Pushing it to the wire
Sat 16:07 . Posted by unknown author
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!… Read more.
Sat 04:00. Posted by unknown (deleted) author.
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).
Sat 16:07 . Posted by unknown author
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!… Read more.
Sat 15:11 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 14:39 . 20x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
See photos from the course just before endpoint!… Read more.
Sat 13:26 . 15x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
Photos from out amazing volunteers!… Read more.
Sat 13:09 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 11:50 . Posted by unknown author
Ursies and Johns Div 1 are grinding out the course in lockstep in their approach to Cliffords Trail, after some slowdown earlier this morning… Read more.
Sat 11:47 . Posted by unknown author
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!… Read more.
Sat 11:31 . Posted by unknown author
B&G have Div 2 and Div 7 incoming imminently, look almost certain to secure a provisional 2nd place and Division win respectively… Read more.
Sat 11:24 . Posted by unknown author
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!… Read more.
Sat 10:40 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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)… Read more.
Sat 10:34 . 3x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 10:13 . Posted by unknown author
21 are currently on Cotterils Trail Highway. That's over 80 runners!… Read more.
Sat 10:00 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 09:48 . Posted by unknown author
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)… Read more.
Sat 09:41 . Posted by unknown author
A submission from our volunteer (and ex-committee member) Will, a sneaky snake (theory: red belly) soaking up the sun… Read more.
Sat 09:29 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 08:18 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 08:01 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
Your venerable race commentary team gets its first view of Blowering Dam!… Read more.
Sat 07:18 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 07:06 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
We have reports that some Emu chicks have made an appearance at Endpoint!… Read more.
Sat 06:32 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 06:23 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
Beep Boop Beep Boop New Predictions have been made… Read more.
Sat 06:23 . Posted by unknown author
This final 10km stretch is potentially one of the hardest (and prettiest) in IB history. Check out the photos… Read more.
Sat 06:01 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 05:52 . 1x 📷 . 1 🎥. Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 05:00 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 02:30 . Posted by unknown author
Some Teams have enjoyed the scenic site of Ugly Mountain on their route today unfortunately no picture can be found of this beauty site… Read more.
Sat 02:30 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 02:30 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
Cutoff having occured here is a final list of provisional finish times not taking into account any penalties that may arise… Read more.
Sat 02:30 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 24:18 . Posted by unknown author
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..… Read more.
Sat 24:15 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Sat 24:13 . Posted by unknown author
Despite earlier comments from this commentator, Bruce 3 is in with a chance to pop ahead of B&G 3 and Fenner 3… Read more.
Fri 23:50 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 23:35 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 23:35 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 23:32 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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)… Read more.
Fri 23:20 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 23:20 . 3x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
Div 2 got dropped in Pine and seemed to navigate just fine. We have a few photos of the drop attached'… Read more.
Fri 23:18 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 23:02 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 22:51 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 22:44 . 5x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
Attached is bunch of photos and videos from Div 1 drop… Read more.
Fri 22:41 . Posted by unknown author
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!)… Read more.
Fri 22:37 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 22:36 . Posted by unknown author
Bruce 3 looks like they'll be taking a long detour... hey maybe they just want Sara bragging rights… Read more.
Fri 22:32 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 22:15 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 21:56 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 21:08 . Posted by unknown author
🌲🌲🌲🌲💀💀💀💀 Division 2 is tough drop in a pine forest… Read more.
Fri 21:07 . Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 21:02 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
That's right everyone, we're going to the beautiful Blowering reservoir. "Beach" IB for a second year in a row… Read more.
Fri 16:58 . 1 🎥. Posted by unknown author
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… Read more.
Fri 16:03 . 2x 📷 . 2 🎥. Posted by unknown author
Maybe they'll bump into Division 1 out there... 🤔… Read more.
Fri 15:08 . 5 🎥. Posted by unknown author
I wonder where they will go...Div 3 is being sent-off at 4pm. Be there or be square!… Read more.
Fri 14:13 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
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… 🏃♀️🏃🏃♂️… Read more.
Fri 13:52 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author
A little delay after the bus took a wrong turn to send off… Read more.
Fri 12:00 . Posted by unknown author
Fri 10:00 . Posted by unknown author
Fri 10:00 . Posted by unknown author
Fri 10:00 . Posted by unknown author
We're excited to see all of you at Yukeembruk for send-off… Read more.
Fri 10:00 . Posted by unknown author