2018 Australian Mountain Running Championships

Happy finishers

Fine and mild conditions (by Tassie standards) accompanied runners as they ascended through the stringy bark (E. obliqua) forests on kunanyi / Mount Wellington's lower slopes in the 2018 Australian Mountain Running Championships.  After leaving Talosa Park fire trails gave plenty of elbow room as social joggers like myself were soon separated from serious contenders on the steep sections before reaching the single MTB track at the head of Lenah (Kangaroo) Valley.

Aside from mingling at the start I had no chance of seeing the elite males.  However ladies started 5 minutes later so it was inspiring to see the first two elite ladies scoot past at the junction Merton/Kangaroo junction.  It's a real buzz to see the elite runners.  For me this feeling goes way back to 1985 when the first Burnie Ten gave me the opportunity to 'compete' in my home town against Steve Monaghetti in the first of his many road running successes.

Upon reaching the North-South MTB Track a delightfully level(ish) kilometre of berms and turns led into the mossy-floored, broad-leaf scrub beside the New Town Rivulet.  After crossing the clapper bridge a cheeky marshal advised, "Savour that fast bit.  You won't see any more downhill for a long time!"

Organ Pipes

As the steepness of Old Hobartians started to warm things up light rainfall set in - enough to cool things down but not enough to be miserable.  Sandstone overhangs, waterfalls and several switchbacks helped distract from the incessant climb.  A cheer squad at the Hunters Track junction clapped and enthusiastically voiced their encouragement giving an additional morale boost.

At the only road crossing on the course a quick refreshment at the Chalet heralded the longest flat section of the course.  Two kilometres of Organ Pipes Track kept runners around the 1000m level.  The first half gave opportunities to glimpse fluted dolerite columns peering through the mist above and fleeting views through the snow gums (E. coccifera) to the city below.  Recent track work on the second half produced a challenging quagmire which felt like running on glue and added to the entertainment value of the day.  I loved this section which felt like flying compared with the earlier uphill grind.  The bouldery sections were delightfully familiar and the slippery slop most entertaining.

Above the clouds on the way back down

The Zig Zag Track should have presented the final hurdle - a 270m climb in little over a kilometre.  However, after completing that, the mountain had one more challenge in store.  Once the plateau was attained winds gusting around 65kph turned what should have been a fast, flat finish into a gruelling slog.  Those winds combined with a summit temperature of 8°C translating into an apparent temperature (wind chill) of -2°C making runners, both local and interstate, rush for their warm gear at the finish.

After a short break Kylie and I headed back down the mountain pleased that we had both beaten our PBs from the training runs of recent weeks.  Several runners had returned via the same route as the climb but we took the 1.5km shorter route down via the Panorama Track and arrived back at Glenorchy MTB Park with 30 minutes to spare before presentations.

Information about placegetters and complete results can be found on the Australian Mountain Running Association website.