I had never paced or crewed a runner but last year in 2020 just before the Covid lock down I had volunteered to pace Jonathan Smith a local WA runner who I had met whilst training for UTA in 2019.
We had done a few walks prior to the race In particular in 2020 on Australia Day we walked from Cottesloe to Mullaloo and back , 50km overnight. Then last year we tried to walk Cape to Cape but made it to Gracetown before it got too dark to cross the river mouth further ahead at night. We managed 50km and a further 20km the next day.
He had failed to finish Delirious 2020 having gut issues just before Walpole so this was a second go at a very difficult race postponed again in February 2021 with WA having a lock down in February the usual month for Delirious.
That is the synthesis of the start of Delirious 2021 on 5 October 2021 at Northcliffe. I missed that start line heading down to Walpole and along the way meeting Jonathan at the aid stations .I got lost at Dog Aid station so missed him .That was about 50 km into the race and saw him at Broke inlet 85km in and then again at Mt Clara aid station on Thursday morning about 10km before Walpole. This was a particularly hard section as there was lots of water . Jonathan or 99 as his bib number (aka Barbara after agent 99 actress in Get Smart) was now a few hours behind his expected finish times at the various aid stations but this was only day one . I returned to Walpole to meet up with Sam main support crew member with all the gear (tents and stove) and leave my car and wait for Jonathan to arrive . He got in before 1pm and had a shower and sleep .
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| Sam and I at Walpole waiting for Jon |
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| Tingle? |
Walpole to Tree Top Walk
We set off at 4pm for Giant Tingle tree Aid station and then the Tree Top walk .The distance to Tingle was 7.5km and then about 23 km to Giant . All that I recall of this section is as we started it was light but within 90 minutes it was getting dark and then the torches are out. It starts to drizzle and then rain as we walk through the Forrest. It is a quick stop at Tingle with Sam there and chance to get water and some food down .It was then on to Giant walk . Again lots of water on the track and it rained for a bit . By now it was pretty late and we were hoping to have a sleep at Giants so rang Sam and asked if he could set up the tent. When we got there and looked at the course and aid stations we discovered we had a cut off at Conspicuous Beach which was 8am the next day meaning Friday so we had no time to rest we just had to leave after Jonathan had his foot looked at by the medic. We did the tree top walk and waited for the medic. After that we left heading for Conspicuous Cliffs.
Tree Top Walk to Peaceful Bay
From Giants it was just trying to stay awake and conscious of cut off . For Jonathan it 2 nights with less then 3 hours sleep. I don't remember much other than after the Conspicuous beach aid station it was getting warmer ,it was mid morning by then and we had to be at peaceful bay by 3pm .This was a 30km section from Tree Top and lots of scrub and undergrowth . This is where Fee and Mick her pacer passed us and then we were all stopped by a snake possibly dugite or brown and a large one.A call to the Race Director Scott and we got the ok to take an access road then called back to go back on the path and not divert.We lost about an hour. Jonathan and I accepted the decision . Fee not so much . In retrospect after the race I accepted it was part of the race there would be snakes and we would just have to work our way round them . The snake eventually moved . We saw 3 more after that and I just tried to cause as much vibration through noise so they move off the path. We got to Peaceful bay with 10 or 20 minutes to spare .I was ahead of Jonathan and probably too far ahead but wanted to get in as quickly as possible to get food and water before Jonathan came in and Sam able to focus on Jon .
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| Jon at Peaceful Bay |
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| Peaceful Bay Caravan Park with Rob |
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| Peaceful bay |
We were out of Peaceful bay at 3 and had some fish and chips before heading to Boat Harbor.This involved a 6-7km track to the inlet mouth where we had to canoe across the inlet . There was Roy Chipperfield , Fee and Lou her pacer and us . Great fun with the sweeper Clarkey going all the way to Parry's Beach. This ended being the hardest part . As the sun set we were on the beach heading for boat harbor . This was my second night out and Jon's third .The waves were thundering into the beach as the sun set and there was no one for miles .If anything it was the most beautiful part of the race but then as the sun set the real slog started. Lots of climbing in the dark as we swung inland for the most part before eventually getting back to the beach front trying to find the route to the aid station.It was dark and both Jon and I were hallucinating .I kept seeing the lights in front of other racers as though they were going in and out of cafes and walkways .Jon had the same hallucination. Our spatial awareness was stuffed and kept feeling like we were on walkways and on a ledge. At the end there was a 1km trek inland to the aid station over 2 water courses which were up to my shorts in freezing cold water in the dark and in the rain with wind thrown in. I was at the lowest ebb then.Fee was really cold and all I remember she had waded through the water and Lou was using her foil blanket to keep her warm as she lay on the ground with Lou trying to cover her in the foil with the wind just blowing at the foil blanket. We got to the aid station and stayed there. I tried to have a sleep . Jon tried to rest in a chair.Eventually Fee Left and we then got thrown out just after midnight. (we got shown a way round the 2 water courses) Roy was with us with the sweeper as we slowly walked to Parry's beach about 12km away. I recall a discussion with Jon about he was happy if he finished here as he now knew his limits. This was a really hard session. There was just lots of up and down on the track and we could not really make out the trail. Lots of rain and wind. Remember my Garmin going out and then another few hours of just Jon and me. Struggling though the howling wind and passing a few others .Then we were alone and by then the wind had died down as we got into Parry about 5 or 6am . I thought at that point we were out.Despite the low point surprisingly there was no stressing and angst .Surprisingly or maybe just dog tired there was an acceptance of the outcome. I had found the race so far whilst tough surprisingly serene in many ways .There was the absolute beauty of the coast despite the wet conditions and I would be forever grateful for the experience. Sam and Ralph were there so we went straight to bed . I was out in a few minutes. The next morning about 4 hours later Sam wakes me up and says Jon has gone.They woke him up after an hour and Ralph was pacing him to Monkey Rock. I felt so much better after the sleep and had a quick piece of toast and headed with Sam, to Monkey Rock. We saw Jon through safely and the clock was now on to get to Denmark Recreation Centre by 3 pm Saturday 10 October 2021.I had the luxury of a few hours till 3pm to get ready for the last push
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| Conspicuous Beach |
Denmark Recreation Centre to Cosy Corner
This was the last night session .From the Recreation Centre it was by car / wagon to Nullaki Jetty and there was Roy, Fee and her pacer and Jon and me. We got there at about 3.45pm and after the picture at the Jetty we started off heading to lowlands. About 23 kms . We were on our own for the most part .My lights went towards the last few kms . There was fairly large burnt out part of the forrest /bush in this section and as there was no wind it was fairly still .We got in before the rest of the group although we could see and hear them at some points . I managed to recharge my lights and have some pot noodles and then an hour sleep or sort of sleep . We the headed out . At this point we were feeling like we were making reasonable progress with getting to Cosy Corner in the morning by 8am . The others eventually caught up with us with Kelli sweeping from the back. Jon was tired and we were really slow in this section as it was the 4th night for him and the third night for me .Fortunately it was a reasonable night with no rain and the temperature was fine. We had the beautiful light as the sun broke . We managed to push through and get to Cosy Corner before the rest. We were now within reach when just earlier today all hope was lost.
Sandpatch to Finish
The easiest part for me as it was a 10km run from 1pm with the deadline cut off of 3pm but before we started we were informed that as the last 3 runners had been given the wrong directions they were given an extra 45 minutes to finish the race. We just needed a few more minutes as we crossed the line at about 3.05pm .It was hot and Jon was definitely tired .340kms tends to do that. It was overwhelming. I was glad to have been part of the run for 165kms of it .I got to test myself in all sorts of weather and terrain .Learnt about digging deep and the mind oddly was calm for the most part. I did get reactive regarding the snakes just voicing disappointment in having been diverted onto the access road only to be called back Jon felt the same way but we really just got on with it . The only other flare up of emotion was wading through water to get to the Boat Harbor aid station. That was a low point but again we just plodded on . Again in retrospect we had nothing to complain about everyone had the same course and the RDs could not get the vehicle down to the beach because of the water obstacles so we had to go to the aid station.Just made it really hard.
The end was a relief and emotionally draining.After 4 days with 5 hours of sleep I felt done and shed a tear just getting there . Just felt I had given it everything but then you find there is always more to give. As we both found when we had thought all was lost at Parry's beach, a sleep later and there was a chance to live to fight another day and we did.
Lessons learnt
- Getting the time and pace is crucial as far as finding sleep spots
- having a camper van at aid stations will help
- Eating at the aid stations
- have back up lights after both my sets went on the way to Lowlands ( we thought we were out so we did not have a chance to get our gear sorted out from Parrys but we regrouped)
- trying for an hour or 2 of sleep along the way would have helped .Working out where to aim for the night runs and trying to aim for a pace that was sustainable knowing we would slow at night especially .So sleeping at night for an hour or 2 may be more effective . Possibly a recce of the course may help
- getting crew and pacers help as when tired after 2 days ,decisions are really going to be hard and better made by fresh heads.
- foot preparation especially in wet trails crucial as it slowed down many runners . My feet were pretty good as I had only 2 blisters .Did change shoes twice as they were soaked through and had fresh socks and I used nappy rash cream on my feet .
- Always have back up power sources for the watch and phone.
Facebook Post following Delirious:
Rob Donkersloot:
Jonathan Smith :
John Cooke:
I would just like to thank the Vollies at the aid stations ,sweepers ,RDs , crew members particularly the ones in the back of the field , and everyone at the race for the time ,the support , the love, the care and even words of encouragement these last 5 days . As a pacer /crew it was wonderful to see and at times especially at night supporting a runner I did not have the chance to thank them ,just too delirious and focused on making cut offs but it is truly appreciated . It Made the journey an experience to treasure and very grateful for the opportunity . Lots of great memories and an emotional roller coaster.
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| Sandpatch Aid station pretending to drink a bush chook |
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| The finish line Delirious 200 miler |
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| with Ralph Bates |
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| Roy Chipperfield |
