The North Face 100

May 15 was the North Face 100. A 100km “trail” run in the Blue Mountains of NSW. Trails meant A LOT of stairs, up and down and boulders. Gagey had wanted to do something different for his 40th birthday- and this seemed to fit!

Kristian and Gagey did all of their weekend runs together, and were planning to run it together. This was more about the experience of doing something they’d neither of them ever done before than the finish time and place. Who knew how they would feel after the first 50kms?…going into the next. This was going to be something entirely new. I admit I was a little bit jealous. At first I thought they were crazy, but as their training progressed and the event drew nearer, it didn’t seem so crazy after all. It became more acceptable? I mean an Ironman is pretty crazy to anyone outside of the Ironman!

Kristian’s chosen footwear- his Nike Free 5.0s with his Injinji toe socks- that he says were awesome- no blisters.

Once they started, we had hours to kill. The first checkpoint at which friends and family could see the runners was at 54kms.

So we head off to check out the Three Sisters.- Probably the most famous landmark in the Blue Mountains.

this turned out to be part of the course…

A pretty awesome looking aid station! I was waiting there with Danielle and Stef Gage. We were there in time to see the first runners come in- flying. And then played the waiting game to see our boys. What was amazing was that they had their mobile phones with them and were able to let us know their ETA. It was fantastic, since their original predications blew out of the water. Best case scenario was around 5 and a half hours into 54kms, and they turned up at 7.

I like this shot- It was taken just as K arrived at 54kms. Kristian and Gagey were running together, but Kristian was suffering- badly cramping. He told Gagey to go on without him- and eventually he did.

Kristian decided he couldn’t carry on, and his day ended at 54kms. It was so disappointing for him after all the training he’d put in. But with his quads seizing up it just wasn’t going to be possible to carry on sensibly.

Stef gives Kristian a massage

Stef “but why did I touch your disgusting sweaty back if you’re not going to carry on?”

Scott Milson with Jo and Michelle- another casualty at the 54km mark.

The Blue Mountains truly have a blue glow- it’s the Eucalyptus I believe.

Gagey reaches 67kms, not looking quite so happy, finding it hard to eat anything.

Gagey double parked and looking serious

Check point at 89kms

K with Stef

Gagey arrives into the last transition at 89kms

It was absolutely freezing, and they were running in the pitch black.

The toughest part of the race...

Pretty cruel that in the last 11kms was some of the toughest terrain of the day, to be negotiated in the dark.

Gagey finishes in 14:55 A Champion.

I don’t have a finishing shot, he was so exhausted I thought the last thing he’d appreciate was a camera in his face:)

The following day we spent cruising round the shops in Leura. It was a beautiful sunny day. Just like Ironman the town was spotted with competitor shirts, and funny looking hobbling. After acknowledging it was the toughest thing he’s ever done, Gagey then committed to coming back next year…and Kristian too. For Kristian it’s unfinished business. And for Gagey I think he’s learnt a lot from this one, and would like to break 14 next year. Danielle Gage is in too.

For myself, I’m tempted, but it’s not on my schedule yet…

What was pretty cool was that two men crossed the finish line together in first place- arm in arm. They had broken the course record by a staggering 26 minutes in 9 hours 54 mins! They were both desperate to break the 10 hour barrier, and pushed each other all the way. Once they realised neither was going to break they settled into a rhythm together- pushing each other to the line.

Make you wanna enter?? Read more on the event website here.

Charlotte