Puffing Billy

It's when Men and Women versus steel and slope. The annual Puffing Billy fun run has now become a popular, and very successful event on many KSB members calendar. While the challenge to many members may have appeared to be having to back up their run from the previous day at Jells, the greatest surprise came from old Puffing Billy; who obviously had been doing quite a bit of training since last years poor effort. Click below to read more

Results

Puffing Billy Report

The AV Cross-country season is usually structured so that the shorter races come first. This means that the transition from Track and Field races isn’t too dramatic. Racing against Puffing Billy over 13.2km prior to the season doesn’t make a lot of sense in this context. It is even less logical when you consider the nature of the course, which is arguably the toughest race some people would run in the season. I think the City to Surf is a harder course and am happy to debate my evaluation. However, it comes up in August so athletes should be more conditioned for the race.

This year a strong contingent of KSB’s finest headed east after dawn to take on the Puffer. I suppose we should be grateful, this year AV had scheduled its opening race for the week after the event rather than the day before. Of course, that meant one less excuse for a bad run.

On board this year we had first timers Rob Trott, David Ireland and a special guest, Jenny Brown; clearly sick of hearing the fabricated stories of pain and suffering and deciding to check it out for herself. Mark De Campo was also running but obviously the lack of business class on the Mac Express meant he travelled on a different carrier.

As it has been since 2007, the weather was perfect.  When we managed to snaffle the last parking spot it seemed that the stars were all aligning. There was the matter of the race but at least we alighted for the warm up hassle free.

I’m not sure what the others did in the hour leading up to the start but I set off for my usual warm up spot, a secret Shangri-la that it seems I am one of the few to have discovered. And in case you are wondering why I haven’t shared this with other KSB runners, I can only say that I’ve meant to but they always seem to have disappeared before I get a chance.

This year, for the first time, we had seeded starts. But from what I could see the ‘elite’ group was a lot larger than I would expect. Irrespective, I stood near the start line and waited for the front group to be brought around before jumping in close to the front. I decided not to stand at the very front as I wasn’t intending to bolt from the blocks (OK, maybe bolt isn’t possible anyway). In front of me was Gerard and in front of him Mitchel Brown. Off to my left Rob Trott and my son, Liam, were near the front also. Emma Brown had decided to take advantage of the elite start and decided that Bianca should also. So that by race start the two girls (OK, they aren’t girls. Sorry, my age is showing) were standing as close to the startline as me.

As planned, I sauntered off at the start. How comfortably I started can be determined by who I passed in the first 2k. I don’t mean to cast aspersions but I passed Bianca at about 500m, Liam shortly after (he’d taken off relatively slower than me) and Emma another 500m further on. A kilometre later I passed Gerard up the first hill. Now it isn’t unusual for Gerard to lead me out in races, but in long distance races it isn’t usually for that long.

Emma had dragged Bianca to the front rows and now she was making every post a winner and Bianca had little option but to go out a little faster than usual.

I don’t know about Brendan O’ Loughlin or Lachlan Yourn’s start but shortly before the 1k mark a bloke appeared on my left shoulder. In my peripheral vision I could see he wasn’t wearing a KSB singlet but because his shape, size and running action had already been stored in my memory bank, I knew it was Mark De Campo. Was he hopping on for a free ride again?

As we approached the trestle bridge that marks the start of the first climb, Puffing Billy roared across. What the…?

Last year the Puffer stopped me at 3k but I was well past the bridge when it crossed. I had begun slower this year but not that slow.

Mark hadn’t run the course before so I assumed he was being conservative early and using me as a pace guide, but not for long. No sooner had we hit the slope than he put the foot down. In no time he had opened a gap that got wider and wider. Ahead of us were David Ireland and Rob Trott (also first timers). I could see Rob and Mark had remarked to me what a fast start Rob had got just before he left me stuck to the bitumen, so it may have been that he wanted to close the gap quickly.

Any concerns I had of being stopped again at the 3k crossing were quickly dispelled as the train chugged by, well before my arrival. Not so lucky were those at the front, bar Mitchel and one other. Yes, only two runners got through, so the race was over for anyone else. The race shouldn’t be decided (though in this case it probably wasn’t) in that manner and the organisers need to haul the driver over the coals. Sorry, it just came to me as I typed it. One of the victims was Dave. Don’t know how much time he lost but I’m led to believe he went from about 10^th to equal 30^th by the time the crossing reopened.

For the next 6k I could see Rob and Mark ahead but was making no impression on their lead, if anything I was losing ground as we climbed THE hill between 5 and 7k.

Behind me Gerard was running well but was finding it hard to work out how well with some of the markers seemingly in the wrong spots. As he passed the 7k crossing he could hear the train coming but got through comfortably. Behind him, Lachlan and Brendan had swallowed up Liam’s lead half way up the climb, and despite Liam’s attempts to go with them, he slowly dropped off. Liam and Brendan negotiated the 7k crossing safely but as Liam approached, the bunting man began his march. This crossing comes after the steepest section of the climb, but by no means the top. Digging deep he sprinted across with barely two metres of open space remaining. The effort left him legless for the final 300m of climbing.

Bianca was running strongly but due to the errant markers had no idea how well. She had passed Emma earlier on. During the long climb she was passed By Gemma Kenessy (ex KSB runner who would go on to finish 3^rd woman) so she had obviously been well up amongst the female group.

It was over the 500m or so after the climb that I noticed Rob had slowed. However, there is a steep downhill before runners rejoin the main road and pass the next crossing. Any gains I’d made were wiped out as Rob gave his long legs their freedom. He wasn’t the only one. I was on the verge of passing another runner when I heard heavy footsteps behind me, coming fast. Next second some bloke flies past as we near the bottom.

My first reaction was that he had to hit the wall once we started the small rise over the crossing but almost immediately the realization of his actions became clear, the train was bearing down fast. Now it was my turn to sprint and I did enough to get across before the orange barrier was pulled. Phew!

The chase could continue. Rob was slowing noticeably, Mark not so much, but the gap was closing and suddenly Dave’s distinctive style appeared. I might still lead home the KSB contingent.

The Puffer was still flying along as I could see all the way up the climb to 10k. Fortunately it crossed before any of us got there but I’d virtually conceded defeat to it if it kept up its current rate.

Gerard was having similar luck. As he approached the 8k marker the bunting was being removed so that he was able to maintain his pace.

At the Emerald Railway Station, just after 10k, I passed Rob. He’d stopped for a drink. Odd, I thought. I’d have kept going or at least run with the cup in my hand. It meant an easy passing for me, and I wasn’t complaining as I set my sights on Dave some 40m ahead.

I’d expected to catch Dave a lot sooner but he stayed frustratingly out of reach until we hit the dirt track at 11km. As I joined him he said, “I’ve been waiting for you to catch up”. I didn’t know whether he meant he deliberately waited for me, or whether he expected me to catch him. Either way he surged so quickly that within 50m he was 10m in front. Was that supposed to drag me along or deflate me? At 12k I caught him again and urged him to respond. This time he said he was gone. With only 1.2k until the finish, mostly downhill with a treacherous corner to come, I couldn’t understand his surrender. Again, I wasn’t complaining. 80m ahead was Mark, too far to catch but I’d be happy to finish so close. However, Mark switched on the afterburners and mowed down 5 runners in the last 750m. So fast did he finish that what could only have been a 10-12 sec. gap at 12k turned to 41 seconds at the finish. Impressive.

After I crossed the line I waited for the rest of the KSB crew to finish, knowing that the Puffer was on a PB. Dave crossed before I had passed the 2^nd scanner with Rob right on his heels. What a pity Mark didn’t wear the KSB singlet (read my lips Mark). What a great sight it would have been with so many KSB singlets streaming across the line.

Not long after, Gerard appeared, just behind the first woman. Note the word ‘behind’.  What’s the story, Gerard? Dave and I managed to beat the first woman when we were on national TV. Gerard claims that he was about to pass her when some big bloke blocked his path and he never recovered. That may well be the case but what was he doing behind her? As it turns out Gerard ran a PB so we might excuse him this time. But he is on his last warning.

1½  minutes later the tricolour again appeared. First Lachlan, then Brendan, then Liam. Unfortunately Puffing Billy’s over enthusiastic driver had already dashed across the line.

It wasn’t too long before Bianca (resplendent in red, not black, blue and gold) powered up the final ramp and through the tape, in the process knocking 2 minutes off her best time. The cross-country season is looking good.

Then it was Brown, Brown, Brown (though again not black, blue and gold) Emma was the first one through, shaving 35 seconds off last year’s time. The long runs must be making a difference. Next was Amy, 16 secs slower than last year, but still OK and finally Jenny in a very respectable 79:23 given the nature of the course and the length of time she has been in training.

Once again the Mac Express had the individual winner and the winning team on board. Might pay to keep that quiet next year in case the opposition hatch a plan to sabotage the bus.

I think everyone would be happy with their run. There were plenty of PB’s and some very positive signs for the forthcoming cross-country season.

If I’m allowed to have one gripe it is the failure of some to sport the club uniform. As a small club we punch above our weight and it is in events like this that we get to fly the flag. However, I am willing to overlook the women who are anxiously awaiting the new crop top. I believe a KSB Calendar will soon follow.

Individual times of KSB runners

Mark De Campo   47:07                   Michael McIntyre      47:48              David Ireland             47:57

Rob Trott       47:59                          Gerard Brown           49:25              Lachlan Yourn           51:03

Brendan O’Loughlin     51:48          Bianca Share              54:32              Emma Brown             58:36

Amy Brown    71:07