The Big Red Run

Credit : Ian Corless Big Red Run 2016: Stage 5: The “Long Stage” Stage 5 started from camp 2,3,4 at 6.00am to allow the majority of the field enough time to complete the stage with a reasonable amount of day-light. Distances: Big Red Run: 84km Little Red Run: 42km Time Limit: 22 hours Today’s stage is the last timed stage. And the majority of the field feel that this stage is the climax of the event. It is also the most challenging stage as many start in the dark and finish in the dark. It is a long day out for all the runners. Credit : Ian Corless Temperatures at the start were very chilly – 3C at 6am. The runners nervously waited in anticipation around the camp-fire trying to keep warm as they waited fr the start. Bags had to be dropped off as the finish is at Camp 5, mandatory visibility vests provided by the organisation had to be collected, water bottles and bladders filled, flashing red LED lights fixed to back-packs, mandatory kit including fleece and thermals checked. Then they were off under clear starry Antipodean skies. A stream of headlamps and flashing red LEDS snaked its way through the Australian bush as the runners soon warmed up. A leading group of runners formed with Andy Dubois “setting a blistering pace” in Elisabet’s Barnes’s words. In the leading group Andy Dubois, Elisabet Barnes, Jamie Hildage, Braddon Johnson. Elisabet later admitted “When Andy set the pace, I didn’t want to let him out of my sight. I reckoned that with an experienced ultra-runner like that, you never know if he will maintain the pace, open up the gap or blow up. So I decided to keep up with him”. And so when Andy did blow up half-way, Elisabet upped the pace, accelerated, opening up the gap to finish the day’s stage with over 30min lead on the second runner, Jamie Hildage followed by a tired but happy Andy Dubois. Race Results to follow. Credit : Ian Corless

Credit : Ian Corless Big Red Run Day 3: Imposed Rest Day In French there is a saying: Apres la plus le beau temps. Literally translated this means after the rain, the sun shines or in English we might say Every cloud has a silver lining. Today saw the Big Red Run camp-site wake up to mist and then slowly the mist disappeared to reveal clear blue skies and blinding sun-shine. As the weather cleared, spirits lifted and the imposed rest was embraced by the weary participants as a day to rest and recover from the previous day’s challenging course. Today runners replenished depleted stores, hydrated, got in much-needed calories, exchanged on the previous day’s hardships and more importantly took advantage f the opportunity to clear mud off their shoes and dry out soaked run kit. Some even went on a helicopter ride – part of the early bird registration package. Credit : Ian Corless Race Director Greg Donovan announced to all that the camp would remain at the present location for the duration of the event due to the logistical issues of transport. The following stages will therefore be remarked to take this into account. Stage 4 distances remain the same with different routes (remarked today) to avoid flooded, muddy areas as much as possible. Credit : Ian Corless

Credit : Ian Corless Make Hay While the Sun Shines Distances: Big Red Run: 30km Little Red Run: 17km Credit : Ian Corless Today’s course was a loop starting and finishing at camp 1 & 2. Last-minute changes due to the flooding meant that the course had to be remarked. The sun was out and although night temperatures were close to freezing, the day temperatures soon rose. Runners were treated to bright blue skies, only the hint of a breeze and a course which took them along the top of Big Red, the highest dune in the Simpson Desert. From the top you had a view of flooded salt flats and an unusually green desert. The dune ridges were covered with desert flora – bunches of Australian scented cress and yellow tops. And some runners even sighted trains of camels. The course was flattish, mainly along the dunes to avoid the clay and mud.Times were fast with the first Big Red runner coming in well under 3 hours: James Kohler 2:56:03 Elisabet Barnes 2:59:45 Andy Dubois 3:01:04 Credit : Ian Corless