Jon McEvoy

A tough drive from the city to the Mountains faced us on Friday night but we managed to get there on time to register at the Carrington Hotel.

Bags checked and all ok. Then the woman asked to see one thing (a lighter) which was the only job Stu had. Spuz asked him before we went in "Stu, you got the lighter?" I sure have!! The woman asked to see it and guess what? Stu did not have it!! Ha. Everyone said what a JACKAL!! He managed to leave it in the pub!! Lol. Good carbs for the race!

Gary thinks we are staying in the Carrington Hotel but unfortunately for him we have booked into a real dodgy motel in Katoomba that is more suited to a bogan dirty weekend away hotel!!

4 pizza's and garlic bread for the team with David and his Mrs and then back to HOTEL DODGY!! Gary and Stu have already chosen their single beds and Spuz is taking the fold out. That leaves the dirty queen bed for Small'Ed and I. Small'ed decides to sleep in the kitchen!! Lol.

Alarms set for 5.30am and it was a rough night's sleep.

Wakey wakey. All jackals on the move, packing, organising and getting ready for this race. Breakfast is had in hotel cups as the room had no bowls!!

Red Jackal t-shirts are put on and we pile into Small'eds car for drive to Dunphy's Point for the start. We overtake past a Thai man who is doing about 40km in an 80 zone. Jackal!! We think he might get scared when he sees 4 guys wearing red t-shirts!!! We don't pull the windows down just in case. Ha.

Car parked at the start and jackals are out in force. Red shirts get some attraction. Gary runs for the nearest toilet which was expected after all the farting during the night!!

Not long to go until the start. Its a nice morning and alot milder than last years start which was freezing.

5,4,3,2,1...... we are off. Up the hill at the start and we are out in front setting the pace. 26km run faces us on the first leg back to Katoomba. We always have a laugh and this was no different. Topics of discussion range from farting to sports to other non important stuff. We are hitting it hard and setting a good pace. The mist starts to roll in on the mountains about half way through and it gets pretty cold. We get to the climb up towards Katoomba and it is tough on everyone except Stu who hammers it and loves it. Spuz is hurting at the back but drives on through it. We reach the checkpoint in 2nd place and did the leg in 3 hrs 50 min. 15 minutes to get some water anbd some food with the support crew (who we struggle to find) and we are off again. Jonny's lips are randomly blue from the cold!! Off we go....

Leg 2 is 22km and takes us towards Echo point and down the Giant stairs and out into the Valley. We have run this several times and know exactly how it is. We struggle at the start of it due to the cold and manage to warm up. We finish the leg in 3rd place and have an unlucky trip due to Garys knee doubling up!! He cannot run and manages to drive himself to the end. Great effort and big loss for the team.

Down to 3 men and we face a daunting 35km third leg from the Hospital down Andersons trail to the Creek and loop around up Ingar trail to finish at Wentworth Falls. Stu's only aim is to reach the creek before the sun goes down. The sun sets at 6pm and it is a 20km run to it. Jonny goes out in front for a bit to set the pace and then Stu hits it. He strides past and heads towards the creek non stop. He reaches it a 6pm and is shouting that "I made it". Jonny comes in 10 min behind and Spuz is another 5 min back running hard with no head torch and using the moon as light. Another team pass him and thinks he is mad!! They be right!! We are doing great and glad that we hit that part hard. It will save us in the end and out trainng has paid off big time. It has taken its price and Spuz has got a knee injury. Its a struggle back to the checkpoint but we all grind in, especially Spuz and we make it. A little break is is store for us. Support crew of Sari, Keefo, Small'ed and Cheryl are fantastic throughout and no different at this stage. They feed us and keep our spirits high. We fnished the leg in 5th place and still on track for a great finish. 

Time to leave the CP and complete the last leg. Its the most difficult leg of all and at night. We leave at 11pm and hope to see the guys at end at 3am. The leg starts from Wentworth Falls and makes it way along towards Katoomba, up and down a million steps, under caves and arches. It seems never ending. Spuz is hurting but strong. Stu has seized up after the rest at the last CP and Jonny has real bad chaffing and sore muscles. There is not much talking but still alot of support for each other to get us to the end. 3am, its dark, we have not much feeling left in the legs and we see the finish. Down and up more steps and we are on the home straight.

3.10am and we cross the line. 18 hours 10 minutes for the jackals to complete it and we finish an unranked 5th place. Fantastic!!

Will the jackals return??? wait and see................... 

13 March saw Jonny and Spuz tackle the 35km loop from Queen Victoria Hospital around Andersan/Ingar trail in 3 hours 45 min.

11 March, Stu tackled some great uphill running in the same area.  

End of March saw Jonny, Spuz and Stu take on 3o odd km's from circular quay to Manly via Cliften Gardens, Balmoral and through Spit coastal track. 3 hours later the team arrived with pretty sore knees and joints. Money in theb bank as Gary would say!!

One more run to come on 7 April in mountains of approx 40-50km running.

February 2010 continued to see more training runs. Individual training for all including gym training and group fitness runs for Spuz.

Stu, Spuz and Jonny completed adventure race in mid Feb in rainy Canberra.

March will see two 40km training runs in Royal National Park and Blue Mountains together with weekend gym and fitness work. 2 months and counting to the race.

Several runs completed by Jonny, Stu and Spuz including

1) Royal National Park 25km

2) Manly Spit return 25km

3) Adventutre race in Wyong for Jonny and Spuz

Jan 2010:

The Manly Daily published a small article about the Jackals race - see posters

Wilderness Society also due to publish an article about the team - see posters

So far:

Several training runs completed by Jonny, Spuz, Stu & Gary. Gary runs to pub alot so that keeps him fit. A couple of great runs in December (City to Queenscliff via Balmoral; manly to Spit return; Bundeena to Otford track etc). Clocking up the km's. All in the bank!!

Jan 2010 will see the same level of running and one trial run on the Blue Mountains track on Jan 30th - 50km. Our plan is to cover three 50km run in the Blue Mountains from Jan to March.

Paddy Pallin adventure races to follow on Feb 13th (Canberra) and March 13th (Newcastle) for Jonny, Spuz and Stu with more great running training along Sydney coast and bush tracks.

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