20 km Narrowneck Night Run 16th November

Last trail run for the year in terms of racing. Another race I thoroughly enjoyed despite the crappy weather. Was looking forward to catch some AMAZING views with the sunset and starry night with this night run but... it was bucketing rain during my drive up to the Blue Mountains. At the start, it was drizzling and all foggy. You can hardly see anything. Everyone was all in their wet weather race gear - rain jackets, beanies... and not forgetting, the mandatory head torch.

Didn't really require to turn on my head torch only towards the halfway point. You had an option to turn around the 7 km mark or 10 km mark. I signed up for the 20 km run. That was before knowing about this crappy weather. But when I started the race, 3-4 km in, I was so tempted to just turn around at the 7 km mark and make it a 14 km run instead of 20. The rain was on and off, it was hot and cold. I had to take on and take off my rain jacket several times. Was contemplating the whole time whether to turn around.

But by the time I knew it, I have actually missed the 7 km turn around point and I was actually at the 10 km point. Well, guess I am doing the full 20!! It was dark by then and I had to turn on my headtorch. Being a cheap 20 bucks headtorch from Kathmandu, it wasn't bright enough. All I could see clearly is 5-10m ahead of me. I tried to stick to several runners as they had brighter lights but some sped up, some slowed down. I was alone by myself for the last few kilometers.

At one point, I actually ran into a bush because the path was curving to the right and I didn't see it. For a moment, I panicked, I did a quick spin, which I shouldn't have... and lost my orientation. It was pitch black and that headtorch of mine was rather useless in all the fog. When I finally found the path, I didn't know whether to go left or right. I might be heading away or towards the finish line. I waited for a minute or so and then saw some lights coming my way. It was then where I knew which direction to head towards to.

Crossed the finish line with a time of 2 hours 17 mins and a lucky draw prize waiting for me.

Came 6th out of 19 females. Pretty stoked! In a way, I really enjoyed this night trail running experience in the rain and fog. Pretty surreal. It's so dark you can't really see what's ahead of you, whether or not there's a steep slope coming or flat ground. I tend to slow down when I see a steep slope ahead but because it was dark, I just kept running until I actually hit the slope and feel it. It's good in a way and it just makes me keep running.

Will I do it again? For sure!!! And am keeping my fingers cross the weather god will be kinder the next time :p