A local hero of Nerang, Ben Dennien, had just established this route.
Ben has done much to promote the various Goat loops in Nerang with his running exploits bringing them to local prominence. (Alongside our local & longstanding running podcast Racing News - hosted by colorful local identities Kyle & Tom)
I thought well if Ben can do it, then... I probably can't, but why let that stop me from trying.
I started just after midnight & headed out onto Goat 5.0, which is the biggest of the loops at 21km.
I stashed all my stuff - spare water etc, in a shopping bag at the velodrome entrance. Each lap passes the velodrome entrance. Some people may not feel comfortable leaving their stuff in this spot, but I'm OK with it. (If you're not, then you'll have to schlepp back to the car to top up your stuff)
On the first lap, at the furtherest point from my stash, the water bladder broke meaning losing all my water in there and saturating my shorts.
I still had 2 bottles with 500 ml each though, which would be just enough for the first lap, & I could easily top these up on the each lap. The temperature was fairly comfortable as well, so no dramas.
Knocked over the first loop in 2hr 45 & was feeling fine. It is a bit eerie running in Nerang by myself at night and took me a while to get comfortable doing this.
On goat 4.0, I came across a bike rider going the other way. This was like at 4am, and right out the back. It happened quickly as well as he/she was going the other way, so it was over before I realised anyone was there.
I got through Goat 4.0 & 3.0, was running within myself & felt fine.
This pace is hiking the hills, & jogging the flats & downhills.
I'd assumed that I was miles behind the established time of Ben's but when I finished the 3rd lap realised I'd been going only 7 hours, & had over 2 hours to complete the last 2 laps. (The last 2 loops are only 10 & 7km respectively)
So, I started ramping up a little bit to try to get in around 9 hours. There is a big & protracted climb you go up the first four laps, & this was the last time I would do the full climb. (Goat 1.0 cuts it out) Halfway up, I bumped into a local Nerang favourite Vince. Vince was in the midst of running a 200km week, all in Nerang.
Which, in Nerang, is a fair effort. I slowed a bit to stay with him & listen to what he was up to, & that was helpful getting me though the penultimate lap & not going too hard, too far out.
Got down to the velodrome for the last little lap, pretty happy to pass by the turnoff that takes you to the longer laps on this last lap. Tried to accelerate a bit as I got to the end. I didn't know how close I was to Ben's time so I just ran close as hard as was sensible
Lap splits were
Goat 5.0 2.44.04
Goat 4.0 2.18.28
Goat 3.0 2.04.49
Goat 2.0 1.09.37
Goat 1.0 0.46.18
It should be noted Nerang is somewhat rocky & technical in parts, & it goes without saying that anyone running there should take all sensible precautions to keep themselves safe.