After driving to the West Gate early Friday morning, I started my Gate-to-Gate run around 7:30 a.m. to avoid the peak heat of the day and the onset of long weekend traffic. I was equipped with a running vest containing a 1.5L bladder, a 500ml handheld soft flask, two PB&J tortilla wraps, beef jerky, salt tablets, and a water filter soft flask for emergencies.
Initially, I was moving well and felt confident I could achieve a sub-5-hour time. However, after 40 kilometers, conditions began to deteriorate. The sun was relentless, the road was radiating heat, and my water consumption increased rapidly. Consequently, my performance started to decline. I did not resupply food or water during the run, which likely affected my performance. Cooler weather and an additional handheld flask might have improved my run.
As I approached the East Gate, my friend Liam arrived ahead of our scheduled pickup time of 1:30 p.m. and saw me finish around 12:50 p.m. Although he did not provide aid during the run—beyond offering a few cheers as I neared the gate—his support was greatly appreciated. Once I passed under the East Gate and got into his car, he provided much-needed refreshment. We then drove back to the West Gate to retrieve my car before heading to our campsite at Kearney Lake.