Trail Running Australia
Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2012 Start to CP2 Berowra 28.5km
With a cheer we were off and running in the Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2012. I could not help myself I had to be at the front. I like to get rid of nervous energy. I’m like a horse at the gates, I just love to race. I ran out quick but well under my anaerobic threshold and I just was happy to stretch my legs along the road and have a clean run to up the first fire trail.
In 2012 there were some really strong teams competing in Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2012. Our main rival for the mixed category was to be the Gu Nathan team featuring the Wellington Marathon 2012 Winner Sarah Burgess. Sarah Burgess is in great form and she had a star studded team around her featuring all sub 3 hour marathon runners. I have personally never competed in a road marathon but I know you have to be an amazing runner to achieve a sub-3 hour marathon. The Orange Whips were also looking strong on paper too. Oasis Property had some talented trail runners also, they initially asked me to be on their team but I later turned them down wanting to have the chance to run and train with my good friend Beth Cardelli in the No Roads Expeditions Team.
Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2012 is a team event first and foremost. To win the event you need an amazing team that is willing to work together through everyones strengths and weaknesses……
This story started way back in December when I emailed Brendan Davies about the possibility of forming a strong female No Roads Team for Oxfam 2012. No Roads Expeditions already had a cracking male team, there was no way I’d be able to keep up with the likes of Andrew Lee, Ben Artup, Brendan Davies, Mike Donges. But if there was a female team with Beth Cardelli and Angela Bateup, I felt like I could maybe just hold my own.
No Roads Expeditions could only managed to obtain one team entry for Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2012. So I was not going to run in the No Roads Expeditions Team. I just was not fast enough. So I kept my options opened, and just stayed in contact with Brendan and waited for a spot as a reserve. The two major races for the Marathon Trail Running calendar in 2012 were cancelled the 6 Foot Track in March and Mt Solitary was cancelled in April. I had no way to prove myself as a runner until May. I then ran The North Face 100km in 12 Hours 29 seconds placed 3rd female. I then pulled up nicely two weeks later at the Glow Worm Tunnel Marathon and again managed a 3rd. I felt like I did enough to prove my ability. Brendan’s body feeling the effects of his amazing racing season thus far and I think Beth Cardelli wanted another “chick” on the team with her for Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney 2012. So after the Glow Worm Tunnel in April I was asked onto the team. Yes!