The rain gods weren’t exactly on my side for my second race of the season. It was at McCann Dam, one of my favourite 5km tracks, and a place I hadn’t raced at in over two years. Heavy rain just days before meant one thing: the infamous muddy section along Poverty Hill Track, was guaranteed to be a challenge.
Of course, that didn’t register when I excitedly laced up my brand-new Brooks Launch 9 shoes (whom I’ve called Ebony), delivered just the day before. New shoes, new race – what better way to break them in, right?
My goal for this race was simple: maintain a consistent 5km pace. The first kilometre felt great, right on target. Then came the mud. Let’s just say my fancy new shoes got a baptism by trail, as I navigated the sloppy section with a series of strategic dodges and weaves.
Regaining my composure, I settled into a rhythm. Don’t be fooled by McCann Dam’s seemingly flat layout – it’s a sneaky course with a long, gradual climb that creeps up on you. Despite the challenge, I found myself gaining on Elise, a fellow runner 25 years my junior who always seems to have boundless energy. It became a fun game of leapfrog – I’d pass her on the downhills, only to have her overtake me on the inclines. This friendly competition pushed me to keep digging deep.
In the final kilometre, I kicked things into high gear and delivered the strongest finish I’d had in a long time. Sure, Elise crossed the line just ahead of me, but honestly, I was thrilled to have kept pace with her throughout the race. The final time: 26 minutes, a personal best I hadn’t achieved in ages.
Oh, and as for the shoes? Despite the mud, they emerged squeaky clean – a testament to both their quality and the years of trail running!