kicked us out in to the cold dark night, and it sure was cold. We eventually got back to NBC around 4.30am, changed socks, shoes, and were back out very quickly. I remember leaving there and thinking we have around 52kms and we have about 13.5 hours to do it in, easy you think?

It was so nice to finally see dawn breaking as we were enjoying the single track towards the aid station at Stringers, and there were the vollies Sharon and Cassie and crew still there. Big hugs, hot tea, hot noodles, and a blanket wrapped round us made it hard for us to leave, but we left in a much better head space, thank you lovely people, truly grateful. I enjoy the next section, so was looking forward to it, but now the legs are definitely feeling the 100kms+ in my legs, so the hills were definitely harder, but there is some sweet single track up there, and we enjoyed the scenery. Finally the weather was starting to warm up and we were able to peel off some of the layers.

The gravel section back to the aid station seemed to take forever, and it was with relief that finally about 4 hours later we finally saw the marquee again. We were quickly replenished, dropped off our extra clothing in to our drop bags, and headed the last 7kms back to NBC, before the very last section. Finally those wonderful volunteers could pack up and go home, they had given up their whole weekend, and we were so grateful.

Back at base we had one more leg, I knew it was going to be slow, I wanted us out by 12 to give us a chance to get back before cutoff, that would give us 6 hours to complete, hopefully enough time. We were in around 11.30am, we both had our socks feet, checked and changed, thank you Jen for sorting my manky feet, they certainly felt better after. Simon sorted Bianca’s. We were also lucky enough that Simon had kindly organised to come with us on this leg, we thought it might be just us, but boy were we glad he came. It was very quiet between Bianca and I, her coughing kept quiet, if she kept quiet. I was dreading the big hill, and I kept going on about it. Simon kept us gently moving along, and the occasional chat was a welcome diversion to what we were feeling. The gravel road section we had Charmaine pass us with her pacer, a quick nod, and well done and she was on her way home. Next we saw Heath and Eve coming towards us, big hugs, a few tears, and he was also on his way home, lucky thing, and we had the big hill.

I couldn’t wait to get this bit done, but it was going to be slow. Bianca powered up with sheer determination, but I was slow and had to keep stopping, but Simon so patient, just waiting and pushing, and finally we made it to the top. I was so relieved, and the next section is quite nice, but I swear someone had moved the cone, it seemed to take forever to get there, but get there we did, and surprise, we had done it in 2.5 hours, fantastic, we had 3.5 hours to get home. I couldn’t go much faster if any, but definitely once we turned we knew we were finally homeward bound, and should easily make cut off now. 

(L-R) Sue, Simon and Bianca at the finish line, all enjoying a well deserved drink

I had to take it easy down the big hill, as my knees were not liking the steepness of it, but they didn’t get any worse. Once at the bottom it seemed like the worst was over and it was going to be an easy few kms, but it never is, as you are tired, sleep deprived, sore, and I was so happy when we finally crossed the road and knew we had about 2kms to go. Bianca even got excited enough to start dancing to the music on her phone which we had been listening to for the last hour or so. I must say, I wasn’t up to that, but definitely the head was feeling excited for the finish line. 

Crossing the bridge and heading up the road to NBC I felt a little emotional as I remembered the last time we finished the 100mi, but when we rounded the corner for the finish line, the friends, vollies who were left did the archway for us, as we were last, and everyone was laughing and cheering, I forgot to cry. It was so good to finally sit down and not have to get up and go out again.

We made it, in one piece and not broken. Thank you Simon for keeping us company for so long, to the vollies and friends who looked after us along the way, and for David and Belle for another great event. 

We were spoilt that night being looked after by friends who feel like family, fed us, gave us drinks, and wrapped us up in a bubble of very special stuff, love. It was lovely and warm by that fire, and we enjoyed the banter of the day listening to stories before falling in to bed. 

Total time out 34 hours 35 mins.