Fraser Darcy

Getting pretty settled here in little old Gotzens. Also getting to know what it was like to be an old time sailor or explorer writing a full-on journal each day like they did. You know, your Matthew Flinders type operators. I’m just exploring the alps and my capabilities, not countries.

Today’s exploring was the back half of the race. Walking down to the bus stop I went past old mate with the wood again and got a friendly wave. Great start to the day. Took the bus down to the tram and hopped on with a bunch of Austrian school children. All very polite and all looked very healthy. This mirrors the rest of what I’ve seen in Europe so far, lots of healthy happy active people. Very different to the grumpy, entitled, unfit people I encounter too frequently back in Adelaide/SA. However, I could be misguided with my observation of the Euro’s due to not actually understanding anything they say while I eavesdrop on the bus/train/tram…

Off the tram in Telfes, quick pit stop in the bushes (public toilets are hard to find here) and then I had to make a 4km push uphill to jump on the section of the course I got to the day prior. I was half following Ruy Ueda’s route (the Japanese big dog I ran past the day prior) and half going my own way. The DOMS from yesterday’s descent were pretty evident but I felt pretty fit and enjoyed the 4km uphill effort. Hopping onto the course I was expecting a mostly traversing section of singletrack and like sitting down to a meal at a highly recommended restaurant, I was not disappointed. Got some decent rhythm up on this section and enjoyed passing some sketchy gullies.

A little downhill run after this section took me into another ski resort which looked very picturesque. From here, it was the third major uphill of the course and the most gentle of the three but also the longest. After yesterday’s very technical steep uphill (the second uphill on course and the steepest) this one was much more pleasant to run up. Nice gravel path, good switchbacks, very enjoyable grind. A few photo stops along the way and checking I was on path held me back but otherwise I felt pretty comfortable. I topped out at the Kreuzjoch cable car top station which will be the third and final aid station and has to be the most spectacular viewpoint of the trail. Sadly, the nice gravel path ended here and it became more of yesterday’s type of trail. Technical and semi-wandery at times. My saving grace here was that the extra water and gels I packed following yesterday’s learnings were nice bonus’s to keep me energised.

Continuing on this section for a few more km’s was cool but also time consuming as I had to constantly check I was on the right little goat track. Come race day it will be nice to know with confidence where I am going. At the end of the goat track I popped out on top at about 2400m elevation and had a clear view of the descent town into the finish at Neustift. Im. Stubai. The descent wasn’t too bad but my legs were pretty cooked from yesterday’s run so I took it pretty conservatively. After about 35 minutes of descending I appeared on some flat ground for a minute or so before I stopped the watch at the soon to be assembled finish venue. Second successful course reconnaissance in a row. To celebrate, a quick stop to the grocery store for a pretzel, mini pizza and a milk drink. I’d timed my finish time and the bus back to Innsbruck pretty neatly to meet up with an impromptu gathering of fellow Aussie team members. Good to chat some english, meet some of the crew and also have a good reason to stroll through Innsbruck. Again, my sample size of European cities to compare it too is zero, but far out Innsbruck is pretty special. Old buildings, lots of people, lots of colour, lots of mountains, very cool.

Before my journey back to Gotzens after the catch-up I popped into the shop I bought my first bus ticket from when I arrived in Innsbruck on Tuesday night. The lady remembered me which was great, got myself a bus ticket home and made the realisation that 48hrs since I arrived I was now much wiser and more familiar with my surroundings. T-minus 3 more lots of 48hr periods and it will be the night before the race so I’m excited to see how much more I can learn before race day. And then put it all into action and run without having to check my navigation. The more running I do and the less faff I have to do (i.e. check my route, take photos) the better.

Pleasingly, another thing to note from my time here so far is how I’m settling into the European mindset and not stressing about the things I’m missing from home. Usually, I can’t wait for the usual podcasts I listen to too come out so I have something to listen to while I run. The Essendon selection email popped through though and caught me by surprise this morning. Plus, I had totally forgotten about three of the usual episodes I usually listen to in podcast form. It’s both a sign of how I’m embracing the noises of Austria (and the opportunity to listen to the French Open during appropriate daylight hours) and how little the things I have previously given a large matter of importance too (podcasts, AFL news etc.) actually matter in life. When I was working in the outdoor ed world I hated missing out on podcasts, watching footy etc. But now, being here my mindset is far from that. I think this shows to me I’m enjoying what I’m doing here in Innsbruck much more than I enjoyed some of the outdoor work I finished up doing. Perhaps in a nutshell, the podcasts and regular sport watching serve as good distractions from life in Quorn and now I am operating in ‘my element’ the need for these distractions is minimal. ORRRR maybe the combination of the World Champs preparation and the French Open has got my full attention when I’m not actually running. Hard to say.

What isn’t hard to say is Danke Schon and Tschuss. Tomorrow’s effort will be the final piece of the puzzle between Innsbruck and Gotzens (AKA Port Augusta to Quorn).