Ah shit, here we go again. The 6-hour format is becoming something of a regularity for me now. Whether it is intentional or not remains to be seen. After the free entry to Hell on the Humber 2023 from my completely unexpected victory in 2022, and the Ambleside 50k being run just under 6-hours thanks to a complete lack of hydration, there’s a need to mix it up in the time department. But that’s a problem for future runs.
The Rasselbock is a relatively new member in the running scene. Starting events in 2022, they offer a range of events from marathons, to set time loops, to backyard ultras. Thanks to Into Ultra I was given a place at the Rasselbock Winter Run – Day One, a 6-hour event of a 5.79km loop within Sherwood Pines which is then run in reverse for day two.
Sign in went smoothly and I set up base against a pine tree within the start area. The loop within this little corral would come right by where I’d stashed my things, so Fiona or dad could easily hand me water and food, or I could grab what I needed without breaking my stride too much. I felt good for this run, I had created my own little training plan in preparation which consisted of two easier runs, a speed session, and a long run per week as a minimum. Aside from the week from Christmas day where I was physically incapable of exercise due to illness, I stuck to the plan. This gave me some confidence that I would have a good day, but there was some apprehension as I hadn’t run more than a half marathon since October.
The running was simple but had good variety. The route followed a mix of hardpacked access roads and muddy, root ridden singletrack through the woodland which undulated throughout the course. My favourite sections were two downhill singletracks, one with lots of roots and meandering just enough to keep it interesting, and another that had three tight switchbacks all within about 50m. The worst section was definitely the final climb, or heartbreak hill as I had coined it by the third lap. It starts with a steep and muddy sprint up a short, root-lined mound, followed by a few hundred metres of false flat. The first half is a wide track where quick thinking was needed to path find through the Saturday public. The latter weaves in a tight woodland back to the start corral, which seemed to be further and further away each time. It felt very In the Tall Grass. The weather stayed clear and cool throughout aside from the final lap when a thick mist began to form at the far end of the course, creating a lonely backdrop to a lonely lap.
I was lapped on loop 7 and congratulated the guy for being ahead of 12-lap pace, putting him in strong contention for a new course record. He, however, quickly refuted this, saying he was going to do 9 and finish. I had exactly 0 clue where I was in the rankings, and I didn’t sign up with a solid goal in mind. But, by the time I was laced up at the start line and ready to run, 10 laps seemed like a good target. I was trialling a new hydration and food pattern after previous mishaps with dehydration and under-fuelling and didn’t want to push myself too much. I’d averaged 160bpm for my last three 6-hour runs and decided to drop this a little bit to around 155bpm. The thought being better preparation, hydration, fuel, and slightly less effort would massively improve my condition at the end of the run; the whole point of this being to help me understand strategies for longer events in my calendar. It paid off. Although I could have kept it calmer at the start, I didn’t have any ridiculous splits like in previous events. I finished not completely broken, but with the distinct feeling that I had more laps in me, both physically and mentally. I also beat my goal of 10, finishing with 11 laps after realising I had plenty of time left, 6th place, and a new 6-hour PB, not bad for 89kg!
Stats
Elapsed time: 05:57:55
Moving time: 05:54:01
Distance: 63.66km
Elevation: 658m
Average Pace: 5:45/km
Average speed: 10.43kmph
Calories: 5197
Average HR: 154bpm
*from moving time