Ruminating razorback

My Friday feeling of anxiety saw me stressed at work, sleepless at night & feeling VERY nervous on Saturday morning November 30th. My dreams still traumatising me, of being lost out on a mountain & navigational nightmares. But never the less I was excited, super excited about this spontaneous ultra marathon mountain challenge.
We left my work on Friday afternoon, car packed & carb loaded, Eliza drove us up the the alpine ranges, to Harrietville in Victoria, where we would run/walk/hobble through the mountains the next day. The weather forecast 13 degrees which was not entirely accurate. & I was slightly under prepared, not having had a day of rest before, not anticipating the elevation, not packing sunscreen for the entire day in the heat, not having enough food packed to eat to fuel, not being able to read the map or how to use a compass, just not expecting to be on my feet all day & did I mention the mountain summits? All three of them to conquer!
An early sunrise start & I soon found out about the terrain when the first 11.5 kilometres were a steady climb. Trailing through a beautiful forest & summiting on top of a rocky crag with stunning views & a sense of being on top of the world. A first moment of amazement looking out over the Victorian alpine ranges was breathtaking.
& then I literally tumbled down the other side, 'the falling over every rock' technique I used to descent is not advised. & to be honest when I got to the bottom, a little bruised, hot, hungry, thirsty I felt a moment of instability & doubt. & then I met Jim. & with Jim, I would begin the rest of the journey in company, with conversation & he became my guide & guardian angel!! 
I clearly would have got completely lost in the bush if I wasn't with Jim. He led the way, advised me on the technically challenging areas & I followed in his footsteps & then we ran together across the plains on soft grass following the snow poles for miles before we climbed to the zenith mount Hotham & hit the rocky razorback's undulating paths. Through the changing landscapes we jogged & power walked the up hills & took rests for high sugar snacks. I thankfully picked up some power bars & salted peanuts from the 2 checkpoints along the 64k track. & with water from the springs I kept my body fuelled & hydrated for what turned out to be an epic day. 
We finished as the sun lowered in the sky, a day of amazing natural beauty, an unforgettable experience, finished off when greeted at the finish line by Eliza, my gorgeous little runner friend with her yummy Moroccan chick pea soup & vegan cookies. & then with a glass of Pinot at the pub. The photos just don't do the extreme stunningness justice, I guess you had to be there! Respect to all the runners who were there. 

Yours with sore legs, sunburned limbs & smiles xoxo