Greg Wilson has claimed two M70 Australian age group records and the title of Open Race Male Champion at the Australian 24 Hour Track Invitational Open in the ACT.
The Kyneton ultramarathon runner set a new M70 100-mile record at 21:47:42 (previously 22:32:30) and M70 24H record at 175.034km (previously 170.395km).
“It was only three weeks since a flat-out six-hour at Southern Sydney and I was not at all sure my body had recovered from my exertions there,” he said.
Greg had created what he described as an “optimistic schedule” to set him on a path to victory with a 12H world best in sight.
“It required me to average 9.5kms per hour for 12 hours and then I could stop, or plug on for a slow pace for the next 12 hours,” Greg said.
“Below, I added a few goals, which were more realistic and ended up being close to the mark.”
Greg got into a good rhythm early but soon discovered it didn’t match his schedule for a world best. Other titles were still in sight.
“The scheduled pace was fine through the marathon distance as I felt relaxed and strong, but shortly after I was working hard to maintain it and knew a record 12-hour was not possible,” he said.
“After hour five, I settled into what I knew worked last year, which was walking the straights and running the bends.
“All I had to do was continue my routine for another 12 hours and I would be in record territory in the final stages. Easily said, but it would entail hardly ever stopping and forcing my protesting legs into a run each time I came to a track bend.
“The hard part was from the 12 to 20 hours, as there was nothing to look forward to except many hours of cold, dark drudgery,” he said.
Greg made efforts to refuel his body but struggled to keep down any food. Adverse weather had also turned the track into what Greg described as “almost a skating rink”.
“I pushed the last laps as much as I could, while having no idea of my real distance,” he said.
His efforts saw him claim a much-deserved all-ages win as well as improve his own past record and gain one new.
Friends of Greg will know he has chased many of Cliff Young’s records. While he didn’t claim any those this time, he was pleased to share that he had “run faster for 100 miles at 71 than Aussie folk legend Cliff Young did at 65”.
