2023 - Coast to Kosci 240km
The Coast to Kosci is as much about the runner as it is about the support crew. And I had the best crew someone could dream of.
I can't stop smiling when I think about all the funny moments, situations and jokes that made these four day the best "boys weekend" of my life.
Rather than me telling the story of C2K from my point of view, I welcome it from my crew perspective.
Thank you Peter, Mark and Tyce - I can't wait to do this again!
I can't stop smiling when I think about all the funny moments, situations and jokes that made these four day the best "boys weekend" of my life.
Rather than me telling the story of C2K from my point of view, I welcome it from my crew perspective.
Thank you Peter, Mark and Tyce - I can't wait to do this again!
By Peter Sweeney
Another back seat report, this time as crew for Luca Turrini in the Coast to Kosci, a 240km run from Eden on the South Coast of NEW south Wales to the top of Mount Kosciuszko, the highest point in Australia.
I was designated the pacing manager, Mark Gregory the Lord Admiral of nutrition and Tyce Luchetti the kit man. I have known Mark for years, he has crewed for me in the past and we have had many adventures together but had only met Tyce briefly years ago, strapping his ankle before a race in the Blue mountains. Apparently I helped his wife out the next day and so I was in his good books, fortunately enough!
I caught up with Luca and Tyce close to home and immediately was struck by Tyce’s infectious laugh and knew it was going to be a good couple of days. Alas we were a little late leaving Sydney, just as a storm hit. That was the start of a pretty hectic 7 hour drive to Eden. In hindsight I think we would have been better off breaking the journey and getting a good meal into us but the temptation to get the driving out of the way was too strong. The whole coast of NSW was getting belted by storms and final descent was a bit too sketchy for comfort. With nerves frazzled we safely arrived a day early with time to prepare for the big dance.
That night and the following day it continued to pelt down and there was talk that the race might not go ahead. Each successive rain system left more standing water and it was hard not to be a touch concerned. Before the official sign in there was a fun race for crew members, the Cossie to Coast. Budgie smugglers are de rigueur but given their absence from my wardrobe a modest pair of boardies had to suffice. The race took in part of the following day’s route and in minutes we were drenched and finding our way through the bush. An early navigational error put us off track though it turned out that nobody managed to find the designated route but everyone eventually found their way to the finish. A real comedy of errors that maybe suggested the quality of the crew was not up to scratch!
On to sign in, it was confirmed that the race would go ahead with some route changes. I had a few patients running and another few crewing other runners so it was good to catch up and have a bit of a yarn. A good feed and we were back to base to rest up for the big day.
It was an early 4.45am roll to the beach, arriving in darkness. Alas there was no spectacular sunrise to greet us, just a slow creep from darkness to grey. The atmosphere was pretty special, 53 hardy souls gathering on the beach for a huge challenge, lots of nervous energy and excitement surrounded us. After an inspiring Welcome to Country they were off, some charging, most easing their way off the beach.
The change of route meant the first checkpoint was at 25kms, then Luca would backtrack 20kms to the next checkpoint before jumping in the van to bypass a section of the course that was not runnable before resuming the race. I skipped the first checkpoint to get some extra shuteye and brew some coffee for the day ahead. As we waited for Luca one of my patients came running through, Mark Avery. He was looking strong and he ended up maintaining that form for the full race to finish in a phenomenal 2nd place. Luca wasn’t long after him, bang on his goal pace and looking good, we got him into the van for the hour long transfer and spirits were high as he took the opportunity to get some fuel on board.
After the race resumed Luca had a 10km section to run before I jumped in for my first pacing duty, it was a trail section that start with a pretty decent climb up a rutted and muddy trail, fortunately it seemed to have dried out a fraction and although it was hot and humid it was good underfoot and there was no loss of traction. The trail then opened up to a well groomed firetrail that allowed easy progress until we were faced with a river crossing, the flow was strong but the race director was there to assist Luca across. It was an early reminder of how dedicated and committed the race directors were to the event and the safety of the runners. Through this section the cacophony of frogs enjoying the drenching was intense and this came to be soundtrack to the event. At times it would become deafening but would change in note and volume through the race.
As we progressed to the next checkpoint I started to sense that maybe this wasn’t going to be Luca’s day, I thought that early in the race he’d be ticking over easily and my task would be to hold him back but as it happened we were already starting to drop off the pace. Given it is such a long race you expect there will be ups and downs so I wasn’t unduly concerned at the time. I clocked out at Cathcart as Luca carried on solo. A quick stop in the local store to get some food was an adventure in itself but the hospitality was fantastic.
From that point, 70kms in, the plan was to leapfrog Luca in 5km intervals as we kept him fueled and foddered. This section was great in that we got to see how other runners were going, the race was still relatively closely packed with the top 10 runners not that far apart, in the greater scheme of things. Mark Avery was powering along while other runners were moving forward and backward through the field. Luca was going well through to 100kms, he had dropped a little more time but was pretty close to goal pace for that section. From there through to the 150km checkpoint things started to unravel as darkness fell and the struggle was very real. It was at this checkpoint that Luca had his first lie down, we had a mattress ready for him but instead he chose the wooden floor of the hall.
Luca ran a world record for 24 hours on a treadmill a few years ago and is probably the mentally toughest individual I have ever known, and I do know a few nutters! His drive is never in question but it became clear that physically he wasn’t going to enjoy the day he had hoped for. Alas with racing there are so many factors that impact performance and sometimes on the day things don’t come together and unfortunately this was one of those days.
The plan had been for us pacers to join in at the 150km mark and run 5km legs alternating with 5km solo sections. As a crew we had thought 10km sections would be better and Luca came to the same conclusion. It would allow the other two crew members a chance to get some rest but also give us the peace of mind that Luca would have company if anything went pear shaped. The upside of the wet weather was that the cloud cover kept the temperature from dropping and conditions were very conducive to running.
Onward through the night we got into a good rhythm and Luca kept pushing forward. After the next significant climb Luca climbed into the back of the van for another quick nap, a strategy that can be very effective, maybe more to clear the mind as hoping for any restorative effect. After another slow break of day as the night slowly peeled back to reveal a misty morning we were on to Jindabyne, although there was still a formidable climb ahead for Luca it felt like significant milestone had been reached. I ran with Luca for this leg and the last couple of kilometres around the lake seemed to drag on unfairly.
In the lead up to the race there had been a webinar for crews and one of the suggestions was to have a surprise for your runner later in the race, it turned out that my boss and very close friend of Luca, Mark Green was in town and so I tried to arrange for him be on course. It proved more tricky than I anticipated but it definitely gave Luca a welcome boost when he popped up.
The next 30kms was a real slog up to Charlotte’s pass, another nap as we entered the national park seemed to do the trick and Luca made great progress. We had different strategies to try and motivate, distract, encourage or whatever the moment seemed to require and I think the differing personalities of the crew all played their part. Certainly as a crew member sharing time with either Mark or Tyce was fantastic fun and we had lots of laughs as the day progressed. In ways it seems cruel that Luca was suffering through the whole event while we at times enjoyed sleep deprived giggles but on balance it was good for Luca that we kept our spirits up.
Mark and I were in the van for the last section to Charlotte’s pass and had the concerning sight of dark clouds and a bolt of lightning as we approached the check point. From this point it was an 18km out and back section to the summit but in case of weather preventing safe progress an inclement finish is declared at this point. No decision had been made at this point and so we proceeded to have all our compulsory kit checked in order to be ready for the final push. I was not optimistic about our chances but there was a hope that the storm might blow over as quickly as it blew in.
Alas we were to enjoy a rare meteorological phenomenon, a training storm. four storms in a row hit the mountains like carriages in a train decision to declare an inclement finish was made. Although it was absolutely the correct call, I was close to tears knowing how hard Luca had pushed to make it this far and how much it meant to him to complete the route. Before long a drenched and cold Luca arrived at the checkpoint and was the first runner to be declared an inclement finisher. A quick dry off and change of clothes and we were on the descent back to Jindabyne for some welcome respite. We saw lots of other runners still working their way up and were busy on the horn and cheering them on all the way down.
It really is quite a brutal event, and that was just crewing. Last year was baking hot, this year sodden and flooded but despite that the number of finishers was higher than normal. Hats off to all those individuals who completed the course. Although it wasn’t to be Luca’s day I do think it is an event that he could excel at and the lessons learned will be invaluable. As a crew I think we could similarly take some learnings, for me being more involved with the planning has helped in the previous events I’ve paced or crewed at.
The highlights were seeing Luca dig deep and show that mental fortitude I respect him so much for and enjoying so many laughs and quality chats with Mark and Tyce. Definitely not a race for me but I told Mark at the awards ceremony that we were definitely entering next year, safe in the knowledge that we wouldn’t have the required qualifying races under our belts.
Another back seat report, this time as crew for Luca Turrini in the Coast to Kosci, a 240km run from Eden on the South Coast of NEW south Wales to the top of Mount Kosciuszko, the highest point in Australia.
I was designated the pacing manager, Mark Gregory the Lord Admiral of nutrition and Tyce Luchetti the kit man. I have known Mark for years, he has crewed for me in the past and we have had many adventures together but had only met Tyce briefly years ago, strapping his ankle before a race in the Blue mountains. Apparently I helped his wife out the next day and so I was in his good books, fortunately enough!
I caught up with Luca and Tyce close to home and immediately was struck by Tyce’s infectious laugh and knew it was going to be a good couple of days. Alas we were a little late leaving Sydney, just as a storm hit. That was the start of a pretty hectic 7 hour drive to Eden. In hindsight I think we would have been better off breaking the journey and getting a good meal into us but the temptation to get the driving out of the way was too strong. The whole coast of NSW was getting belted by storms and final descent was a bit too sketchy for comfort. With nerves frazzled we safely arrived a day early with time to prepare for the big dance.
That night and the following day it continued to pelt down and there was talk that the race might not go ahead. Each successive rain system left more standing water and it was hard not to be a touch concerned. Before the official sign in there was a fun race for crew members, the Cossie to Coast. Budgie smugglers are de rigueur but given their absence from my wardrobe a modest pair of boardies had to suffice. The race took in part of the following day’s route and in minutes we were drenched and finding our way through the bush. An early navigational error put us off track though it turned out that nobody managed to find the designated route but everyone eventually found their way to the finish. A real comedy of errors that maybe suggested the quality of the crew was not up to scratch!
On to sign in, it was confirmed that the race would go ahead with some route changes. I had a few patients running and another few crewing other runners so it was good to catch up and have a bit of a yarn. A good feed and we were back to base to rest up for the big day.
It was an early 4.45am roll to the beach, arriving in darkness. Alas there was no spectacular sunrise to greet us, just a slow creep from darkness to grey. The atmosphere was pretty special, 53 hardy souls gathering on the beach for a huge challenge, lots of nervous energy and excitement surrounded us. After an inspiring Welcome to Country they were off, some charging, most easing their way off the beach.
The change of route meant the first checkpoint was at 25kms, then Luca would backtrack 20kms to the next checkpoint before jumping in the van to bypass a section of the course that was not runnable before resuming the race. I skipped the first checkpoint to get some extra shuteye and brew some coffee for the day ahead. As we waited for Luca one of my patients came running through, Mark Avery. He was looking strong and he ended up maintaining that form for the full race to finish in a phenomenal 2nd place. Luca wasn’t long after him, bang on his goal pace and looking good, we got him into the van for the hour long transfer and spirits were high as he took the opportunity to get some fuel on board.
After the race resumed Luca had a 10km section to run before I jumped in for my first pacing duty, it was a trail section that start with a pretty decent climb up a rutted and muddy trail, fortunately it seemed to have dried out a fraction and although it was hot and humid it was good underfoot and there was no loss of traction. The trail then opened up to a well groomed firetrail that allowed easy progress until we were faced with a river crossing, the flow was strong but the race director was there to assist Luca across. It was an early reminder of how dedicated and committed the race directors were to the event and the safety of the runners. Through this section the cacophony of frogs enjoying the drenching was intense and this came to be soundtrack to the event. At times it would become deafening but would change in note and volume through the race.
As we progressed to the next checkpoint I started to sense that maybe this wasn’t going to be Luca’s day, I thought that early in the race he’d be ticking over easily and my task would be to hold him back but as it happened we were already starting to drop off the pace. Given it is such a long race you expect there will be ups and downs so I wasn’t unduly concerned at the time. I clocked out at Cathcart as Luca carried on solo. A quick stop in the local store to get some food was an adventure in itself but the hospitality was fantastic.
From that point, 70kms in, the plan was to leapfrog Luca in 5km intervals as we kept him fueled and foddered. This section was great in that we got to see how other runners were going, the race was still relatively closely packed with the top 10 runners not that far apart, in the greater scheme of things. Mark Avery was powering along while other runners were moving forward and backward through the field. Luca was going well through to 100kms, he had dropped a little more time but was pretty close to goal pace for that section. From there through to the 150km checkpoint things started to unravel as darkness fell and the struggle was very real. It was at this checkpoint that Luca had his first lie down, we had a mattress ready for him but instead he chose the wooden floor of the hall.
Luca ran a world record for 24 hours on a treadmill a few years ago and is probably the mentally toughest individual I have ever known, and I do know a few nutters! His drive is never in question but it became clear that physically he wasn’t going to enjoy the day he had hoped for. Alas with racing there are so many factors that impact performance and sometimes on the day things don’t come together and unfortunately this was one of those days.
The plan had been for us pacers to join in at the 150km mark and run 5km legs alternating with 5km solo sections. As a crew we had thought 10km sections would be better and Luca came to the same conclusion. It would allow the other two crew members a chance to get some rest but also give us the peace of mind that Luca would have company if anything went pear shaped. The upside of the wet weather was that the cloud cover kept the temperature from dropping and conditions were very conducive to running.
Onward through the night we got into a good rhythm and Luca kept pushing forward. After the next significant climb Luca climbed into the back of the van for another quick nap, a strategy that can be very effective, maybe more to clear the mind as hoping for any restorative effect. After another slow break of day as the night slowly peeled back to reveal a misty morning we were on to Jindabyne, although there was still a formidable climb ahead for Luca it felt like significant milestone had been reached. I ran with Luca for this leg and the last couple of kilometres around the lake seemed to drag on unfairly.
In the lead up to the race there had been a webinar for crews and one of the suggestions was to have a surprise for your runner later in the race, it turned out that my boss and very close friend of Luca, Mark Green was in town and so I tried to arrange for him be on course. It proved more tricky than I anticipated but it definitely gave Luca a welcome boost when he popped up.
The next 30kms was a real slog up to Charlotte’s pass, another nap as we entered the national park seemed to do the trick and Luca made great progress. We had different strategies to try and motivate, distract, encourage or whatever the moment seemed to require and I think the differing personalities of the crew all played their part. Certainly as a crew member sharing time with either Mark or Tyce was fantastic fun and we had lots of laughs as the day progressed. In ways it seems cruel that Luca was suffering through the whole event while we at times enjoyed sleep deprived giggles but on balance it was good for Luca that we kept our spirits up.
Mark and I were in the van for the last section to Charlotte’s pass and had the concerning sight of dark clouds and a bolt of lightning as we approached the check point. From this point it was an 18km out and back section to the summit but in case of weather preventing safe progress an inclement finish is declared at this point. No decision had been made at this point and so we proceeded to have all our compulsory kit checked in order to be ready for the final push. I was not optimistic about our chances but there was a hope that the storm might blow over as quickly as it blew in.
Alas we were to enjoy a rare meteorological phenomenon, a training storm. four storms in a row hit the mountains like carriages in a train decision to declare an inclement finish was made. Although it was absolutely the correct call, I was close to tears knowing how hard Luca had pushed to make it this far and how much it meant to him to complete the route. Before long a drenched and cold Luca arrived at the checkpoint and was the first runner to be declared an inclement finisher. A quick dry off and change of clothes and we were on the descent back to Jindabyne for some welcome respite. We saw lots of other runners still working their way up and were busy on the horn and cheering them on all the way down.
It really is quite a brutal event, and that was just crewing. Last year was baking hot, this year sodden and flooded but despite that the number of finishers was higher than normal. Hats off to all those individuals who completed the course. Although it wasn’t to be Luca’s day I do think it is an event that he could excel at and the lessons learned will be invaluable. As a crew I think we could similarly take some learnings, for me being more involved with the planning has helped in the previous events I’ve paced or crewed at.
The highlights were seeing Luca dig deep and show that mental fortitude I respect him so much for and enjoying so many laughs and quality chats with Mark and Tyce. Definitely not a race for me but I told Mark at the awards ceremony that we were definitely entering next year, safe in the knowledge that we wouldn’t have the required qualifying races under our belts.
KEEN FOR A RUN AND A CHAT? |
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