I started running at 4.23am from Cape Leeuwin as wind and rain buffeted in. I started slowly, struggling a bit to route-find over the granite outcrops but got into it. I ran unsupported and did not have any aid on the run or have anyone meeting me along the way. I carried enough food to last me for ~24 hours (3000 calories of tailwind, 4000 calories of Spring Energy gels, Clif bars and Tropical Smash) and refilled my water at Hamelin Bay, Contos Campground, Margaret Rivermouth, Gracetown and Yallingup.
My friend Claire O'Brien-Smith was also running the Cape to Cape unsupported on the same day but started ~20 minutes later than me and we did not see or speak to each other during the day until ~11pm when we had both finished.
I had a great day with a few low points and a fair few high points. The views were stunning and the weather was pretty good albeit fairly hot in the middle of the day. I ate about 10 Golden Orb spiders during the first hour, saw one tiger snake which went on his way and otherwise had no company. I spent 10 minutes chatting to some friendly lifeguards at the rivermouth who were very nice and asked a lot of questions. My navigation went fairly well using Maps.me and my Garmin InReach though I did miss one turn-off the beach and had to double back for about 500m.
The last few kms were great - coming around the Naturaliste headland and seeing the lighthouse in the night was a great feeling and the last 20 minutes were the easiest I had run all day. I finished at 10.27pm and treated myself to a shoe full of beer courtesy of a friend who was waiting at the end. I had a great day though have had enough sand to last me for a while. I would highly encourage anyone to have a crack at running the Cape to Cape, it's some of the most beautiful coastline out there. I would be more than happy to help anyone with any questions they have.