For what it is worth here is the d very much delayed report of a very disappointing result.
My preparation was as good as it could have been and I really never had an option in my mind of a DNF. Maybe foolish or maybe just wise to be positive . I and some others had a pleasant Friday being driven around the area.
I was fine up to checkpoint 8 at about 45k although I had a slight lean and some intermittent back pain caused by the lean. Managed the two loops and only got lost one one which was my first navigational issue for the day. The weather was warming up and the lean and pain were getting no better. The next easy section of about 20k was very difficult - the lean was more pronounced and the pain increased and did little running and was slow.
From 85 to 100 I was able to run steady but with quite a bit of discomfort.
Second navigational issue was going off course in the 4k along Hamburger Hill and taking almost 1 hour instead of 30 minutes. Arrived at the 100k checkpoint in 14 and half hours which was much slower than expected.
A quick in and out and the last 60 was started. Again lost direction down Hamburger Hill and again took and hour. The discomfort was increasing and it was impossible to run. So a revised finish time was set and I gritted my teeth for a loooooooooooog walk. I got to Checkpoint 9 managing about 5k and hour and so it was just going to be a matter of keeping going. The discomfort was manageable by walking but not so running.
Blue Dog was to 'run' some sections with me and we meet at checkpoint 9. He had other things to do early in the morning and a quick calculation meant at my pace he might not get him back in time so we agreed I would continue alone. His parting last words were 'don't get lost' !!! Steady walking got me to Checkpoint 10 with still with plenty of time to finish under 30 hours. I left Checkpoint 10 about 2.00am and then about 5/6k into the loop I lost the course and could not find it again It sounds stupid which is was but that what can happen out in a pine forest about 3.15 am . It was a beautiful starry night and some pain killers I took at Checkpoint 10 kicked in and I was able to run and I must have got into a trance and completely missed the course markings.
A sixth sense told me I had run too far. I went back the track split and I could not remember the split and I had to make a choice. I did and it was the wrong one as I went up that track and could not find any makers and when coming back I was again presented with a divided track. I thought it was where I had been before so I went left but still could not find any markers. By now I was hopelessly disorientated and lost. I just kept moving hoping to see a course maker but didn't.
About 4.15am I phone Blue Dog to tell him I was okay but lost so that there would be no panic about whether I was injured. I just kept moving and was waiting for the sun to come up so that I could get my directions. As it turned out I had run back to the start but on the other side of Steve Irwin Drive.
I was bitterly disappointed but I learnt a lot from what occured.
