The Glow Worm Marathon

Before

It was Sal who first told me about the Glow Worm Marathon that is run from Newnes in the Blue Mountains. Sal had met with her friend Lucy who had some friends doing the run. I looked into it, got interested and Plan A was hatched. I'd hook up with Lucy and her friends  in Katoomba on the Saturday night before the run and then head out to the Newnes at silly o clock on Sunday morning.

Plan A bit the dust last week when I asked Sal if she could get the accommodation details from Lucy...well, ah, there's been a change...

So Plan B was hatched and on Saturday I packed up the van with some bedding, my race kit (for both good and bad conditions) then once the girls had their swim and were down for their lunchtime nap I headed for Newnes. I also took with me a head-cold I'd been keeping at bay with LemsipMax for the best part of a week. Still in the head, not on the chest...I was in with a shout of starting.

A little past Lithgow and I turned onto the Wolgan Valley Road towards Newnes. I was surprised and pleased to still have phone reception and decided I'd call the family before I lost that reception. Past a couple of collieries - still working - and with hardly any warning the road took a steep descent into the valley and I kissed goodbye to phone reception. It was a reasonably easy drive to Newnes, but on the unsealed road I threw the Delica into 4WD (because I can) and had my teeth rattled out on the final 15km.

The scenery was spectacular and only got better as I closed in on Newnes. I quickly registered and collected my race number - 108 - before heading the extra 800m to the Wollemei National Park where I would be camping for the night. I parked under a tree - setup done - and stepped out to take a blurry picture of the roo that was grazing 10ft behind the van. I headed over to the toilet and before heading in took a few blurry shots of the wombat who could not have given less of a toss about me, 6ft from his nose.

Back in the van I got my bed setup. It was already a bit chilly, but I was fairly sure I'd be OK with my bedding - 2 dog blankets and AJ's Elmo Sleeping bag. With the renovations started most of my camping gear (the stuff I've not loaned out) is in lock-up storage. It was dark early in the valley and about an hour until I could grab my pre-ordered pasta dinner, so I tested my bed and promptly fell asleep while marvelling at the number of stars I could see. Luckily I woke up after about 45mins.

I rugged up and headed the 800m to race HQ and dinner. It was incredibly dark. Ridiculously dark. And proper chilly. I threw some pasta down, had a chat to a few people, popped into the Newnes Hotel (a museum and a pub with no beer) and then made my way back to the Delica and some shut-eye. The coffee-van had filled a cup with hot water and I had my final pre-race LemsipMax. I said I'd be back in the morning for a capuccino - they were opening the coffee-van at 05:30 - result! A couple of other cars turned up and I was impressed at how quickly they setup their tents. Of course I was more impressed that I had simply needed to park...gotta love the Delica...and I was asleep fairly quickly.

I'd popped open the two back windows to limit window fogging, clambered into the Elmo bag, pulled a couple of blankets over me and nodded off. I didn't have a great night's sleep and woke up feeling a bit cold a couple of times. I think it was only my nose that was cold, the rest of me seemed OK. In my tiredness I was confused as to why the windscreen was fogged-up but the back windows, near my head, weren't. Nevermind.

In the morning I discovered why the windscreen had fogged. It hadn't; it was covered with frost. That would also explain why I'd felt a bit chilly. I'd woken at 4:11am and then dozed until about 6am when I headed up for a coffee and to confirm whether we'd be running with light or bad weather gear. Unsurprisingly, given the clear skies (although it was foggy at ground level) the call was light-gear, so I'd only need to carry a whistle, torch and 600ml of water. I made my way back to the van to get ready then walk back for the 07:50am muster and 08:00am start.

The Run

Back in the van, and with already cold hands, I pulled my race gear on, greased my nipples and nether-regions, rugged up again, grabbed a bag and wadered back to race HQ for the muster. The coffee and walking had the desired effect and I had a pre-race poo, much better than a mid-race-poo. I stripped down to my running gear; my one concession to the cold was gloves. There was a brief bfiefing, a speech and with little fuss we wandered to the start line, the hooter went and we trotted back down the gentle hill towards the campground.

Through the campground and in under 1km we got to the first hill as we joined the unofficially-named River trail. Unless you're one of the front-running whippets this was a walk. Steep but not too long and we didn't complain too much...mainly because we all knew this first hill was nothing compared to the mountain to follow. There is 1.8km on The Philosophers Track before rejoining the River Track. The trail was fairly skinny and not that well trod. In places there was grass underfoot, in other places mud. I was not sure I'd made the best shoe choice in my beaten old Asics Cumulus. They had carried me over the 6 Foot track, but that was a lot drier and rockier. I'd need to take it easy.

Before too long you get to the foot of the Pipeline Pass. This is...steep. It is very steep. It is also stunning, as it cuts up through an impressive gorge that helps keep your mind off of your calves. At the top there is a 100m deviation to the Pagoda Lookout. A brief pause to take in a huge, expansive 200degree view over the Blue Mountains. It made the climb seem worth the effort. You then turn around and head along the ridgeline at the top of Pipeline - where some of the returning front-runners passed me - before dropping to the Log Book Turnaround. A steward instructs runners to hit the metal sign - and then sends you back the way you came. As I started along the ridgeline I thought I could see a resevoir below; I soon realised it was the top of the fog that was still sitting in the valley.

(note from the currently re-reading author...apologies for the tense being all over the place; it's going to stay that way because right now I have a head full of snot and am in no mood for much rework. Sorry; my blog, my rules. Now back to the mountains...)

It's a bit of a slog up the hill from the log book, but there is some running at the top before getting a second look out from the lookout - just as spectacular the second time around. The steward at the top then points to Pipeline and cheerfully advised us to "plunge down there." In my slick Asics I was not in the plunging mood, so hopped and skidded my way to the bottom, gravity assisted. River-Philosopers-River-Campground and up the Wolgan Rd to the start...and that was half way.

The Glow Worm Tunnel Marathon is two half marathons (dur!) each being an out-and-back. The second half would take us to the tunnel after starting out on the Wolgan Valley Rail Trail. Us marathoners met up with runners in the Half who had set off at 10:00am. The second half is a lot gentler than the first. You start with a river crossing and wet feet, then it is a slow ascent for about 10km. I picked off a lot of other runners and felt surprisingly OK. I think the brutality of the first half leaves your body relieved with any terrain that is actually runnable. On the way out we were passed by the front runners on their way back, moving at a remarkable pace. On one of the couple of short stepped sections I was passed by a returning Andrew Lee, who I have had the pleasure of running with a couple of times and have been mistaken for once. He finished 3rd. For the record, I was misteken for Andrew at the end of a race when I was sitting down. Had I been moving the mistake would not have been made!

The tunnel sits in in Penrose Gulley, a dark, damp gorge that could have come straight out of Jurassic Park - yet more stunning scenery, with steep walls and lush greenery around and a small stream underfoot. Then you reach the impressive arch of the tunnel, a disused railway tunnel from way-back (more info here) maybe 20ft wide and 30ft high (I say maybe as I was pretty tired by this time and my memory is a bit shakey.) I took my small torch out, switched it on and decided to walk closely behind the group in front of me whose torches actually illuminated stuff.

The tunnel is 600m long and mostly pitch black as it has a gently bend - which makes it perfect for the glow worms I didn't see. Underfoot is reasonbly stable and to the left side, where I walked, not too treacherous. I didn't stop to look for Glow Worms, I'll have to go back to do that. The exit looks wonderful, more jurassic park stuff framed by the damp walls of the tunnel. Not for the first time I kicked myself for not bringing a camera.

Out of the tunnel you loop back onto the trail back to race HQ, taking the Pagoda Trail then the Old Coach Road back home...The gentle uphill of the way out is a gentle downhill home as The Old Coah Road is the same path as the Wolgan Valley Rail trail. Or they're two parts of essentially the same trail. Anyway, I just kept my legs turning over until the end, finishing in 4:57. Considering I had no real expectations for the event I consider that a success.

After

Immediately after I felt surprisingly OK. The trusty Asics had carried me to the end without a fall and without any blistering. My legs were a bit shot, but I could still walk. I was a bit spacey, but that's to be expected. I staggered about for a while, had a few pieces of fruit and a coffee and then wandered slowly back to the van. I wanted to get home before dark so left pretty well straight away. I probably should have had more to drink because I was feeling pretty parched as I drove out of the valley. Fortunately there was a service at the junction with the main road, so I got a 500ml can of V and 1.5ltr of water to go with the Mars bar and pack of crisps I'd bought the day before. I was feeling a bit sick as I drove back between Lithgow to Katoomba and entertained thoughts of pulling over for a kip, but I started to liven up a bit by the time I was on my way down to the M7, so I kept going and made it home in about 3.5hours. My feet cramped up a couple of times in the evening, and I threw down some chicken curry, a Lemsip, half a bottle of bubbly and sundry other cheap calories before going to bed.

And today, Monday, the legs have started to tighten up a bit and the cold has got on to my chest, both to be expected. But considering how tough the run was - at least the first half - I think I got away with it quite lightly.