Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Race Recap
Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Race – Long Course Race Recap
15 – 17 November 2024
Three days of trail running and an unexpected podium finish for my first multi-day event.
I signed up for the Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Race by Rapid Ascent in July, using it as my first practice for running multi-day events before I head to the UK next year for Run Britannia. I had run leg 4 of the Margaret River Ultra 80km Relay in May and knew that Rapid Ascent organised some outstanding running events.
Having run the Berlin Marathon only seven weeks prior, I knew my training would be limited. I had to allow time for recovery post-marathon, leaving little time to prepare for what promised to be a gruelling event. My coach Kat put together a solid plan for the next few weeks building towards Run Bibbulmun, including some long trail runs with plenty of elevation.
Training and Preparation
I headed up to the northern terminus of the Bibb Track in Kalamunda for a couple of these runs. The first was a humbling experience as my road-running legs and mindset adjusted quickly to being forced to scramble over rocks and walk up and down steep inclines. I ran as often as possible with my full running pack to get used to carrying the mandatory gear required during the race. This gear included a first aid kit, waterproof jacket, headlamp, phone for navigation, energy gels and at least 1.5 litres of fluid. I included a lot of strength and weight training at the gym, knowing my body would need to be strong enough to carry my gear through challenging terrain for the three-day race.
Wayne at Tribe & Trail checked over my mandatory gear on Tuesday, ensuring I had everything in order. With one final shake-out run on Wednesday morning, I was as ready as I could be to Run Bibbulmun.
We drove down to Denmark on Thursday, checking into a wonderful, self-contained cottage at Pelican’s at Denmark, where we would base ourselves for the weekend. The three-day stage race involved running different sections of the Bibbulmun Track in Great Southern Western Australia. Offering a long and short course, runners would traverse spectacular coastline with remote beaches, single-track along picturesque granite cliffs and bush land trails through giant Karri forests. I was registered for the long course, with distances of 35, 33, and 39 kilometres of the three-day event.
Final registration was at the Denmark Football Club on Thursday afternoon. I was presented with my race number plate (bib) and a great goodie bag with treats from some of the race sponsors: Skratch Labs, Tribe & Trail and Boston Brewing Co. Race director Sam welcomed us that evening at the competitor briefing, offering final pieces of advice and warnings about snakes.
Day One: The Rugged West Coaster
Valley of the Giants to Peaceful Bay – 34.6km | 838m elevation
8th finisher, 2nd female, 1st in 40-49 age group
Friday morning was an early start as this section was the farthest away from Denmark, starting at the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk. We arrived at 7 am, running packs on and adjusted, laces tied and checked, last-minute toilet breaks and then the 60 or so long-course runners lined up behind the starting mat to begin the countdown.
The course began with a run around the Ancient Empire Loop then onto the elevated Treetop Walk suspension bridge, offering incredible views over the Karri and Tingle treetops. Then we were onto the Bibbulmun track, weaving through the tall-tree forest towards the coast. My calves got a rude awakening with the undulating course early on as we made our way through the hinterland towards the first waterpoint at Conspicuous Cliffs at the 17km mark.
The race leaders took off on a flying start, but I quickly realised I was the second-placed female. When I registered to run this event, I had no expectations about paces or places. I just wanted to finish and learn some lessons about multi-day races and trail running more specifically.
A fellow runner, French Melburnian, Remy, caught me a little before the first water stop, powering up the inclines, then letting me catch him on the flat sections to chat a little. Soon after the aid station, we made our way onto the beach, and then I saw Remy ahead of me using a knotted rope to climb up and off the dunes to rejoin the Bibbulmun track. It looked awkward so I made a foolish attempt to climb up without the rope, quickly realising my mistake and grabbing hold of it to haul myself up over the dune. I somehow managed to get myself covered from head to toe in sand, looking a bit like the cinnamon donuts on offer at the aid stations. I carried on, trying to rid my hands of sand on the shrubs hugging the track. It was a long climb up to the cliff tops for a reward of gobsmacking views across the rugged coastline.
Along the way, the track turned to soft black sand that felt impossible to run through, so I walked with purpose until we turned back onto the beach. Then it was more sand, then rocks and scrambling up and over them, passing some of the short-course runners I had managed to catch, shouting encouragement to each other as we went. There were some boggy sections of single-track, meaning my sandy shoes were now wet sandy shoes and felt like they had gained a couple of kilos in weight as I lugged them along the trail.
The final section of beach and rocks brought us around Peaceful Bay, and I could see some runners who had already finished enjoying a dip in the ocean. Climbing up the timber stairs away from the beach, it was then a short run along the path to the finish line at the Peaceful Bay playground. A wonderful volunteer handed me a drink and I could celebrate the end of Day One with Vini and the other finishers.
Recovery was my top priority as we returned to our accommodation, so I refuelled with a protein drink and a salad wrap. I showered, put on my Blackroll compression boots, and then enjoyed a nice relaxing spa until I filled it with cool water to help with recovery and it wasn’t relaxing anymore.
Vini had made penne arrabbiata for dinner and we ate while watching the live stream of the day one presentations from Denmark Tavern online. Then it was an early night for me as we had another relatively early start the next day.
Day Two: The West Cape Howe Wild Lands
Lowlands to Cosy Corner – 33.2km | 955m elevation
8th finisher, 2nd female, 1st in 40-49 age group
Vini was keen to run Denmark Parkrun on Saturday morning, so we headed towards the starting point early to see race director Johnno setting up before other runners arrived in their support cars or the shuttle bus.
We shared friendly banter in the crisp morning air, some runners huddling in fleeces or puffy jackets, sharing stories of the previous day’s adventure. A gentleman, running along with his wife, mentioned that she had asked him yesterday where else he would rather be. He told her it wasn’t wise to ask him that question right then, as he could think of maybe 500 other places he’d rather be. I laughed and said, “Yeah, I know right, like the Maldives, the Mediterranean?” He looked at me and grinned, saying, “Well I was bringing it right back, I was thinking more like in the car, or sat down, or in bed”.
There was some discussion about the course and the challenges of navigation. We had been instructed to download the course maps offline using the Capra app on our phones, although I had relied more on the navigation on my Coros watch rather than trying to pull my phone out of my pocket. A few of us had pulled our phones out on Day One to check the course, but it wouldn’t recognise our faces to log in with ‘face-ID’. We figured it wasn’t familiar with the contorted agony or tears on our faces. We laughed, then shuffled our way towards the start line, knowing we were in for a tough start to the day.
The course began with a steep climb of around 3km up a sandy track to get onto the Bibbulmun track, calves screaming and lungs burning. The remainder of the day’s course stuck to the Bibbulmun Track, predominantly single-track but with some steep climbs and descends through the rugged but incredibly wild and beautiful West Cape Howe National Park. The first half of the course felt like it was almost entirely uphill, before descending sometimes along sheer cliffs, the views out across the bay and over Shelly Beach breathtakingly beautiful.
The lead pack of around 6 or 7 runners pulled well ahead shortly after the steep climb at the start, but there were more runners, particularly girls, around me as we made our way onto the Bibbulmun Track. They were running strong, and I had to work hard to try and put some distance between me and them. The up-and-down sections were not my strong points, but I caught a few runners when the course levelled out. Another runner, Esther, who powered up the climbs, stepped aside to let me pass her on the single-track, but she remained hot on my heels the rest of the way.
I was fortunate to have a runner ahead of me on a very steep downhill section of the course where we had a sharp left turn to stay on the Bibbulmun Track, along with the navigation tool on my Coros watch alerting me to the turn. Other runners would tell me later they weren’t so fortunate, thoroughly enjoying the downhill slide until they realised too late, that they had to head back uphill because they missed the left turn.
Running over an enormous smooth patch of granite rock, the race photographer Allan was perched to capture runners coming through, letting me know as I passed him that I had about 5km to go, and it was all downhill from here. I wasn’t sure he was right though; I had the course on my watch counting down the kilometres accurately, so I knew I still had around 7 to go, and sure enough, the next three or four of those were uphill, not downhill.
Julian, a familiar face from the Perth running community was running the short course and passed me earlier in the day, offering some encouraging words as he took off ahead of me. Somehow, with the closing few kilometres of the course, I caught and passed him, and he was right behind me as we descended some incredibly steep timber stairs towards the finish line. The stairs felt like torture on our knees, and I shouted back to him that if I knew I wasn’t going to get splinters in my arse I would have slid down the handrail of those stairs.
Some friendly supporters shouted a roar of encouragement as I made it to the last step and turned right into the finishing chute to see Vini and another wonderful volunteer offering me a cool drink.
We returned to our cottage for some more time in the recovery boots and the spa and I tried to get some fuel in. I struggled to eat after I finished running as I didn’t feel hungry but needed to eat to assist with recovery and to refuel enough to prepare for the next day.
Saturday night was the mid-event dinner and presentations at the Boston Brewing Co., where around 230 runners, supporters and event crew converged to celebrate and share stories over a hearty pub meal and drinks. I chatted to Ian, another familiar face from the Perth running community, and some interstate and international visitors who had travelled to participate.
Fortunately, we got away relatively quickly after our meal so I could get another early night. The final day was set to be the most challenging and I needed all the rest I could get.
Day Three: Mount Hallowell
Prawn Rock/Ocean Beach to MacLean Park Denmark – 40km | 1039m elevation
9th finisher, 3rd female, 1st in 40-49 age group
After my usual pre-race breakfast of coffee and a bagel with peanut butter and jam, we made the short drive from our accommodation to Ocean Beach for the start of the third and final day. As we waited for the start, runners stretched, yawned, chatted and joked about looking forward to waking up tomorrow and not having to run. Race director Johnno gave us a brief just before kick-off, informing us that he had made a small adjustment to the course so it wouldn’t be the same as what was on our navigation app or watches. The first-placed runner, Joel, holding a huge lead, asked to clarify where exactly the new course would marry up with the planned course. Another young man, Jack, who had run well the last two days but was well back from the lead says, “Don’t worry about it mate, just follow me” causing everyone to giggle, though having to admire his confidence.
Without fanfare, we were off on the last day, working our way up from the beach on a paved, switch-back course winding higher and higher towards windmills along the Wilderness Ocean Walk (WOW walk). The views across Parry Beach were magnificent, but the asphalt path was unforgiving on our weary legs. I ran most of this section alongside Annie and Carlo, grateful for their company, despite us not having much energy to engage in conversation.
I was relieved to get off the pavement onto the single-track past our first waterpoint, 10km in at Lights Beach. Then it was another uphill climb over Tower Hill before descending to the beach at the stunning Greens Pool, one of Australia’s most beautiful parts of coastline. The course was tricky with more navigation required and I missed a few turn-offs, though my watch beeped at me promptly to indicate that I was off course.
We ran past Elephant Rocks and Madfish Bay before returning past the aid station at Lights Beach for the second time. I grabbed a piece of banana and a handful of salty chips and carried on. I could see another runner, Carlo, just ahead of me out of the aid station and pushed a little to catch up to him. We had leap-frogged each other over the past three days and the company for a little while was a welcome distraction. I saw Esther cruising ahead of me as I ran over the undulations of the single track. I hadn’t seen her pass me, but she must have where Annie, Ash, and I had missed a turn at a hut.
I ran along with Esther and Carlo until we reached the base of Mount Hallowell, the section of course that looked like the Matterhorn on the elevation plot. Carlo and Esther powered up the rocky, forested track ahead of me, and then that was the last I saw of them. Ash and I pushed onwards slowly but surely, the steep climbing and scrambling making for slow going. I missed another couple of turns as the track was barely discernible, and I wasn’t even sure when I had reached the summit as it just kept going up, around enormous granite boulders. Annie caught up with Ash and me and eventually, the descent began, my toes working it out before my brain as I slammed my left foot into a rogue rock, dislodging a couple of toenails.
I passed Annie again as the trail levelled out and finally, I could let my legs turn over into more of a run. Before I knew it, I could see the flags ahead indicating the final aid station. Pausing briefly hoping to grab a piece of banana or orange, I could only see chips and lollies on the table, so I continued onwards, knowing the finish line wasn’t far away. The course at that point wove through residential streets and hidden pathways along Wilson Inlet, thankfully clearly marked with pink ribbons and red arrows. I passed by a few more short-course runners, grateful for the shouts of encouragement we exchanged as we ran along. The last three or four kilometres were a bit of a blur. I felt dizzy and nauseous, knowing I was depleted and warming up as the sun finally came out. Running along the final section of the track, I could see the flags through the trees on my left indicating the finish line, hearing voices and then I turned left and through the finishing chute.
I saw Vini and then race director Sam in front of me as he draped a medal over my neck, his blue shirt seemed to swirl in front of me and I fainted. I came around as Vini sat me up, two medics in high-vis vests were reassuring me. Someone passed me a can of coke (the famed red ambulance) and eventually, I felt a little better, albeit very embarrassed.
I had finished my first multi-day race. I ran 108km over three days, 2832m of elevation (substantially more than the course maps indicated), with a final aggregate time of 12 hours, 2 minutes and 20 seconds. I finished in 8th place overall, 2nd female, and 1st in my 40-49 age group.
Full race results are here.
Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Race is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done but also one of the best. The course was spectacular, the event was so well organised, and the camaraderie and good humour of all the participants, short and long course runners, and support from the event staff and volunteers made it a truly epic experience.
I learned valuable lessons from the Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Race that will place me in good stead as I prepare and train for Run Britannia. I surprised myself considering I am hesitant to call myself a trail runner. Aside from my dizzy spell at the penultimate finish line and a couple of missing toenails, I was otherwise unscathed from the most gruelling running event I have ever completed. I’m also lucky the only snakes I saw on the course were the Allen’s Jelly variety.
Making the podium at an event like this is something I never expected. Rapid Ascent put on a sensational event that ran like clockwork. The race directors, event staff, and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure every participant was well looked after and supported, and that each day of the race ran smoothly and on schedule. I am most grateful for the friendships made along the way and the privilege to run along some of the most remote and beautiful sections of the Bibbulmun Track.
With special thanks to: Rapid Ascent Race Directors Sam Maffett and John Jacoby, all event staff and volunteers, Wayne at Tribe & Trail, and photographer Allan Ure. To all long and short course participants, in particular those I had the privilege to run alongside over the three days: Remy, Jack, Ash, Carlo, Annie, Esther, Julian, and congratulations to the overall long course winners for their outstanding performances: Joel and Victoria.
And as always, best for last, thank you to Vini: Uber driver, chef, personal trainer and support person extraordinaire.
Photograph Credits: Allan Ure | Esther Allan-Howard | Annie Knight | Ian Nichol | Vini Paduano
Great write-up of the best (hardest!) three days! Was so inspiring running alongside (but mostly behind haha) you! Don’t think I would have made it over the mountain without your support. Thank you and congrats on an incredible result.
You ran incredibly well Ash, you most definitely would have made it!! Massive congratulations, absolute pleasure to meet and run alongside you through a wonderful event.