This is a route I have wanted to run for a long time, so exciting to finally have the opportunity to take it on. Our preparation wasn't ideal, with one of us recovering from illness and the other still recovering from a 200km race, so we approached the day knowing we'd need to pace ourselves and adapt as we went.
To keep our packs manageable, we stashed food and water along the course the day before. This allowed us to refuel throughout the run without having to carry all of our supplies from the start.
We began well before sunrise, with the opening km's along Scotchman's Trail in the dark. It was difficult to settle into a consistent rhythm, as the undulating terrain constantly shifted between short climbs and descents. We found ourselves repeatedly transitioning between hiking and running, with very few opportunities to hold a steady pace.
Once we reached Horseshoe Rd, the terrain began to change. The climbs and descents became longer and more sustained, allowing us to settle into a much more comfortable rhythm. From there, we focused on maintaining a consistent effort, making the most of our fuel stops and steadily working our way towards Point Lookout.
The biggest challenge of the day came late in the run on Robinsons Knob Trail. With around 10 km remaining, the steep climb proved to be the toughest section of the entire route. By this point, fatigue had well and truly set in.
Reaching Point Lookout was incredibly rewarding. Completing a route that had been on my list for so long, and doing it with Cal as a self-supported mixed team, made the achievement even more special.