Overland Track Run

[MrCAMEL]

Has anyone 'here' run the length of the track before?
Has anyone here been on the track and seen some of the people running in the event?
It seems like such an epic adventure and a different way to see the Track.
http://www.cradlemtnrun.asn.au/

Lets do it.

[the_camera_poser]

I'd only run it if a giant, randy carnivorious wombat was chasing me, and then I'm probably give up after the first few metres and let him have his way.

But on a serious note, I don't feel wilderness, even boardwalk-accessed wilderness, is the place for a running event. Seems a bit.....I dunno.....sacreligious to me. All human impact is bad in sensitive areas, and so maybe it'd be best to limit contact to the lowest-impact types of activity, and running isn't low impact.

My 2 cents worth.....

[the_camera_poser]

Not to mention the huge disruption runners could/would cause to walkers on the trail.

[tasadam]

Not to mention the huge disruption runners could/would cause to walkers on the trail.

Inaccurate, it would seem.

It is expected that all runners will show courtesy and right of way to walkers.

As taken from the Full Information sheet available as a link from this page.

[the_camera_poser]

I know that the rules that that runners will give way etc etc, and I don't doubt the best intentions of those involved, but it still seems like it's not an appropriate use for the track. Sorry if I came across as harsh though!

This reminds me of kayaking vs canoeing in the US. When whitewater sports first took off in the Southeast, a lot of old hands fled the rivers, as the usual group of a handful of canoeist was replaced by in some cases 250 kayakers using the river at one time, with radically different and conflicting techniques. All of a sudden the rivers I'd been paddling became criss-crossed with rescue lines, and there were hundreds of people trying to use one set of rapids, rather than just a handful. The impact caused by the mass number of kayakers led to a number of rivers being closed down by landowners who were sick of the noise and other impact they were making on the river. A loose analogy, but useful to understanding my point of view.

While I was working on my master's degree in environmental management at UQ, I studied environmental planning under a guy who had a very useful way of looking at land usage in national parks. He had actually designed parks in Europe, and had a big hand in park planning in Queensland. His theory was based all on mathematics, which appealed to developers and planners. In essence his system was based on assigning an impact ranking to various activities, and then assigning a vulnerability ranking to various areas within a region, and then linking the two up so that no activity had a higher impact rating that the area it was hosting. Anyhow, the long and the short of this was that several activities made it high on his list- running and mountain biking being two of them. This is based on the disruption of wildlife and the amenity that is the whole point of the area. There are roads that can be run, why do we have to do it in a National Park? Why no run the road over the Franklin Gordon wilderness, or somewhere else scenic like that. Does it have to be in the park? It's not just a park either, it's a wilderness area, and to me that makes a huge difference.

At the end of the day, it is only once a year, so it's not that bad, but I'd be pretty peeved off if it happened to fall on the day I was on the OT.

[Nuts]

In practice, its more of a novelty than a disruption.. though kinda ironic in a peaceful, scenic wilderness (where there is no time and nothin matters)

[tasadam]

Yes, I suppose it relates to the time I was at the Walls, we were up on the ridge between Solomons and King David's peak, or were we actually on the peak then... Anyhow, the Mark Webber challenge was passing through. There were quite a number of groups of people powering along the track below, and along came the helicopter flying below us.
Much more a novelty than an inconvenience. If it were a more common thing it certainly would be a disturbance.

The image I have selected is with 3 groups of people. I have a number of other photos with groups of two as well, so there were quite a number of people that came through.
Then there were the media etc, and a base camp they had set up on the tent platforms back at the Gates.

Competitors

Helicopter over Wild Dog Creek heading into the Walls below us

[the_camera_poser]

That'd make me twitch terribly.

[MrCAMEL]

So, is there really 60km of boardwalks on the Track? That is a high score.

From a purely athletic point of view, I would very much like to have a turn at doing this. As long as I can reach my (quite) unrealistic goal of a 3:30 marathon this year. I have never tried a marathon.

Keith Lancaster did the run in 1992, 14hr 40mins, which would have made him 81 and having a crack at age 86. It can't actually be the same Lancaster that people refer to here quite a bit, can it? http://users.bigpond.net.au/dveltkamp/K ... /index.htm

[tastrekker]

Philosophically, I understand the concerns about the impact on other walkers. However, I once read an article from someone who prefered to carry very little gear and jog through the Tasmanian wilderness wherever he went. He carried extrememly lightweight thermal and waterproof equipment in a day pack, slept in an ultra-light bivvy bag and only wore sneakers rather than heavy (destroy everything in their path) walking boots. His theory was that he could cover the distance in less time, requiring less days, less campsites and less toilet stops than the average walker, hence having far less impact.

I'm not sure whether I fully subscribe to the above theory but I too am hoping I may one day get a chance to enter the Cradle Run.

I have not run the whole thing but several years ago I jogged approx 55kms from Dove Lake to Arm River. We started on a stinking hot January day at 12 noon with a 10pm pickup organised at the other end. We got to the carpark 30 mins early and ran a few kms down the road to meet our ride.

The intention was to use it as a training run for the upcoming 24hr Aus Rogaining Championships to be held near Cradle a few weeks later. The main lesson I learnt was the need to drink a lot! I was dehydrated by Lake Windermere. Ironically, the Rogaining Champs featured pouring rain and flooded rivers so dehydration was not an issue there.

As we went through the OT, as mentioned in other posts, we were very mindful of other walkers, given the right of way and not running up quickly without warning. If we were not seen or heard, we would slow to a walk and say g'day in much the same way as if passing slower walkers while on a 'normal' walk. Now that I think of it, we even managed a side trip to Pelion Falls behind the closed Pelion Creek campsite.

We only received one negative response from a group who were clearly struggling with the climb from Frog Flats to Pelion Plains. Their packs were huge and their main complaint seemed to be about the size of our tiny day packs.

My other experience with bush running was the Triple Top Mountain Run at Sheffield which was just on 3 hours of fun spread over approx 20kms. In this event, walkers get a one hour headstart before the runners start to mingle among them.

Another event that hasn't been mentioned is the Cradle to Coast where the first day is spent running the OT before cycling and paddling all the way to Hobart.

...and another one I just thought of...
...The Three Peaks Race (I'm sure a sponsors name should be inserted there somewhere). I wonder if tourists heading for the Wineglass Bay Lookout have been somewhat bemused when this event rolls in to Freycinet.

Happy bushrunning to those who are that way inclined!
TasTrekker

[MrCAMEL]

There is also the run from the top to bottom of Bruny Island.
If I am up to it, I will be having a crack at this one this year on my first visit to the island.

[tasadam]

(I'm sure a sponsors name should be inserted there somewhere).

ROFL

[north-north-west]

A very very long time ago I was an office lizard for P&W, and the then senior ranger at Cradle would regularly run the track in a day - summer of course - just to check on things. Was long before there were track rangers and the like. Day pack with basics and into Cynthia Bay before dark. And the following day he'd do it all in reverse, naturally. And in winter he'd ski it, but much less often . . .
But I never before knew that there was an organised run on the thing. Wonder how many injuries they get . . .

[Steve73]

Anyone doing Cradle Ultra on 2 February? I've hiked it before, this will be my first time running it though, very excited.

[Overlandman]

I remember a runner took the wrong track in 1998, & was rescued by helicopter the next evening,
A little about that on this 2008 link.

http://www.coolrunning.com.au/ultra/wik ... uninfo.pdf

In the past whilst being based at Waterfall Valley I have watched the runners go hurtling along. They still looked fairly fresh at that point.
Regards Overlandman

[wayno]

parks money from having events go through teh park. in nz we have to share some tracks with mountain bikers as well , they have regular access. the tracks are for whatever people want to do on them to a certain extent provided they dont breach park rules about what activities are allowed on the tracks.
in the waitakeres near auckland you get hundreds of runners regularly charging around teh tracks in big events or a steady strea of people training on them..
walkers have had a monopoly fo a long time, some expect to keep teh monopoly, but what people want to do on tracks is changing demographically

[Phil]

Hi guys

Yeah I'll be running it on Saturday....... well I'll be running sections of it

Weather forecast looks good at this stage, can't wait! You catching the bus from Launceston Steve73?

I've never done the Overland track (in it's entirety) so am looking forward to it!

Phil

[ILUVSWTAS]

parks money from having events go through teh park. in nz we have to share some tracks with mountain bikers as well , they have regular access. teh tracks are for whatever people want to do on them to a certain extent provided they dont breach park rules about what activities are allowed on the tracks.
in the waitakeres near auckland you get hundreds of runners regularly charging around teh tracks in big events or a steady strea of people training on them..
walkers have had a monopoly fo a long time, some expect to keep teh monopoly, but what people want to do on tracks is changing demographically

Hey Wayno, do they spell "the" differently in NZ, or are you just always rushing? I've noticed over the past few weeks you do this alot.

[wayno]

a lot of my posts are written at work...

[Phil]

ILUVSWTAS, the official grammar police for www.bushwalk.com Does it pay well Mark?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Sure does Phil. Keep it quiet though huh, i dont think the powers that are want everyone knowing what im on.

I just wasn't sure, Kiwi's talk funny, I thought they might write funny too.

[wayno]

go and take some fush and chups....

[ILUVSWTAS]

go and take some fush and chups....

I liked it better when cam called me a duck.....

[Steve73]

Hi guys

Yeah I'll be running it on Saturday....... well I'll be running sections of it

Weather forecast looks good at this stage, can't wait! You catching the bus from Launceston Steve73?

I've never done the Overland track (in it's entirety) so am looking forward to it!

Phil

Hi Phil,

Yes will be catching the bus from Launcestion with my wife (unfortunately she had to pull out due to injury but everything is paid for so she's still coming) and a mate. Come and say hello, I'll stick out as my wife is of asian appearance, not many asian female trail runners around.

I haven't done the run before but we hiked the Overland in 2009. Can't wait!

See you on Friday.

Steve

[Phil]

Yes will be catching the bus from Launcestion with my wife (unfortunately she had to pull out due to injury but everything is paid for so she's still coming) and a mate. Come and say hello, I'll stick out as my wife is of asian appearance, not many asian female trail runners around.

I haven't done the run before but we hiked the Overland in 2009. Can't wait!

See you on Friday.

Steve

I'll look out for you!

Weather forecast for Saturday looks reasonable at this stage: Mostly sunny morning. Isolated showers in the early evening. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly during the afternoon. Min 2 - Max 16

They're predicting scattered showers falling as snow above 1100m the day before though!

[Steve73]

Yes will be catching the bus from Launcestion with my wife (unfortunately she had to pull out due to injury but everything is paid for so she's still coming) and a mate. Come and say hello, I'll stick out as my wife is of asian appearance, not many asian female trail runners around.

I haven't done the run before but we hiked the Overland in 2009. Can't wait!

See you on Friday.

Steve

I'll look out for you!

Weather forecast for Saturday looks reasonable at this stage: Mostly sunny morning. Isolated showers in the early evening. Winds south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly during the afternoon. Min 2 - Max 16

They're predicting scattered showers falling as snow above 1100m the day before though!

Unsure what's happening now. My wife is having second thoughts on coming considering she isn't running. If she comes we may hire a car at Launceston airport so she can take her time driving to Lake St Clair on Saturday to kill a bit of time. If she doesn't come I'll be on the bus.

If we do drive I'll catch up with you at the race briefing on Friday night. Where are you staying? I think we're at Cradle Mountain Wilderness Village.