Back for another year. It’s Guzzler Year 8. I have now done 6 of them (With the missing year – I volunteered), but who is counting 🙂 Although now officially a Guzzler Legend – and picking my Bib# of 19, I figured I would commit early to this one. Gone are the days of runnings being able to pick up last minute tickets, which was originally a 6 pack of beer, then it was a carton – now it’s pretty much cost price.
Going off last years race, I elected the 50km option – as I didn’t want a repeat. Still happy with that choice for this years distance.
Nutrition Before:
Having been a home for whole 2 weeks before the event was bliss. Also gave me the opportunity prepare properly with both tapering, and nutrition. Nutrition in shortwas essentially Double Carbs on Thursday and Friday – totalling about 600g per day.
Also used my friend Claude for a PreRace Analysis. I think I did this about 20 days out. Love this – A combination of this blog, Strava and Garmin data. Next year I will also try to incoporate nutrition as well via the myfitnesspal mcp server.
On the day, was great to spend some time before seeing alot of familiar faces and all the friends who weren’t event running come along and cheers us all off.
The Beacon Hill Crew. Alot of training hours with this awesome notion of runners.
Photo from the 2026 Guzzler Ultra Trail Run. Photo by Element Photo and Video Productions.
Not sure how it evolved, but we decided thaat a good finish time was around 7 hours 30. So that was put in to the watch and off we went. Not planning on using this, as the baseline for the speed – but as a side indicator.
Once we got moving, and I think the 8 of the Beacon Hill Runners were all within talking distance at the start, this stay for the majority of the first 18kms, but then Renee and I pulled back a bit and took it a bit easier than the initial pace. At 18kms we were 20 minutes ahead of the PacePro estimates. But I felt we weren’t going too fast and defiantely a social chatting pace.
Going up Nebo was actually one of the easier version (as we had done this a fair bit in our training runs). I think keeping it paced in consistent earlier helped.
Once again the Brisbane Trail Runners provided an awesome Aid Station, albiet, all I did was fill my water and grabbed 2 lollies.
Hell Hole provided the usual socials with other runners. Some feeling the pains of the ups and downs. Renee and I both were feeling good and pushed through this. Although missed the full height of this one 🙂
Coming back down South Boundry Road, was great to see Miriam, Deccy and Mitch supporting us as we head down into Gold Creek.
Coming into Gold Creek Checkpoint, with the awesome Mountain Goat Trail Runners checkpoint. With lots of offerings to top up my water, Brucie got the honour. but was great to see everyone – albiet quickly.
Now off onto the Gold Creek Loop, with our friendly Photographer in his usual position. Having a bit more energy this time around, managed to seak in another #junpshot on the edge of the trail.
Finally – with the long slog, most technical section of the course around Gold Creek, we made it in reasonable time. Although my watch was advising me we were now 6 minutes behind our goal time. All good though – still in good spirits.
Pulling out the poles for the climb out of Gold Creek, was good to get to the top – with a few runs on the flats to get it done – then down (and up) South Boundary Road. Renee and I were still pulling a reasonable pace with 35 kms in the legs.
Finally hitting Kokoda, and Renee found another gear (or maybe engine) and turned it up. I was content with my pace and happy to have that out of the way.
With a reasonable pace along Letchfield and then down Mahogony – It was a great feeling to tun up the speed a bit and finish with a bit in the tank but not cooked at all.
Happy with the time, the day and the awesome running parter, Renee who made the run another fun day out on the trails!
Nutrition on the Day:
Super Simple:
- Carbs : Precision Hydration 30g Carb Gel every 30 mins for the first 5 hours. Then the bottle of Precision Hydration Carbs to consume as required (at least the 30g every 30 mins), but the bottle allowed for more as needed.
- Sodium: Every Hour, 600ml of Water with a 1500mg Precision Hydration Electrolyle Tablet
I did have 1 or 2 snakes at each of the aid stations – but was fully reliant on the above plan – and it worked really well – Energy the whole way (Not as much as Renee at the End) but felt good the whole way. A minor cramp at the top of Kokoda – but I think this was due to the change in angle of the feet running.
Gear:
New Shoes of the Altra – Mt Blanc Speed
Nike Shorts – not as good as my traditional Lulumen ones (which needed replacing)
Usual Salomon Vest.
Black Diamon Poles – which are sticky and hard to use – but ok for the day.
