Delirious West 2024 post #1
So off we go again, Delirious West 2024. Absolutely stoked to be back running this beast of a 200 miler supported by the best crew in WA, maybe Australia, Mark Lommers.. As is tradition Mark drove the trusty Audi Q5 and early Monday afternoon off we drove , Pemberton here we come. This was Mark’s third time supporting me and he now knows what I need before I do. He is calm under pressure, never flustered and a pleasure to be around, the shining light when you are in a very dark place. He also cooks a mean spaghetti bolognaise and an incredible steak, with onions. The boy can run a bit too and continually pushes the boundaries of pace and beer competing, and dominating, the bogan run.
We drive down Monday and stay in the Pemberton area so we can climb the Gloucester tree. Unfortunately this year it was closed so we decided on a long breakfast instead. Shannon Dale organised the gathering and before we knew it it turned into a mass event full of nervous and excited runners. So much fun and so much laughter. That’s the point of Tuesday, just meeting your fellow runners, checking in, bogan run , pub meal and an early night. It is a great day and never disappoints. So many stories which are added to ever year, Delirious is the event that just keeps growing.
After a very long breakfast it was back to the hotel to pick up our gear and head to Northcliffe for the final check-in, bogan run and the race briefing over dinner. Again its so cool to get together, check in , see old friends and make new ones. Then watch the bogan run, the run that stops a small town before gorging on quality tukka while listening to the race briefing.
I did make silly error Tuesday afternoon post breakfast. Jumping in the pool after breakfast I forgot my sunscreen and paid the price that evening and beyond. I was fried like a Mars Bar in a Scottish fish shop, silly boy. As you can see from the image above my head is starting to glow!
Unfortunately this year Warwick Crapper got lost and failed to win the bogan year albeit I feel his chances are getting slimmer each year as the race organisers seem to find a way to derail him. Luckily he takes it all in his stride and concentrates on the alcohol intake rather than finishing times. He informed me he’d be back for a fourth attempt next year.
After the race briefing on Tuesday evening I drove Mark (and Warwick) back to Pemberton and started the last minute preparation for the main event. Truth be told after four years I have my game plan pretty much sorted but you can always find an excuse to pack and then repack ‘stuff’ the night before, it’s a running thing.
There are many traditions when it comes to Delirious and one of my favorites is the waffles on race morning, served up by Duncan and his wonderful team at the Nortcliffe hotel. I figure before a 200 miler you really can eat what you like, doesn’t matter how many calories you digest you’ll use more when you’re running for the whole day. My logic is probably flawed as I’m pretty sure I put on weight over the event but you can’t muck about with traditions.
Post waffles I scuttled off to the start, Wednesday 7am and it was on like donkey Kong. Christmas for an Ultra runner. The event didn’t get off to a great start with the new generator giving up the ghost before it could erect the starting arch. If this was the worse thing to befall the event I’d be stoked.
Right here we go , video one, day one.
I went hard on the first day settling into the lead group and just enjoying the banter albeit always wary of what was ahead. I was surrounded by good friends and loving the journey although the heat was starting to become challenging and moving forward I knew I would drop off this pace later in the day
It was good to run with a small group albeit Tristan jumped off the back before Dog Road aid station and Simon and Aaron left me at Dog Road so I was alone at 50km, so be it. In a race this long you need to run at your pace and this can fluctuate by the minute, hour or day. I’d bump into Simon again and we’d leap frog each other for most of the fist three days.
Right, that’s enough for post #1, there will be a few more. A race report for Delirious is the like the main event, it can take days to finish !
fisiocrem ( https://www.fisiocrem.com.au/ ) is just bloody brilliant and does exactly what it says it does , it just gets the major muscle groups moving again. I use this extensively towards the end of the race when my quads are hammered. It really makes a difference and allows me to move back through the gears towards the end of an event when most runners are stumbling home.
Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ ) The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products) can be difficult to digest later in the event. From the website :-
As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority.
In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance.
In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born.
BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work!
BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!
What can I say about HumanTecar, ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !
Fractel ( https://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.
Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )
T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in. It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong, storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)
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About The Author
bigkevmatthews@gmail.com
A running tragic.