1. Gunning for a position,
2. Felt like I would have real trouble actually completing the events.
Now we come to Buffalo Stampede - a beast of a course that can make even the most seasoned trail runner break down sobbing (that actually might have happened one year).
Here I was definitely NOT guaranteed to finish - and there's always a high possibility of DNF in this one as its so damn tough. However, I most certainly was determined to grab the top spot in the Grand Slam this year after finishing 3rd last year.
How did it go? Read on...
The Grand Slam
First, just an explanation. The Buffalo Stampede has 3 separate events over 3 race days:
20Km SkyRace
75Km Ultramarathon
42Km Skymarathon
There is also a 10km skysprint, but this is run in tandem with the 20km (its half of that one). The object of the Grand Slam is to complete all 3 of these. Ever since it's inception, I have been inexplicably drawn to this - the sheer brutality and toughness of it appeals to me an awful lot and I love the fact that simply completing it is a massive challenge in itself!
The Course
This is pretty killer in terms of elevation, the climbs are steep and brutal, but the descents can be even worse and smash quads within an inch of their life!
Note that the marathon is simply half of the ultra course, so starts at the top of Mt Buffalo at the Chalet before descending to Keatings Ridge and climbing/descending Clearspot + Mystic.
The Plan
1. Gear:
After Tarawera, I decided to try some new shoes since I had suffered with blisters a few times using the Nike Wildhorse 3. Additionally, the climbs and descents at Buffalo are ridiculously steep, so something with excellent grip helps A LOT. So, in comes the Inov8 X-Claw 275! There is an insane amount of grip on these things, but also some degree of cushioning to help pad the feet for the distance, so they seemed ideal for this event. No change for the pack - the Salomon bag is still king. I would need a few sets of clothes for the three days, but was going to go with the Compressport trail shorts + Inov8 3/4 pants, plus a few Salomon shirts.
Pack: Salomon Sense Ultra 5
Clothing: Salomon S-lab shirt, Compressport Trail shorts, Inov8 3/4 pants
Shoes: Inov8 X-Claw 275
I was quite eager to see how the shoes would feel....
2. Nutrition
More Tailwind for this one, but I thought this time I would also supplement it with Hammer Gel, as I have had some stomach issues in the last 3 races, so something a little more "liquid" as opposed to Clif Blocks and chocolate bars might alleviate the problem. I am not a big fan of gel, I just don't get on with the taste, but Hammer Gel had a flavour titled "Montana Huckleberry" which doesn't sound anything like any flavor I've had before. So - I'd give that a whirl. I've also started to tire a little of bananas recently. With quite a few races completed this year I am suffering from banana fatigue. So, I thought I would try some different fruits this time (apples, blueberries, nectarines etc).
3. Race Strategy
Big decision here - how do you run a decent race but leave enough to back up properly the next day? Last year I struggled with this constant question, do I go for it, or stay back and conserve for tomorrow? Ultimately I was conservative and it cost me -i remember holding back quite a lot on the first day desperately trying to conserve energy for the ultra. In the end it didn't really matter - the ultra hurt a lot, the marathon hurt a lot and this year would be no different. So, I decided on the following:
On each day just run it as fast as i can - conserve where possible, but otherwise just go for it.
Pretty simple really. :)
The Race
Day 1
After a pretty tiring 7 hour drive from Sydney, I actually felt pretty good at the start line. Sticking to my plan, I would just take off after the leaders and hold on... In the back of my mind though, there was still a little voice saying don't push too much you have 3 days to go. There were some very speedy guys at the start, so I thought anywhere near these dudes would be an awesome result and top 10 is an absolute must.
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| A little nervous at the start |
With that we were off and I managed to stay reasonably close to the front pack and dropped off a little before the first big climb up to Mystic. The hill made my legs burn like hell, I just wasn't used to these gradients and it was hitting me hard. Although, sounds crazy, but after a while, the burn just became "normal" and something i would just have to deal with. Once over Mystic it was then down to Micks Track which is a an absolute BEAST of a descent - I think it must be 45 degree gradient... Here is where the Inov8's really came into their own - the studs of the X-Claws dug right into the dirt - I seriously had absolute 100% confidence I wasn't going to slip, and I absolutely flew down this hill.I caught up with a few people towards the bottom and by the time I hit the climb to Clearspot I was just about in sight of the front few.
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| Climbing (slowly) up to Clearspot |
The climb again, was painful especially on the calves which hadn't seen much in the way of serious hills but they didn't cramp which was a good sign. Turning around at Clearspot I think I may have been in 6th position which was fantastic -I knew I would be quick back down thanks to the grip on my shoes then I just had the shorter (albeit harder) climb up Micks Track before another descent and kick to the finish.
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| Descending Clearspot |
Coming down Clearspot I saw Loughlinn Kennedy on his way up, which was a surprise I thought he was way ahead - turns out he had taken a wrong turn which must royally suck for anyone in contention for the win. The descent, again, was awesome I was really enjoying it - and even the arduous climb up Micks Track was made a little easier having such grip in the shoes. Loughlinn came past me here, he must have had 200% afterburners on - it was actually awesome to see someone gunning it up the track like that, it was seriously impressive. I caught one or two people myself after getting over here and descending Mystic and finished in 5th place - what a great start!
Day 2
I woke up to some tiredness in the legs, but nothing too severe - this would be the day to make or break the slam. After finishing first out of the slammers on day 1, I had a mind to go on and take the top spot, so I was mindful that second place was only 10 minutes behind me which is pretty much nothing now that the ultra was here. A wrong step here can easily cost you an hour. The plan was the same - run it hard and where possible try to stay ahead of the other slammers.
The start wasn't too bad, the pace was slower than day 1 and everyone was just waiting for the climb to Mystic. With some energy still left in the legs, the climb/descents over Mystic and Clearspot went perfectly fine - again i was glad to have the grip of the X-Claws to help get me down the hills safely. I decided on a "comfortable" pace along Buckland - nothing too fast as it can wipe you out for the return journey. I got to Eurobin in good time and saw my awesome support crew (my family). My wife May brought out the secret weapon - nectarine slices, and these turned out to be the best thing ever! After the quick pitstop, the trudge up Mt Buffalo began. I was running with one of the La Sportiva guys called Mick (we would end up running almost the whole ultra together) and thanks to the banter, the climb went really quick. We saw the leader coming back from the turnaround much later than expected, and I realised it was because I had (so far) been MUCH faster than last year!
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| Enjoying the run over Mt Buffalo |
Again, things went smoothly up and over the Chalwell Galleries loop (after some more supercharging nectarines!) and we were heading back down before we knew it. Still running with Mick, it was turning out to be a very enjoyable day.
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| This is the why I love the Buffalo Stampede... Stunning. |
However, just as we were wondering how neither of us had fallen over on the wet slippery rocks, SMACK - down I went on the (very hard) surface. After a bit of shock, I was able to get going again though so it was only bruising.
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| Still feeling pretty good descending Mt Buffalo |
As we travelled the return journey, I was constantly looking back over my shoulder as I knew the second place slammer wouldn't be far behind. I had raced Stephen (Redfern) before and I knew he had the legs to keep going forever. Sure enough, as we neared the end of Buckland I saw him catching us in the distance and decided I had to put the foot down over Clearspot and Micks Track to maintain my lead. It was bloody tough work over those two hills but I made it over reasonably quickly - which surprised me greatly. I think the thought of having Stephen close behind literally just shoved me over those hills...
On the flat section to the finish I realised I didn't feel too bad at all - it also dawned on me that it was still very bright, I was almost home and my watch was only ticking around 10hrs! This was just insane, I was going to be at least 90 mins faster than last year and actually felt better! I did indeed cross the line a full 96 minutes faster and in 9th place. Couldn't quite believe it, but it had been a perfect race. It also meant I got to start recovery a lot sooner - so put myself straight into the cooling river to ease the legs, and then began EATING.
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| Cooling off in the river with Mia |
Day 3
After getting absolutely no sleep whatsoever, I was feeling a little fatigued to say the least on day 3. Legs were pretty stiff and sore, but I was hoping once I started moving it would ease up. After a coffee, nectarine (again) and a whole punnet of blueberries I was out the door feeling pretty excited - I couldn't wait to start this last day! It was dark and a little cold, and sat on the bus up to the start on Mt Buffalo, i could feel my legs really start to seize up. I just couldn't wait to get started and get my legs moving again. After a little chatting and milling around it was time to go!
The legs were VERY painful at the start, but the plan was always to go 100% as much as I could. I really put the effort in to get up the initial hill fast and try to leave the other slammers behind asap. It seemed to work, I didn't see any of them come past me and by the time we were onto the Chalwell Galleries loop I was already feeling pretty good.
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| Having a blast on day 3! |
Descending Mt Buffalo, my legs really got into the swing of it. Plus I was actually passing a few people - and just like last year this was giving me a MASSIVE confidence boost and made me go even faster. Once down to Eurobin, and hearing all the cowbells and the cheering, I felt awesome and was enjoying this day most of all! Every step hurt but damn if it wasn't the best pain ever... I quickly hiked over Keatings Ridge, then managed to run the whole way from the top to the base of Clearspot. The other slammers were nowhere in sight, and I started to wonder if I had done enough now to win the slam. I just needed to get over these last 2 hills without a blow up and i would have done it!
Thankfully Clearspot went reasonably well, I even managed to pass a few more people which I simply couldn't believe. That, plus a good descent and uneventful but very difficult hike up Micks Track, meant I now pretty much had done it - I suddenly felt invincible and descended at an unreal speed, passing 2 more people. Up ahead I saw Thierry Lamarque who I had actually finished with on Day 1! Seemed a poetic way to complete Day 3 and we crossed the finish in 14th/15th place.
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| Crossing the finish with Thierry |
Absoutely stoked with that time/place for day 3 and words couldn't say how happy I was to have won the slam!
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| Yes - it hurt! |
Summary and Event Review
I think winning the slam has been my proudest running achievement yet, but it really was down to having 3 perfect days - everything came together and I had almost zero issues. So in terms of good and bad, I really have only good things to say. First off, all the gear I used was flawless, the pack as usual was awesome - I hardly noticed I was wearing it which is the best compliment i can give it. The real standout were the shoes I used for this event - The Inov8 X-Claws were 100% awesome and absolute perfection for this race I will definitely be using these for any future Stampedes! A couple of other surprises were the nectarine slices May gave me at the checkpoints, they worked wonders for my nutrition - I recommended them to some other runners for day 3, and they reported success too!
Bright was and is, the most beautiful awesome place ever. Besides the actual racing, having the event in the stunning Howitt Park, right next to Bright Brewery is a masterstroke, you just don't want to leave the event hub! The race organisers and event director Sean Greenhill take great pride in this event and rightfully so - it's a corker. I have done a lot of races/events, but this is the one I get most excited about, because it really is the complete package. You are not just getting a race, you are getting an experience.
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| Never been so happy with a win! |
Buffalo Stampede Course Ratings (out of 5):
Toughness: 5
Pretty brutal course - the climbs up Mystic and Clearspot are tough, long and really test the legs - the descents possibly even more. The climb up to Mt Buffalo is more gradual, with a short challenging loop which even includes a little scrambling/climbing at Chalwell Galleries. There's even a reasonably flat 10k, so there's a little bit of everything thrown in here. People tend to play to their strengths on this course, and get severely punished later on. Its definitely one of the toughest out there, but all the more rewarding because of it.
Runnability: 3
The 2 hills at the start/end (of the ultra) require some serious climbing and descending skills, and it's difficult to take them at any speed. Even the descents require a lot of control rather than being able to let the legs go. due to the steepness. The road through Buckland can be run at a good pace, and Keatings Ridge is also a runnable climb/descent. Mt Buffalo can be taken at some pace and the descent is actually very enjoyable - just be sure to save some in the quads for the end though!
Fun Factor: 5
Such a varied interesting course, and Bright is just about the most beautiful town I've been to in Australia. The views from Mystic, Clearspot and Mt Buffalo are majestic, and the organisers/support/volunteers are probably the most enthusiastic I have ever seen, they really get into the spirit of the weekend. Everyone involved in this race seems to have a place for it in their heart, it's pretty special.
TOOPP rating (Toys Out Of Pram Potential): 5
This one could get a 6/5 - I've certainly had a blow up trying to hike up Mick's Track with 65km in the legs it can be incredibly tough to get up here. In fact you may even slip a little and go backwards, which can seriously cause a dummy spit followed by a sit down and a cry. You really have to be aware of what's coming up at the end and factor it accordingly.
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