The Pix Magazine could be best described as a weekly magazine for males produced in the 1990’s. sometime snot very politically correct. But was good to see mor epublicity for ultrarunning.
Tags: Australia, Ultra history, Ultralegends
Posts Tagged ‘Ultra history’
All,
Thankyou for your support and kind words during 2009. I think the website is serving a useful purpose for the sport by the feedback I am receiving.
I have been able to post a lot of information so far, but sometimes it seems as though it is all I have been doing!
At the moment I am having a break with Christmas, but will be getting into the blogging swing of things come January. But there are some other major things happening in my life in 2010, so they wont be posted in the same quantity as this year.
Some of the topics I will be covering in 2010 are:
- The rest of 1993 Australia
- Westfield Run 1983 to 1991
- Colac 6 day race
- 1994 Australia
- 1995 Australia
- Exploring and posting more Pedestrian information
- Ultra book reviews when and if I finish reading them.
If I do manage to post all of that by the end of 2010, I will be happy with the continued development of the website. If not, I will catch up in 2011. My website will see to some people very Australian focused, but I have to scan and post what is in my shed first, before I move further afield!
Anyway. Thanks and ………….
Keep moving forward.
Phil Essam
Tags: Ultra history, Ultralegends
16
Nov
Griffith 12 hour – 1993
16
Nov
Mundaring to York – 1993
EDITORIAL
We’ve completed our eighth year of operations and are still alive and thriving, due to your efforts. Thank you for your wonderful contributions to ULTRAMAG and for supporting ultra races around Australia. I feel we must one of the strongest countries in the world in terms of ultra running, as we now have 53 ultra races on our calendar and the variety is great.
It gives me a real lift to find members taking the initiative and trying their hands at race organisation. Leigh Privett’s new trail race through Kosciusko National Park in March should be absolutely fantastic. The high country is magnificent in summer with its huge boulders, snow gums, wild-flowers and crystal-clear mountain streams. Good luck with this one Leigh. Hookie’s Bogong to Mt.Hotham in January is gaining in popularity too, in similar conditions.
Incidentally, Leigh Privett has also taken the initiative and invited some members of the Russian ultra-running community out to compete in our events. They are extremely enthusiastic, and with some help in getting them visas, they should be out here during 1994. Leigh got to know them when he visited Kamchatka in far eastern Siberia (Russia) for an 8 day trail race called “The Hell over the Clouds” which we advertised in our March ‘93 ULTRAMAG. The race was in August. Their Russian hospitality was overwhelming apparently, and Leigh was so enthusiastic about the event that he has sent us a pile of descriptive brochures to include with this issue. Thank you Leigh. Perhaps they may inspire other members to participate next year if the event is
repeated.
Bill Joannou is also tackling the organisation of a 6/12/24 Hour Track Race at Beaton Park, Wollongong in March and we wish him all the best with this one. Please do your best to support these new race organisers.
Planning for “The Tasmania Run ‘93″, the 7 day staged road-race which takes in a circuit of Tasmania in August, is well under way and race organiser, Alan Rider is very excited about what a sensational event it promises to be. It is already attracting world-wide interest and enquiries have been received from Spain, Britain, Canada, Slovenia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Czech. Republic as well as from all states of Australia. What I find interesting about it is that there are two recovery days built into the event, and that the actual running only takes place in either the areas of outstanding natural beauty or well-populated areas, where the runners will receive plenty of moral support from spectators. The less interesting parts of Tassie are to be driven. Mainland competitors will also have a chance to travel on the new “Spirit of Tasmania” ferry which had its first run recently.
So things are looking decidedly brighter on the Australian ultra-running scene. The only black spot is in connection with my ex-friend, David Sill. We did the right thing and made him a NSW interstate AURA rep. last July because he seemed a nice bloke, but lately I’m starting to regret that decision. He has far exceeded the bounds of friendship with his over-zealous recruitment of NSW members! Now this is just NOT ALLOWED. I’m a tolerant woman, but when I come home from work each night to find MORE application forms from NSW members, it is decidedly depressing. Enough is enough!
We tried handicappping the Colac 6 Day Race this year for the first time. You all realize that when a race is handicapped, the runners are supposed to end up with around the same distance. Well, in fact, there was 300km or so difference! A total disaster. Our only comment on this one is that, firstly, you mustn’t have paid us enough, and secondly, we can’t be good at everything.
Anyway, that’s it folks. I need race dates for next year, and a cheque for $25.00 to support us for 1994.
Have a great Christmas and holiday period. Do a few miles and keep fit.
Regards,
Tags: Australia, Ultra history
28
Oct
AURA Ultramag – Dec 1993
WESTERN STATES 100 MILE TRAIL RACE, CALIFORNIA
Report by Max Bogenhuber
For those not in the know, the Western States 100 is a 100 mile race through the California Sierra mountains, starting at Squaw Valley (near Lake Tahoe) and finishing in Auburn, not all that far from Sacramento. Elevation changes are about 18000 foot of climb and 22000 foot of descent. I have run the event three times and I have been told by someone here that it must be an easy run, because it has more downhill than uphill. That someone shall remain nameless. But I DO hope that he will garner enough courage one day to enter that race, finishing it is a different story.
There is always a tendency to shut up about a race that one did not finish and I really don’t want to write about my experience this year, but rather the valiant effort put in on that scorching June day by Andrew McKenzie-Hicks.
Andrew and I got to California a week before the race. We drove up to the mountains to get a few runs in on the trail before race day. I know most of the trail reasonably well by now, but for Andrew it was all a new experience. I had told him back here that it gets hot up there: On that first training run about halfway along the actual trail it began to sink in just HOW hot ! We used up eight 16 ounce drink bottles in about 12 miles.
I had been pretty crook for some time and because of that had not been able to train like I normally do for this, so I quite honestly did not expect to get to the finish, but! had to go to the US anyway and I had entered (you have to enter by November the year before), so I decided to take it easy and see how far I would get.
There were all sorts of stories going around about cut-off times being extended because of the heavy cover of snow in the early miles. Now this is a bit hard to explain, super hot temperatures and snow on the trail !…you have to bea kidding ! Well, I kid you not, we had about 38 degrees at 6000 feet, the day before the race and yet over the first 30 miles there was snow on the trail on and off. The snow was pretty hard and really did not present a problem for me to run on, but some runners practically crawled over it. Its funny what the fear of the unknown can do to people.
I sort of struggled my way to Forest Hill (about 62 miles), but after taking an hour and fortyf ive minutes for the last two miles before getting there, I realised that it was pretty useless to carry on. So that’s where I quit. It was a good place to stop, because this is where runners pick up their pacers, if they have one. And this is where I’ll pick up Andrew’s story.
Fred, my brother who lives over there, had arranged for a pacer for Andrew. So while I was hanging around Forest Hill this guy came up to me and asked me where Andrew was. We searched the progress boards for his name, but soon became aware that these boards are not updated too often. So we waited around. I was starting to worry about Andrew when he had not arrived within an hour of my arrival there. I knew that he had put his first torch (for night running on the trail) in his Forest Hill drop bag. So I told his pacer that he would have to get there before dark. Well time went by and it got dark and no Andrew. Once the night had settled in and it was pitch dark, the pacer went home thinking that Andrew must have pulled out somewhere. No more than five minutes after he left Andrew turned up looking for his pacer. I did not want Andrew to know that I was out of the race, so I kept away from him and after a while Andrew decided to head out into the night on his own.
Not long after Andrew had left, my sister in law (a pretty good runner herself) turned up with the news that the guy she was supposed to pace had pulled out of the race at an earlier aid station. So I said why don’t you pace Andrew!?
We decided to go down to the next major aid station to meet him there. This station is down by the American River and you can’t drive down. So she ran the three miles from the road down to the aid station, in the dark, to wait there for him. She waited there for six hours. No Andrew. At this stage she was sure that he must have pulled out of the race somewhere between Forest Hill and the River Crossing, ran back up to the road and got a lift back to the finish at Auburn.
Meanwhile, my brother had finished the race in 11th place, we had been to the motel for a shower and a sleep and returned to the finish area (these are long races). When we got back there, we checked the progress board and found that Andrew had crossed the river and was on his way to the finish. But we had no idea how long he would be, so we went for something to eat downtown.
When we got back, there was Andrew, looking a bit worse for wear but in good spirits. For me, this was a very emotional moment, because I had given up on him and was feeling sorry for him because I knew how much he trained for this.
When he told us his side of the story I realised just how tough it must have
been for him. He had passed out coming out of one of the canyons where the day time temperature had reached 48 degrees. After regaining his senses he made it to the next aid station only to be held there, by a race doctor, for some time. And from then onwards he would get held at several aid stations because he had lost too much weight. When it dark on him out on the trail and he had no light because his torch was at Forest Hill, he stayed close to a runner who had a torch. Having done the race, I can assure you that’s a tough way of doing it. To Andrew’s credit he perservered and finished in just under twentyeight and a half hours. That performance shows a lot of guts and a big heart, there are not too many runners that would have carried on after what he had gone through.
This year only 56 runners, out of 387 starters, made it in under 24 hours. That’s the lowest percentage ever by a long way. And only 209 runners made it to the finish inside the cut-off time of 30 hours. Would that guy that said that this must be an easy run please stand up, repeat what he said, then send off his entry for next year’s race. I’ve got a spare one !
As in all previous years, the winners, male and female, again came from the local area re-enforcing my believe that one has to live and train on that trail
to ever perform well in that race. But it would be good to see some of our top ultra runners make the journey to trail runnings altar and give the Americans a run for their money.
Note: Forest Hill to River Crossing = 16 miles,
River Crossing to finch = 22 miles.
First male – Tom Johnson in 17:08
First female – Ann Trason in 19:05 (third outright)
387 starters, 59 females (15% of starters)
Males had a 41% finishing rate
females had a 71% finishing rate (who called them the the weaker sex ?)
Tags: Ultra history, USA
22
Sep
Australian 48hr – 1993
AUSTRALIAN 48-HOUR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS
AND
QUEENSLAND 24-HOUR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS
4-6 JUNE, 1993
It didn’t rain this year. The wind didn’t try to take any tents. All the lights stayed working. The main clock didn’t run out of power midway through the event. Organising the use of the field took one phone call. The Wynnum Rugby Union Football Club looked after us like we were long lost relatives. The trophies and T-shirts were ready well before the event. The number of competitors was dramatically increased over last year, and six records were broken. The world was a very good place to be in for a few days.
The Australian 48 Hour Championships attracted six great runners, Bryan Smith, David LaPierre (Canada) Peter Gray, Georgina McConnell, Bob Burns and John Timms.
At 9am on the 4th June they were dispatched on their way by Deputy Lord Mayor of Brisbane John Campbell. Bryan Smith streaked to the lead in the first hour with 12.8k and stayed there for the rest of the event. Peter Gray was never too far away most of the time. He continued to keep moving in his normal quiet efficient style. Canadian David LaPierre, suffered very badly from jet lag, arriving in Australia only a few days before the event and not up to his normal professional performance. He managed a very creditable 280.870k. Georgina McConnell was at her business-like best with 302.275k, and in the process managed to break the 250k, 300k and 48-hour Australian records, (congratulations Georgie). Bob Burns was back to his normal best, quietly working away to come in third place and John Timms was entertaining with his varied running style and culinary requirements.
The sun dawned brightly on Saturday 5th to another beautiful Queensland day, as the sixteen runners who were to compete in the 24-hour event prepared to join the six 48-hour runners. Local federal member Con Sciacca fired the gun at 9am and swelled the field to 22 runners.
Dell Grant put on one of the most impressive running displays seen in these parts for some time. She took outright lead at the fifth hour, and from then on, the best the others could do was to fight it out for the minor placings. Not only did Dell win outright in front of 15 others, she also broke the Queensland 100k, 100 mile and 24 hour records (congratulations Dell). Ron Grant, who came to help Dell along and have a bit of a training run, got caught up in the excitement of it all to come in first male and second over all. Dave Holleran snapped at Ron’s heels for most of the event to come in second male and third overall.
Seventy-six year old John Petersen, who has been a regular competitor for many years, had been suffering a bit with a muscle strain lately. He popped in to have a little run, stayed the 24 hours, and did a great 108k.
My encouragement trophy went to Kerrie Hall who walked the 24 hours to reach 126k. She is going to be someone to look out for if she ever decides to take up running.
It was great to see three new 24—hour runners enter the event, Gerard Hocks and John Stockman who had their first taste of ultra running in the Caboolture 12-hour a few weeks back. Both did 106k. Nanango runner Graeme Watts did 93k in his first effort at ultra running. It was very pleasing to see new runners entering our events up here.
Dell Grant
Cliff Young put on a great performance to reach 130k as it was only at the last minute he felt he could enter because of injuries and a cold.
As race director I was very pleased for all the runners, and the personal goals they reached. They all can’t get a trophy, but everyone in those two events deserved one.
My thanks to all our sponsors and helpers who made these events possible. Special thanks to Dave and Kay Holleran for their long months of work before the event, and during the event to Val Case for her tireless efforts, and to Lorraine. Camp Quality benefits from this event by approximately $500 with donations from sponsors and runners.
A VIEW FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE. – by David Holleran
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT RUNNING IN A 24 HOUR RACE WAS HARD. LAST YEAR I TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE OF ASSISTING RAY CHATERTON IN ORGANISING A 48-24HR RACE. HARD!! I’LL SAY. SO THIS YEAR I THOUGHT, WELL WHY NOT TRY BOTH AT ONCE. HARD, DIFFICULT, FRUSTRATING, REWARDING? ALL OF THE ABOVE. LAST YEAR I MADE MANY MISTAKES IN THE ORGANISATION OF THE RUN, BUT NOT THIS YEAR. WHEN YOU HAVE TO FORK OUT YOUR OWN Iy9NEY YOU LEARN REAL FAST.
A CHANCE MEETING WITH ALLAN JONES WHO WAS THAT..’NIGHT
TO BE VOTED IN AS PRESIDENT OF THE WYNNUM RUGBY UNION CLUB WAS VERY INTERESTED IN DONATING THE GROUND FOR US TO USE FOR FREE!!’ LIGHTS, TRACKSIDE TOILETS, (ELIMINATING THE COST OF PORT-A-LOOS) , FULL CANTEEN FACILITIES. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS OFFICIAL. WHAT A BEAUTY. TELECOM, WHO HAD BEEN MY TEE SHIRT SPONSOR IN AN EVENT IN DECEMBER SAID THEY WOULD BE A TEESHIRT SPONSOR FOR THIS EVENT. GREAT. TROPHIES, NO WORRIES. I APPROACHED 14 BUSINESSES WITH ONLY ONE REFUSAL. TROPHIES PAID FOR!! CERTIFIED TRACK, I RING ALLAN FOX A MARATHON RUNNER AND SURVEYEROF 31 YEARS EXPERIENCE. DONE. FRUIT, FOR THE RUNNERS. PERRYS FRUIT OF WYNNUM, NO WORRIES. SO FAR, GREAT.
TWO WEEKS TO CO AND BANG. TELECOM RENEG. NEVER TAKE THE WORD FROM A BIG COMPANY. 24 HOURS LATTER, CO VIDEO OF MANLY COME TG THE RESCUE. BACK ON TRACK. THEY ALSO DONATED ALONG WITH SPORTS CO CAPALABA LOTS OF GIVAWAYS. T.V. COVERAGE? SURE. The NEWS EDITOR OF CHANNELL 9 IS A REFERREE, AND f JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE FITNESS ADVISOR FOR:-THE REFS.
BRISBANE EXTRA, SATURDAY NEWS, SUNDAY NEWS, NEWSPAPERS, RADIO. WHAT: A BUZZ!! CO VIDEO ARE RAPT. SO MUCH EXPOSURE. NEXT YEARS EVENT LOOKS GOOD ALREADY.
THE RUN. SET LIP FRIDAY WITH RAY. IT’S COLD BUT FINE. I RENEW OLD FRIENDSHIPS. PETER GRAY AND MUM NORMA ARE ALL FULL OF SMILES. BRYAN LOOKS GOOD, GEORGIES CHIRPY, DAVID LA PIERE LOOKS ‘HAPPY AND TALKATIVE, JOHN TIMMS IS JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE, BOB BURNS IS HIS USUAL DETERMINED SELF. A SMALL FIELD BUT ALL QUALITY. RAY IS HIS USUAL EFFICIENT SELF, COOL AND UNFLAPABLE. NOTHING ELSE FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT. THE RUGBY CLUB IS SUP.PI YING A FULL CANTEEN SO HAVE SOME BREAKY AND SETTLE IN TO.’SbME PHOTO TAKING AND TALKING. CLIFFY IS THERE AND A STEADY STREAM OF PEOPLE COME BY TO MEET HIM. CLIFFY IS EVER FRIENDLY AND APPROACHABLE. CLIFF IS IN TERRIBLE PAIN WITH A SCIATTIC NERVE INFLAMED AND A DOSE OF FLU. I DON’T THINK HE’LL GET VERY FAR TOMORROW. BACK HOME AND TRY TO SLEEP. CLIFFY’S COUGHING ALL NIGHT. UP AT SIX, EAT, OFF TO THE TRACK. THE 48ers ARE LOOKING GOOD. MEET MORE OLD FRIENDS. GEE I ENJOY ULTRA PEOPLE. NO “FLUFFY STUFF” HERE AS RON GRANT WOULD CALL IT, JUST PURE PIONEER STOCK, THE TGUGH RUNNERS.
THE GUN GOES OFF AND DOWN TO BUSINESS. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER I’M HAVING STOMACH PROBLEMS. OH WELL, PLAN B MAYBE!! 8 HOURS, GEE IT’S HARD, 12 HOURS, A COUPLE OF RUNNERS GO HOME, SOME TO BED. CLIFF IS GETTING STRONGER. SO AM I!! YOU BEAUTY. 6TH SPOT AND RISING. If HOURS – 4th, 15 HOURS – 3rd AND THERE I STAY. THE RUN FINISHED. RELIEF. SIT DOWN AND RELAX. WHAT’S THIS, KIDS WANT MYJAUTOGRAPH. WHAT A BUZZ!!
HIGHLIGHTS
BRYAN SMITH, BACK TO BACK 48’s. A TRUE AUSSIE CHAMPION. GEORGINA McCONNELL, THREE AUSTRALIAN RECORDS AND LOOKED GREAT ALL THE WAY.
JOHN TIMM’S FASHION PARADE. HE MUST PRACTICE QUICK CHANGES OF CLOTHES AT HOME.
PETER GRAY EVER CHEEKY AND NEVER A QUITTER. TENACIOUS DELL GRANT. WHAT A LADY, WHAT AN ATHLETE. YOU CAN’T HELP BUT BE INSPIRED. “ROTTEN RONNIE- GRANT, ALWAYS COMPETITIVE ALWAYS HELPFUL, NEVER A QUITTER. MARK FOLEY’S “ARE WE THERE YET” COMMENTS, GREAT SENSE OF HUMOUR. ULTRA CHAMPION WIFE WANDA HAD A HELL OF A TIME TRYING TO FIND HIM AT TIMES. HE JUST LOVES TO VISIT OTHER TENTS AND HIDY HOLES. KERRIE HALL WALKED THE ENTIRE WAY NEVER COMPLAINED, EVEN WHEN I SANG, AND EVERSMILING. GERRARD HOCKS AND SIAMESE TWIN JOHN STOCKMAN, RAN WALKED AND TALKED FOR 24 HOCRS. GREAT GUYS TO HAVE ON THE TRACK. JOHN PETERSON COME FOR A LOOK AND STAYED TO RUN. JOHN HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME AND IS SADLY MISSED WHEN NOT COMPETING. AND OF COURSE, CLIFFY. IN PAIN, FULL OF THE FLU, FULL OF GOOD OLD FASHIONED GUTS AND DETERMINATION. RAY CHATERTON DESERVED A MEDAL FCi A WELL ORGANISED AND SMOOTH RUNNING EVENT. I KNOW HE’D RATHER RUN BUT HE PUTS IN MUCH MORE THAN HE TAKES OUT. THE RACE WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. LOTS OF LOCAL SUPPORT. SIX RECORDS BROCKEN, ALL BY LADIES. WOW!! MY BEST PLACING IN TWELVE 2t HOUR RACES. MY WIFE KAY DID A GREAT JOB, MASSAGING THE RUNNERS AND CREWING FOR ME. WHAT A LADY. AND TO TOP IT ALL OFF, WE MADE MONEY FOR CAMP QUALITY AS WELL. THAT ALWAYS MAKES IT WORTH WHILE.
THERE IS NO DOUBT ULTRA RUNNING IS ALIVE AND WELL IN QUEENSLAND. WHY NOT COME AND TRY THIS EVENT NEXT YEAR.
DAVE HOLLERAN.
CO – RACE DIRECTOR.
Tags: Australia, Ultra history