Kurrawa 2 Duranbah 2007.

     Four Red Man Runners chose to take on the December heat and the humidity of the Gold Coast for the 11th Annual      Kurrawa2Duranbah. The race is part of the Gold Coast Ultras club annual race series. Peter.W selected the true Ultra distance      when he entered the 50km Kurrawa 2 Duranbah 2 Kurrawa, Gary went 25kms solo from K 2 D and Alan.B lead off on the Sth      bound leg and teamed with Karyn.L who anchored their Mixed Relay Team back to Kurrawa.

     The temperature was still 23C at 4 in the morning when runners began to gather in the early morning gloom next to the Kurrawa      Surf Club. Runners entered in the 50km race can choose to head off early at 4.30a.m with the main field setting off at 5a.m. This      was the first year the club had introduced a solo 25km leg to the race and it proved popular with Gary being 1 of 35 runners to      enter for that challenge.

     Gary Holt 3rd to Duranbah. The official results are now available and show that Gary was the 3rd Male across      the line in the 25km solo leg of the Kurrawa to Duranbah run on the 9th of December. Gary's time of 2hrs 1min places him 3rd of      15 males in the race and 3rd from 29 starters. Karyn and Alan were 16th from 44 teams to pair for the 50km event and 8th of      25 mixed teams in the event. If Karyn had selected to run the 25km solo she would have taken out the female section by a clear 5      minutes in a field of 16. Peter.W did it tough during the return leg of his solo 50km epic but was by no means the last across the line      with finishes still arriving more than an hour and a half behind Peter. He even beat home one of the teams. Well done Red Man      Runners !!

     The following is Alan's recollections of the race:

     I had no idea where I was going and even finding the Kurrawa Surf Club was a challenge for me. Gary and Karyn had mentioned      that we had to climb a set of steps at some stage and that there was quite a climb but that was just prior to the end at Point Danger.      I figured we were in for a tough day when I recognised only a handfull of competitors at the start. We had entered the world of the      Ultra "Nutters". Great organisation and a very friendly atmosphere had us away right on time at 5a.m. I decided I'd put a few ks      behind me before the heat really wound up. I was sweating freely within minutes. Was this a good idea ??? I have nothing but      admiration for Peter.W and anyone else who completed the 50kms. ( I seriously doubt their sanity but I'm humbled by their efforts).

     Somewhere around the 5km mark Gary strolled up to my shoulder and said "G'day". It was obvious to me then and there that he      would be the first Red Man Runner to reach Duranbah. Our new race singlet looked tremendous and it really stood out as it eased      away from me on Gary's back. I kept him within sight for the next half an hour or so but had no intention of trying to run his pace as      the heat started to impact on me and that wonderful club singlet came off MY back and was tucked into my shorts.

     Their was 4 or 5 drink stations on the course with water, Gatorade, Coke and lollies but in the heat and humidity it was tremendous      to see Karyn and Chris (Gary's wife) standing by the course with extra drinks and an encouraging word. As I made my way past a      few of the early starters looking to cover 50kms I continued to wonder why they would do that. I realised fairly quickly that I had      perhaps gone out too hard. There are more headlands and lumps on the course then I had imagined. At least the narrow back     streets that we ran along for much of the course were still mostly shady. As you trotted along the footpaths on the beachfront people      looked puzzled by the race number on your chest. Going past an aid station I overheard a conversation between a guy carrying his      surfboard down to the water and an aid station attendant. Surfer; "Where are these guys running to?" Attendant; "Duranbah".      Surfer; "You're Kidding right!! That's insane". I had a slight smirk but could only agree with the Surfer.

     How good was the water looking? Bloody good! It's hard to believe we choose to run to Duranbah and not just go for a swim. The      course follows the coast all of the way so I got a good look at a lot of beaches and began to dream about the swim at Duranbah.

     That hill near the end..... Bloody Hell ! I got to the base in a small group of runners and there was very little surging for the finish      line. It was a hard long slow slog and then leg weary down the other side and a longer than necessary run out onto the headland. I      then spent a few minutes on my back in the shade as Karyn scampered back up that hill on her way to Kurrawa. I pitied her      running back as the sun got higher and the heat increased. But I had under estimated her!

     Gary got to Duranbah in 2 hrs 1 min, Alan struggled in at 2 hrs 12 mins and we saw Peter.W turn in 2 hrs 40 mins.

      Chris, Gary and I went for a quick swim before heading Nth to provide extra drinks for the hot run home. I choose to ride my bike       back up the course so I could stay on all of the paths Karyn would run and be there with drinks whenever she needed them. Wow       what a great run. Karyn looked strong right from the start and after about 10 kilometres as the heat started to effect the majority of       the field she started to pick them off one at time. We all felt that she would have Gary's 2:01 in mind and little doubt she would       have a go at it. I was keeping track of her splits whilst riding along and although she was slightly off Gary's pace she was on a       tremendously even tempo and appeared to be enjoying the hills. Her splits just didn't alter and she surged to the line in 2:04:55.

      Peter.W went for the Grand Stand finish, as I knew he would. As soon as the presentations began he appeared across the park       and stopped the ceremony to break the tape in 6 hrs 4 mins. That's all guts!

      Tremendous event ! Well organised, happy crowd and plenty more. Free sausage sizzle and a cold soft drink at the end to help       you forget the heat and every entrant gets a commerative glass to remind them of their efforts! I have unfinished business with that       25km course and will be back in 2008.

      December 14th 2008! See you then.

WESTFIELD TOOMBUL

PHONE JUDY AND PHIL

3266 9204

Carmichael's Cattery

Yatala

3807 9857 or 0417 625 783

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ALAN.B.