Tower Trail Run 56 km, Mount Gambier

I’m not a big fan of loops so it’s surprising I signed up for the Tower Trail Run 56 km ultra in Mount Gambier with four loops of 14 kilometres. In its favour I’ve never been to 'The Mount' as they call it and secondly I figured that the loops were sufficiently long that I would have forgotten what the loop was like by the time I started the next one, so it would all be nice and fresh for me.

Race day was cool and clear, in great contrast to the previous day when it had rained intermittently all day. I ran 17 kilometres in the morning on the rail trail that begins from Port Fairy, and while I enjoyed the pretty countryside I got extremely wet.

The race started right by my hotel, a bonus, and there were only 22 starters in the ultra. I was surprised to see what Mt Gambier was like: a normal town on a large plain, but then a steep slope to one side and an enormous drop off beyond the slope with two large lakes at the base, Blue Lake and Leg of Mutton Lake. It was actually quite weird but made a great setting for a trail run. 

Blue Lake

The loop was a mixture of trails deep in the forest filled calderas, sealed access roads to the lakes, a path around the outside of the Blue Lake, and a climb to the centenary tower which gave the race its name. So it was very varied, and it was also very hilly. I had seen the elevation profile on the race website and also studied the results for the 42 km race the previous year so I suspected the race might not be flat, but I was surprised to see how hilly a route they had concocted. It was quite obvious, standing above the lakes, that there would be a big descent down to them and a big ascent up to the tower, but the race route took in plenty more climbs than this. It was a tough course with very little that could be called flat. And lots of steps, both up and down. Lots of tree roots on the steep descents. All good fun.

It was a cloudy day, then the sun came out for a while and the Blue Lake looked blue. Then there was a splash of light rain and then the air was a perfect cool temperature for running.

The field spread out quickly but I played cat and mouse on the first and second loop with a trio of local runners. Nice for me, as I knew I wouldn’t get lost: one of the guys had marked out the course. I had thought I would have plenty of company on the run because of all the other distances taking place concurrently but in fact I rarely saw anyone from the other races. 

I actually found the loop thing pleasant. The first loop seemed very long. The steep descent into the forest near the start was muddy and slightly treacherous. The climb to the tower was not the final hill, as I had expected, but was followed by a worse hill. (On this first lap there was a child standing handing out lollies at the foot of this bonus hill.) The steps down from the tower were so shallow that I couldn’t run them individually, so I tried taking two at a time and then I tried running down the steep slope beside the steps (ok, I had several chances later on to perfect my technique). 

On the second loop I tried to recall what I would be seeing but I had forgotten quite a bit, although it seemed to pass more quickly. By the third loop I remembered almost the entire sequence and I was constantly thinking about what was coming next. I tried to conserve energy on that third loop but at the same time I knew the fourth loop would be less challenging as it would be the last. 

I split the fourth loop into two halves, up to the Blue Lake and after the lake; so in my mind I just had to get round the Blue Lake and I knew getting home would be a given. The marshal at the underpass where the Blue Lake circuit started said to me "Just get that Blue Lake out of the way" and that expressed my feelings exactly. But funnily, when I emerged from my circuit of the lake I almost started out on another lap as the exit point looked different to me; that was the only time I almost went the wrong way. About a kilometre before the finish two women standing at a junction asked how I was going and started walking with me (it was an uphill portion); one asked me what I was having for dinner, which I thought was a lovely and appropriate question, so I was able to ask for schnitzel recommendations.

At the end of each lap I received vociferous clapping at the start/finish area as I started out on a fresh loop. The marshals all along were wonderful, and the folk at the one aid station who were out there all day for a relatively small number of runners. In the end I finished second female and I was pleased with my time of 7 hours 29 minutes. My lap splits were fairly even. However, climbing onto the podium was a challenge. Stepping down was even worse.