Explorers Tree to Mini mini & Return-40ks

Started about 7:10 from the shelter in the car park. The first part down the wide fire trail was longer than I thought it was supposed to be, and then I hit the steps and Nellies Glen. Those steps are seriously dangerous and I wouldn't put it past someone breaking an ankle down there.
When the steps finished it became a narrow single track through the bush until I got to the open fire trail after about 3ks. It was very hard to run down those steps, heaps of water in there due to the rain last week.
The long fire trail after that was great to run on and lead down until I came upon a creek I had to cross after about 3ks of running down the road. No sign on the other side and it was an open paddock. Lucky a couple of bush walkers came down and I spotted the little sign up the hill. Pretty uneventful after that as I ran down to Megalong Rd and then basically through to the river. Arrived at the Coxs in 1hr 45mins. Filled my water bottle up after only using that from the start down to Coxs.

Started off up Mini mini using my race strategy of walking and running in certain places. Was passed by a few dirt bike riders who were tearing down Mini mini stirring up dust. Great stuff.
Arrived at Mini mini in 2:28:00. And talked to a couple of runners who had camelbaks on and were asking me where some water was. So I sent them down to Alum creek as they had just come up from the Coxs. Maybe they didn't know about the water tank?
Told them only drink from the 3rd creek which looks like it is moving faster so should be ok. Had a powerbar and a drink while I was on the top of Mini mini.

Back down Mini mini and I could finally run again. Filled up the water bottle at the tank and then tried to cross the Coxs via the rocks like the first time. Slipped and ended up dipping one shoe in. Bugger! The River was a dirty brown colour by the way. Not a good look.
The haul back up from the river began and I ran better along here than the training run in January. Had a Gu just before reaching Pinnacle Hill. A few fresh cow pats covered the single track which hopefully will be frisbees by race day. There is a tree down across the track along here as well. Had to duck under it putting my hand down to do so. Would hold up plenty on race day. Must tell Kev.

Back to Megalong Rd arriving at a spectacular time of 4hrs. Into the bush again picking up an extra water bottle that I left on the way down. Good running through the bush here, and then I hit the road again. The fire trail was hot, hot, hot, and seemed to go on for ever. Possibly did. The road has a double tree down along, probably about 1k from where the Nellies Glen sign is. Would need a good hurdle to clear it, or you can step in the middle and keep going.

When the road finished and it went to single track I think I had about 3ks to go. Had no energy left at all so basically had to walk most of it. When the stairs arrived it meant the heat was gone as the Glen has great tree cover. Had to walk all of the very wet stairs, with a few creeks actually flowing down the track at different points. I'm convinced there are 5000 stairs and not 500. My legs didn't hurt but it was just neverending. Some choice swear words were heard across the valley while I climbed the stairs.

The stairs finally finished and I had a few more hills up the fire trail to get back to the car. Which was still waiting for me. It was so good to get back and crack open the esky for a cold drink. A few gatorades and cokes later I left. But shall return on race day.

Some stats:
Start to the River 1:45:00. 15.5ks in 1:45:00. Average pace of 6:46 per klm.
Coxs to Mini mini 2:28:00. 4.5ks in 43 mins. Average pace of 9:33 per klm.
Mini mini to Coxs 2:55:00. 4.5ks in 27 mins. Average pace of 6:00 per klm.
Coxs to Megalong Rd 4:00:00. 7.5ks in 65mins. Average pace of 8:40 per klm.
Megalong Rd to the shelter 5:14:52. 8ks in 74:52. Average pace of 9:20 per klm.

Total was 40ks in 5:14.52. Average pace of 7:52 per klm.

This won't happen again as I can't see the point in running back up Nellies Glen for training. Well I couldn't run it anyway so it was a waste today.
Today was very hard work and from Megalong Rd I really did not want to run back. Longest time on my feet ever yet again.
The cramp bear don't live on this body as I had no problems at all, only tightness in the legs near the end which is normal as we all know.
Just hurry up with the race already. Now I can taper! Yeehah!