Kepler Challenge 2010

Posted by Deb Arnold on 5 May 2011 | 0 Comments

To be able to race the Kepler Challenge means being at your computer at 6.30am on the 1^st Saturday of July – I was there and logged in ready to go but ended up #100 on a waitlist of about 300. I pretty much gave up any hope of getting in as it meant that 100 entrants had to withdraw before race day on December 4^th.  But I had kept a hopeful eye on the waitlist to find that come October I was rapidly advancing up the list and then 3 weeks out from the start I got an invitation offering me a place in the race. I quickly accepted then started worrying about the fact I’d only run off-road once in the previous few months. Those 3 weeks saw me running solely off-road concentrating heavily on downhill stuff with the thought that it was where I could best make a difference.

After travelling down to Te Anau in fine weather and attending the evening briefing where hot weather was forecast it was no surprise to wake to a very mild and still race day. The start line saw competitors discussing what gear was best to run in as the conditions looked to be very warm – even on the mountain ridges.  The gun went odd at 6.30am and then we were off - through the lovely sheltered bush of the first 5 kms running at a good steady pace before we hit the serious climb. I ran & walked upwards passing many runners on the steep switchbacks of the track. Even on this my 7^th attempt it didn’t seem any easier. Coming up through the tree cover into the open it wasn’t long before Luxmore Hut came into site with the necessity of gear checks and a chance to get a good drink and some orange slices.

I met up with several guys that I’d run with on previous Keplers and we pretty much kept together all the way across the tops. I ran fairly cautiously along the narrow ridges as there was still a long way to go and I wanted to have fuel in the tank and be injury free when I got down to Iris Burn.  I went steady on the knee jarring downward section and found that the minimal training on steep downhill was paying off, allowing me to hold a good pace and arrive at the bottom injury free.  This descent can wreck your knees if you are not careful as it is so long and steep and the temptation is to take it too fast.  I felt in good shape at the bottom and checked into Iris Burn – stopping to change down into a singlet as the rest of the run was in sheltered valley and the temperature was well into the 30s.

The water stop volunteers all took part in a competition for the best dressed and decorated checkpoints, and Iris Burn was decked out in balloons, bells and festive Christmas characters cheering and loudly greeting each runner. From Iris Burn my goal was to hit a steady pace and run all the 30kms to the finish line. I found myself leading several bunches on this half of the race – having conversations with runners behind me who I never actually saw but who latched on for periods of time. One Aussie bloke ran the last 20kms with me – always on my shoulder. I asked him several times if he wanted to pass but he replied that I was going the perfect pace for him. Would have been nice if he had led for a while. I saw his face for the first time when he shook my hand and thanked me at the finish line.

It took me just over 4 hrs to complete the mountain stage to Iris Burn and you usually assume that you will finish in double that time. I had the usual goal of beating 8hrs so knew I had the task of running the 2^nd part of the race at a solid pace. I’d started the race pre-armed with a list of the animal trap numbers and locations for particular points along the route so I used these to count off the distances when I got particularly tired. I had other runners behind me reading out the numbers off the trees every 200 metres along the track.

I had packed a small bottle of Red Bull which I took 5kms from the end. This seemed to give me the extra energy I needed to maintain pace. The noise from the finish line of announcements echoing through the forest can be heard several kms from the end and spurs you on to complete well. With the 1km to go sign I dug deep and upped the pace wanting to come in well under that elusive 8hr mark. I ran through finish line in 7.52 collecting my medal and turning to see who had been on my shoulder for so long. I kept walking through the crowd of runners and supporters until I had wound down and got my breathing back under control.

This race is very hard to get into but well worth doing at least once as it offers such stunning views, amazing atmosphere and a supportive community.