Fox's Trot 2007

The Old Man Can Still Run

From a email of April 19th 2007

Last week the Arrowtown Promotion committee staged the first "Fox's Trot".
A race from Arrowtown, over Big Hill, down the 8 Mile, to return via the Macetown Road.

This was staged  May 31 -  the day before winter arrives officially but someone forgot to tell Heuy and the day before the tops got a good dusting of snow, with the forecast for the day - "rain, heavy at times - but clearing. A sunny afternoon expected"

Luckily the rain did it's thing before the 11 o'clock start and the field of 80 or so participants skipped away from the start line in cool overcast conditions.

Bruce McLeod - NZ orienteering Champ lead out. He was never to be challenged. A short run brings you to the start of the Big Hill track and from there to the saddle it's up all the wa, with only some respite when the runners traverse a water race for about a 1 km.

Yours truly managed to cross the saddle in about 7th place, with the Merrell's doing good work on the slippery track on the way up. They more than paid for themselves on the other side. With runners slipping and sliding in the 5cm of snow covered tussocks. I used their grip and some old skiing skills and hammered in and advantage. This took me into 5th place. Below the snow line the steep slippery track added to the advantage that the Merrell's were working for me and I continued to put space between me and the following runners.

From the 8 mile it's still the good part of some 12kms or so back into Arrowtown, and now the focus changes to chasing the runners in front, and slowly I reel one back in, only to have Andrew Town of Wanaka go past like a steam train. (He was late starting due to snow and chain problems ion the Crown Range and had worked his way through the entire field to finally finsih in 2nd place. A pity he was not on the line to give Bruce a run for his money)

The last river crossing proved a test with tired legs but by now the end was in sight and right on the button of 2hrs (1.59.21) I crossed the line in 5th place. Ahead of the fastest woman, and 1st Vet overall.

Thanks to the Merrell's. they are still getting hammered everyday as I prepare to race with the above mentioned Bruce in a 12 hr orienteering race up near ChCh on the 28th of this month.