From Mandalay Beach, I got to Mt Clare just ahead of Libby. Karl and the mini cyclone were volunteering there. That’s where I heard the news of the race leader having triggered a dramatic rescue operation and pulling up DNF shortly after. This was the spot I had almost DNF’d at in 2020. I had been unable to hold anything in my stomach leading up to this aid station. Everything that came in went straight out. Raquel’s dahl saved me that day, and she spurred me on to Walpole where I managed a good sleep and shower. These experiences are invaluable to runners, as having survived them, you know that when you think you’re done, apart from major injuries, you’re not really done yet. A short nap or a shower would work wonders.
I slept for an hour at Walpole this time, determined to run a fast leg through the next aid stations to Tree Top. The idea was to run the next 33km through the evening, then to earn myself another short nap at Tree Top at midnight. It worked out exactly as planned. I really liked this route, and it was a privilege to play for that long among those wonderful giant tingle trees. The course was undulating but very runnable. This would have been a good couple of segments to run during the day time, as the whole route was very much under shade. The night critters came out and hastily moved about in the bush. I saw a possum, heard a few snakes slithering away, and a few birds zigzagging across my path, possibly blinded by my head torch. The forest came alive. I felt alive.