Start your engines.

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.

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.

Heartbreak Hill Photo Dump

Sat 14:39 . 20x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

See photos from the course just before endpoint!… Read more.

Cotterils Checkpoint Photo Dump

Sat 13:26 . 15x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

Photos from out amazing volunteers!… Read more.

Div 3 Route Summary

Sat 13:09 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Bruce 3

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.

B&G 5 - Tracker Reassigned

Sat 12:41 . Posted by unknown author

B&G 5

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

Fenner pips out Wamburun at the last minute for Div 4

Sat 12:39 . Posted by unknown author

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

Div 7 Nail-biter!

Sat 12:01 . 1 🎥. Posted by unknown author

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..… Read more.

Div 1 battlers

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.

Prepare your hands and chests for some serious clapping and yelling

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.

B&G Teams Incoming!

Sat 11:31 . Posted by unknown author

B&G 2

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.

Warogong Track - Potential Mindgames

Sat 11:24 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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.

Ursies div 7 overshoot and correction...

Sat 10:42 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Ursula 7

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

Div 2 Imininent

Sat 10:40 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 2

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.

Div 1 Update - Converging at last

Sat 10:34 . 3x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 1

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.

Cotterils Highway

Sat 10:13 . Posted by unknown author

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

B&G and Bruce 2 enter "The Slope of Doom"

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.

Search for the Northwest Passage? - Div 4 Update

Sat 09:53 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 4

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… Read more.

Bruce Hall Division 2 on "The Slope of Doom"

Sat 09:48 . Posted by unknown author

Bruce 2

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.

Heart break hill heart stopping surprise

Sat 09:41 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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

Race Predictor Update & and Explainer

Sat 09:29 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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.

Division 6 drop vision

Sat 09:07 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 6

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

Burgmann 5 -- back on the juice

Sat 08:40 . Posted by unknown author

Burgmann 5

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"… Read more.

Division X - 4 - Tracker has been reassigned

Sat 08:39 . Posted by unknown author

Division X - 4

Track for them is up to date… Read more.

🤖💻 Race Predictor Update 🤖💻

Sat 08:18 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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.

Damn that’s a Dam!

Sat 08:01 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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

Wam 4 and Bruce 4 uno reverse

Sat 08:00 . Posted by unknown author

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!… Read more.

TBT checkpoint

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.

Endpoint Posting

Sat 07:06 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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

Div 7 footrace

Sat 06:32 . Posted by unknown author

Division 7

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.

🤖💻 Race Predictor Update 🤖💻

Sat 06:23 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

Beep Boop Beep Boop New Predictions have been made… Read more.

The final stretch

Sat 06:23 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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

Sunrise over the course

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.

The 'Bridge of Death'?

Sat 05:52 . 1x 📷 . 1 🎥. Posted by unknown author

Division 2Division 5

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.

Bonus P(y)ne Time!

Sat 05:52 . 1 🎥. Posted by unknown author

Burgmann 6

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… Read more.

Div 7 is a go.

Sat 04:30 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 7

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… Read more.

Div 4 -6 Update

Sat 04:20 . 3x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 4Division 5Division 6

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… Read more.

Our First Bush Bash?

Sat 04:07 . Posted by unknown author

Burgmann 5

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… Read more.

Morning Update DIV 1-3

Sat 04:00 . Posted by unknown author

Division 1Division 2Division 3

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)… Read more.

Finding the Northwest Passage

Sat 02:54 . Posted by unknown author

Division 4

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… Read more.

Ugly Mountain!

Sat 02:30 . Posted by unknown author

Division 2Division 5

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.

B&G Div 1 overtake Griffin 1

Sat 02:30 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 1

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.

Provisional Finish Times

Sat 02:30 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

Cutoff having occured here is a final list of provisional finish times not taking into account any penalties that may arise… Read more.

New-ish colleges, stellar performance

Sat 02:30 . Posted by unknown author

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… Read more.

Div 5: Johns and then everyone else

Sat 02:30 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 5

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… Read more.

Start your engines to EP.

Sat 02:30 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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.

Division 2 deep in the pine...

Sat 24:18 . Posted by unknown author

Division 2

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.

Burgmann 1 trig point hunting?

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.

Who will make it to Long Plain Gully Road first?

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.

Ursies 1 making moves

Fri 23:50 . Posted by unknown author

Ursula 1

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.

FIRST TEAM ARRIVING SOON - DIV X 3

Fri 23:41 . Posted by unknown author

Division X - 3

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

AAWT -- caution: navigational hazard

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.

Final Predictor Update For the Night

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.

Coole (Route) Man!

Fri 23:32 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Griffin 1

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.

Div 4 has been dropped

Fri 23:20 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 4

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)… Read more.

Commentators Curse?

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.

Pine Time Photos

Fri 23:20 . 3x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 2

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

Bruce continuing to take the long way

Fri 23:18 . Posted by unknown author

Bruce 1

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.

A way too excited Race Predictor

Fri 23:02 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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.

Division 2 updates

Fri 22:51 . Posted by unknown author

Division 2

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.

Div 1 Drop Spam

Fri 22:44 . 5x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 1

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

Division 1: group brain

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.

Division 1: group brawn

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.

They took the high road, you take the low road, we'll take the long road

Fri 22:36 . Posted by unknown author

Bruce 3

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

Way too early race predictions

Fri 22:32 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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.

Dam crossers

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.

Division 3 -- big eyes and (hopefully) big stomachs

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.

Division 2 has been dropped!

Fri 21:08 . Posted by unknown author

Division 2

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

Divsion 1 has been dropped! (actually two hours ago 🤯)

Fri 21:07 . Posted by unknown author

Division 1

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.

Endpoint - Humes Crossing Campground

Fri 21:02 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Race announcement

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

Goodbye Div 7!

Fri 20:52 . Posted by unknown author

Division 7

Tune in for endpoint reveal in 10 minutes…… Read more.

Division 6 exodus!

Fri 20:01 . 2x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Division 6

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

Bye bye division 5

Fri 18:53 . 2x 📷 . 1 🎥. Posted by unknown author

Division 5

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

Job interview or ultra marathon…

Fri 18:11 . 1x 📷 . Posted by unknown author

Griffin 5

Griffin 5 are ready for both… Read more.

Div 4 is on the way...

Fri 17:32 . 2x 📷 . 2 🎥. Posted by unknown author

Division 4

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

Pro tip: The best prep for a long bus ride is a foam roll!

Fri 16:58 . 1 🎥. Posted by unknown author

Unilodge 2

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.