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Bruce 1, Wright 7, Bruce 5, Unilodge 5, Fenner 6 , Ursula 7 and Johns 3, are still on course but close enough to make it to EP before the cutoff time of 4:30, who will make it!…

B&G's Div 4 team is in marking the final B&G to reach EP. Will it be enough for them to hold on to the overall title noting them having to overcome the challenge to make up the loss of points in their Div 3 DNFing. They took the definition of a suboptimal route deciding first to go south before heading up to the northern route their path is shown in light blue is 8km and has 200m more metres of vert than minimal (see dark blue)…

Div 1 has been brutal this year with over 100km of running and 200m of vert Bruce despite being early darlings of the race predictor fell on hard times when taking the wrong turn into pine forest and have been battling the time cut ever since. Will they make it for 3rd place with Wright Hall just finishing in 2nd…

See photos from the course just before endpoint!…

Photos from out amazing volunteers!…

Bruce Div 3 may have won but they did so based on stronger legs more so than route choice which was OK but not optimal (see purple) having the same vert (not flatter) as the quickest route (see Blue) but being 4km longer. I stand by our comments of it being suboptimal. However, having confidence in your route choice is a beneficial technique as you do not want to be doubting your decisions on the course unless they are disastrous, as this can readily impact team morale. Being out on your own for some teams is also useful to ensure they go at their pace not push too hard or be lulled into a false sense of security…

Apologies to the punters looking out for B&G division 5. We've updated the map…

In the descent down the "The Slope of Doom" Fenner has overtaken Wamburun…

Continuing with the pro cycling references I'm imagaining this video being the dynamic between B&G and Yukeembruk on the run down "The Slope of Doom"... It's yet to be seen which one is Vinegaard..…

Ursies and Johns Div 1 are grinding out the course in lockstep in their approach to Cliffords Trail, after some slowdown earlier this morning…

We've got a lot of teams coming in over the next hour and a half.A decent portion of Bruce and most of Wambam! Woohoo!…

B&G Div 1 is going suspiciously fast down the 'slope of doom' is it a last minute adrenaline boost from overtaking Griffin and bunch of lower Div teams? Or the chocolate croissants their lead nav brought to 'motivate' their team with extra delicious calories…

B&G have Div 2 and Div 7 incoming imminently, look almost certain to secure a provisional 2nd place and Division win respectively…

I imagine a lot of acting happening along Warogong Track at the moment. Just like in pro cycling you need to appear absolutely bonking before using a burst of speed to pip the competition at the last second!…

Ursula 7 are back on track after a significant overshoot. Serious resilience from them!…

Bruce 2 is almost at EP, with B&G not too far behind (~10-15 mins) but unlikely to catch them. Much Like the tussle between griffin and B&G in Div 1 these teams have taken alternate routes to get here with Bruce taking the sketchier but shorter Hume and Hovell walking track and also having to fae the mentl anguish of crossing the 'bridge of death' (See Dark Blue). Whereas B&G has taken the longer but more friendly southern route on firetrails (See Light Blue)…

B&G and Griffin Div 1 have not seen each other since drop. With B&G taking the flatter but harder-to-navigate southern route and Griffin taking the northern with a bonus trip to Cooleman Plain. It seems they are going to converge onto the slope of doom at approximately the same time according to our Race predictor. It seems Griffin is going to rack up over 100km lets see if that hinders them on the run home (see light blue). As opposed to the navigationally challenging AAWT south option which is equally as long (dark blue), but has about 1 black mountain run up (200m) less of climbing…

Taking a break from commentating for a second to put a call out for anyone interested in helping run IB Live in the future: specifically the tech side of things…

21 are currently on Cotterils Trail Highway. That's over 80 runners!…

These div 2 teams duked it out for the first half of the race, before separating onto the north and south paths. Despite the differing route choice, they've arrived at the same time on "The Slope of Doom'. Will one team be fresh enough to go in for the overtake on the downhill?Div 7 B&G is firmly in the lead, but Yuk 7 have provided good competition…

As predicted the big challenge for Div 4 as Peppercorn firetail is out of bounds was having to choose the much quicker south option (~78km) (Blue) once they reached Long Plain Rd. However Burgmann Div 4 is clearly up for the challenge having take the significantly longer and hillier north option (~90km) (Green), like an artic navigator. Wamburun is seemingly on track to win the division continuing to power ahead after re-overtaking bruce after navigational quirk…

It took Div X (Team 3) an hour and a half to decend what we're calling "The Slope of Doom". Why you ask? Because the trail drops about 1000 meters in 10km 🦵🦵🦵(oooft)…

A submission from our volunteer (and ex-committee member) Will, a sneaky snake (theory: red belly) soaking up the sun…

So you may have noticed that the Race Predictor results change spontaneously this is as primarily we only get tracker updates every so often and when we do they have a major impact on estimated average GAP. We calculate the time teams are expected to get into endpoint by mapping their tracker data to a series of route options if they are close enough and then access the speed and terrain they traveled across to estimate an average gradient-adjusted pace which it applies to the remaining optimal route to endpoint. It does not and cannot account for nav errors or fatigue…

Or rather lack of vision… thanks to Tom Fitz for taking these…

The sole catering vendor at endpoint… the coffee van. A truly captive market…

After a slow trek through the twilight hours Burgmann 5 are back and grinding at good pace. They're descending on the Hume and Hovel to "The Bridge Of Death"…

Track for them is up to date…

Another Robot Update, Trust it at Your peril. Teams DNFed in Red and Teams forecast not to make cutoff in yellow, Leading Teams in Green…

Your venerable race commentary team gets its first view of Blowering Dam!…

Wamburun 4 has been a frontrunner for most of the race, however, a slight detour allowed Bruce 4 to overtake.Recovering from their error (? or maybe a next level nav decision I can't determine), they've put all power rear thrusters and are fucking gunning it!…

Bruce Div 5 and Wright Div 2 at around 30 mins ago passed through the TBT endpoint where they were greeted by our fantastic team of volunteers and committee members…

We have reports that some Emu chicks have made an appearance at Endpoint!…

Div 7 this year is predicted to clock in at 45km--making it a 'true' ultra-marathon. They were also dropped earlier (read: it was still dark), to give them increased time to finish the route…

Beep Boop Beep Boop New Predictions have been made…

This final 10km stretch is potentially one of the hardest (and prettiest) in IB history. Check out the photos…

In the "comms car" we're looking at this beautiful sunrise, wishing all the runners well and wondering who is gonna make it to endpoint first…

This bridge on the Hume and Hovell Track that some Div 2 and div 5 teams are crossing reminds us of a scene from Monty Pyhton and the Holy Grail let's hope they have read up on the terminal velocity of unladen swallows and their favourite colours. Teams crossing this bridge must do it one at time to get across the fast-flowing and deep Goobagandra River, teams cross here just after going through a race checkpoint where they will be briefed on how to cross safely…

It Seems that Burg Div 1 has joined B&G Div 3 as having DNFed…

It seems perhaps to an affinity for Adelaide, Burg Div 6 have taken a bonus trip into pine forest, hopefully their nav is a fixer and will fix it quickly…

All the teams are in the race predictor system now, including div 7 it has B&G just ahead of Burgmann noting that it's tracker hasn't pinged as recently as other teams…

Just a reminder if you are driving to EP to leave before 530. Also busses are leaving/have left check the timetable at anuinwardbound.com/endpoint2023…

It seems all the Div 7 teams have left drop with all taken the northern Route option except Yukeembruk. Both routes on paper are similar with the south option (Green) taking in a bit less vert and probably marginally quicker option as opposed to the Northern Route (Blue). It looks to be challenging Div 7 with teams having to cover a marathong no matter which route they choose…

It seems in Div 4 the Race Predictor is showing a tight tussle between Bruce & B&G with only a ten minute gap forecast between them at EP. Div 5 has the predictor a bit confused about what Griffin is doing, however is suggesting Burgmann is in the lead preferring the teams who took the southern (green) not western route (blue), although the teams going west look to have made more progress. And finally, in Div 6 the predictor has Fenner ahead of Yukeembruk by 10 minutes with Ursulaonly forecasted 5 minutes at EP behind with a footrace evovling…

It seems Burgmann Div 5 did not like the eastern route and has opted for a sudden change in course to assumedly merge onto the western route! Heading across valley between 2 forestry roads with no trail marked between them and throwing in a creek crossing for some extra fun…

I tried to get some sleep, but am now back blogging. Firstly let's take a look at the updated race standings Griffin has seemingly surged to the lead in Div 1 with likely the southern route teams hindered by the AAWT, with it thinking B&G is coming in second and Ursies 3rd (although it seems Ursies is a ahead on the map). In Div 2 B&G has seemingly surged ahead. In Div 3 it thinks Burg is ahead, with Bruce struggle to make the time and and with B&G's tracker on the snowy mountain it seems they have DNFed or taken a bizarre detour or their traker has misbehaved wildly (will confirm what is happening here)…

As Predicted with Peppercorn Firetail being out of bounds. Div 4 teams mostly opted for the quicker south option (~78km) (Blue) once they reached Long Plain Rd. However, Burgmann Div 4 is clearly up for a challenge having taken the longer and hillier north option (~90km) (Green). Wamburun Div 4 is continuing to motor ahead despite past navigational quirks, potentially being the first team from 'Wambam' to win a Div…

Some Teams have enjoyed the scenic site of Ugly Mountain on their route today unfortunately no picture can be found of this beauty site…

Just a reminder to those driving to endpoint to leave before 5:30am or you risk not being allowed into EP. Busses should also be leaving/ have left. Full info at anuinwardbound.com/endpoint2023…

Yuk 5 is in with a good chance to win their division, Wam 4 is powering ahead in Div 4. Super exciting from Yuk (new college), and Wam (a college without a division win?).Yuk 7 is on the heels of B&G 7 too…

Johns is looking in pole on the trackers, however, 2nd place is hotly contested with B&G and Yuk and Bruce close behind on different routes. Attached is the race predictor results showing the gap…

On the trackers it looks like B&G has overtaken Griffin Div 1. Has the extra Black Mountain of vert caught up with Griffin 1? They are now forecast to finish an hr behind B&G but that gap if the trend contiues may grow. Johns and Urusula are fighting the cutoff time of 430PM…

We'll see you all bright and early tomorrow morning! Thanks for dot-watching with us…

Looks like division 2 has broken up a bit and are making their way through some challenging nav choices. Bruce 2 is hugging the edge of the exclusion zone. A miss step here could go wrong..…

Burgmann 1 seem to have been spooked by Bruce 1's return to the course, and have initiated evasive manoeuvres up a hill.Hopefully they get back on track, since they are perfectly poised to overtake the ex-most leading div 1 team…

Despite earlier comments from this commentator, Bruce 3 is in with a chance to pop ahead of B&G 3 and Fenner 3…

Ursies 1 have done a goldilocks manoeuvre: avoiding the tough nav of the south route, and the hills of the north route. They appear to be making good time against B&G div 1--with a much easier nav to AAWT intersection with Port Phillip Trail…

Our first team is making their way down Cliffords Creek Trail Div X 3 - with Terence Wiseham, Jack Gooday…

I've highlighted the AAWT here, which is mostly unmarked through this section--and will require good focus and skills for teams to get through.I'm not quite sure that the bush bash advised by the purple course route to Long Plain Rd is an awesome idea, but we'll see which way teams go…

With the difficulties of the south div 1 Nav becoming apparent the gaps has closed massively in the predictor . It still clings on to hope for Bruce having them come second but one suspects they will continue to run teh wrong way for a little bit more and be unable to hold their initial pace, currently it has B&G just pipping both them and Griffin. Div 2 continues to be a tight affar between Bruce B&G and Johns (apologies for some reason Bruce 2 is not displaying). Fenner is still ahead in Div 3. Estimated times thankfully becoming more reasonable. I am off to bed and will give y'all a big update in the morning before I head off to EP…

It Seems Griffin Div 1 are taking the marginally longer scenic route route across Cooleman Plain, featuring a less defined trail. Lets hope those old huts to be seen there distract them from the fact they made a suboptimal (but far from disattourous) route choiceFacts from Harrison: Mapping these out, looks like the route Griffin is taking has ~100m of vert vs the Purple line's 200m. (first photo is the long route, second photo os Cooleman Plain route)…

Seems of the teams the trackers have leaving drop all so far have left the right way. The big challenge for the teams as Peppercorn firetail is out of bounds will we choosing the much quicker south option (~78km) (Blue) once they reach Long Plain Rd and not the significantly longer and hillier north option (~90km) (Green)…

With Bruce Div 1 being the early darling of the race predictor it is perhaps predictable they decide to counteract it's assumption of optimal navving it seems they are headed on a fire trail which takes them no where useful. Looks like B&G is now leading div 1…

Div 2 got dropped in Pine and seemed to navigate just fine. We have a few photos of the drop attached'…

Bruce 1 have ceded their lead in the race for division 1... Don't think there is a good way out of this without turning around…

They may be the last team to leave send-off but that does not mean we do not have more IB interviews from them. Hopefully, the reception they got at Endpoint helped remedy the loneliness of being the last teams to leave…

The race Predictor Still thinks Bruce is leading Div 1, but the gap has closed to B&G, I suspect it is way too excited about their expected finish time of 8:16am especially as the trackers seem to have Bruce And B&G in Div 1 very close. It thinks Bruce and B&G @ Div 2 are very close whereas Fenner is front in Div 3 with the predictor for some reason really penalising the northern longer and harder route (but perhaps overly so). It very much does not like Bruce Div 3 going their own way up to the northern route which is longe, hillier and more more rmeote than both suggested options…

Divison 2 has been touted as one of the harder drops of this years course, and one of two in a pine forest (notoriously hard to navigate)."If a college fielded a div 1 team instead of a div 2, they'd be laughing right now" -- Anonymous lead driver.As is tradition B&G are leading out of the drop--but Johns seem to be hot on their trail as of 10pm (a classic Johns strategy).On our marked route the first 40km is pine forest trail until Brindabella road. However, unanimously the division seems to have taken a slight detour along Wee Jasper Forest Road which defers the pine forest for a bit…

Attached is bunch of photos and videos from Div 1 drop…

These division 1 teams have opted for the much more complicated nav route, following the beautiful Australian Alps Walking Trail... which is not much of a trail for this section.Teams will have to watch a bearing and make sure they are following sparsely placed trail markers (maybe hard to see at night!)…

These Divison 1 teams have gambled, taking the hillier north route option.Let's hope their legs are can match their ambition, and they don't flag coming into endpoint…

Bruce 3 looks like they'll be taking a long detour... hey maybe they just want Sara bragging rights…

Good News the race predictor is working and doing it's thing. It seems to think Bruce is storming ahead to win div 1 right now but I'd take it's predictions with a giant grain of salt right now as we do not expect teams to come in until closer to 10am…

With a relatively straightforward scout, thanks to some handily located road signs, div 3 is a race of route choice.These Div 3 teams have opted to cross Tantangara Dam, which looks great on our online map, but looks very full on the course map (screenshot attached).While a shorter route, navs need to have faith the water is low enough--or that they can find a bank.Fortunately, with most of the teams heading in this direction it all seems to be working out okay…

These teams have opted for a route described by the course setters as "longer and hillier" than the alternate, cross the dam--despite being potentially a bit less risky (in terms of the potential of the dam being full).Hopefully they'll be able to maintain their pace to finish line…

🌲🌲🌲🌲💀💀💀💀 Division 2 is tough drop in a pine forest…

Division 1 has the awful drop time of 7:15pm which means they probably watched the sunset as they were dropped (romantic) with teams after that being roughly dropped in hour intervals…

That's right everyone, we're going to the beautiful Blowering reservoir. "Beach" IB for a second year in a row…

Tune in for endpoint reveal in 10 minutes……

Thanks to the Tom’s for driving (and race directing last year)…

Shout out to the lead drivers keeping runners safe out on the roads!…

Griffin 5 are ready for both…

Will it be rainy? Salty? Humid? Arid? Hot? Cold? One thing is for sure: these runners do not know…

Captured earlier today, Unilodge Div 2 gives us a masterclass in preparing their bodies for the arduous task of sitting on a bus for an ungodly amount of hours.This is a severely underrated technique I am sure will catch on in IB 2024…

The energy is palpable! Pop tunes blare and foam rollers are rolled. A Div X team member is caught manifesting the start of the bus ride……

Maybe they'll bump into Division 1 out there... 🤔…

I wonder where they will go...Div 3 is being sent-off at 4pm. Be there or be square!…

Div 1 are on their way... Hopefully none of them get cramps on the bus, because they’re gonna be running for a long time… 🏃‍♀️🏃🏃‍♂️…

A little delay after the bus took a wrong turn to send off…

Even more views of the H&H Track - hopefully teams enjoy the change in scenery and keep an eye on their feet as they descend…

Division 2 and 5 really are in for a treat with multiple river crossing with no risk of getting wet feet. More than we can say for other divisions…

Sadly while Mt Franklin Road didn't make it into our course this year (speculate what Division is could have be) we still thought this would be a scenic picture to include…

A key intersection of the course for multiple teams, including Division 1 and 3. Hopefully no teams decide to take Horseshoe Trail..…

Views of the Kiandra Goldfields. While no teams will be going through, at least we hope, it would be rude not to showcase even more of Kosci…

Division 2 and Division 5 teams will make their way down the H&H Track all the way down Thomas Boyd Trackhead Checkpoint…

Typical to Kosci, there are many trails that seem to disappear into nothingness or are just faint enough to follow. Hopefully everyone has sharpened up their nav skills ahead of this year…

View of the powerlines under the Michelago Trail. Hopefully teams don't misunderstand the powerlines track and miss the actual trail…

Division 5 teams that choose the southern option through the Cotterill Checkpoint will get some very soggy feet early on in the race as they go through Emu Flat Creek. Bets on who will take their shoes off?…

Teams will be treated with views of Endpoint and the Blowering Reservoir as they make their way down Cliffords Creek Trail. Hopefully they are able to put the pain aside from their quad busting 1000m descent…

Division 2 and 5 teams are the only teams not to be dropped within the Kosciusko National Park and will face the daunting task of being dropped with the confines of the pine forests to the northern end of the park…

Sometimes on course you just need a little sit down. If you want to hear about the time we nearly stuck a car down a fire-trail come find us at IB Afters…

As teams finally finish the descent from Cliffords Creek Trail, they will be delighted to discover one final little hill for them to climb just to really seal the deal before Endpoint…

Hopefully Division 1 and Division 3 won't be spooking any campers as they make their way through Ghost Gully Campground in the middle of the night…

Views of the Port Phillip FT at sunrise. Shame teams will be going through here in the middle of the night…

A variety of teams will be coming through the Long Plain Corridor throughout the night so sadly won't be able to experience views like this…

The reason why a fear of heights had to be added to forms this year. Division 2 and Division 5 teams will be tackling this bridge just after reaching the Thomas Boyd Trackhead Checkpoint…

We're excited to see all of you at Yukeembruk for send-off…