Adventure 5/21 Kilcunda Coastal Run

 Welcome to an actual Running event. 
First one of 2021

Event 

Running Wild Kilcunda Half Marathon,17 km and 8 KM fun run. 7th Feb 2021

We have been looking forward to this event having had done so many recons, including the visit the day before.

The Day Before

A few changes had taken place. Stay the night before, to save the 3 hour drive. We swapped positions, Ian to Beach. Velta on trail. We walked the trail again. Watching for Vistas and Light. Ian to try his zoom lens on the crop camera. 

We volunteered to take the Race Director to the Punchbowl road end of the trail as he needed to mark the course. We decided to check out this end for options. Including taking Photos at the top of the big hill. 

    We walked out and the weather was great, Sun shining and a bit of humidity. As we stood at the top of the Big hill, we decided that if Ian came here after the event started and captured the front runners up to 0800 and then wandered down to the beach and capture runners along the way, could be good. Weather dependent! So it was decided. Early to bed, ready for a big day.

Day of the event.

    Awoke at 0500. We helped set up the start/finish line until 0630. Drove to drop Velta off and Ian proceed to Punchbowl. Velta to take all the 8 km runners and then walk back and capture those who come past. Ian walk in 2.5 km and be in place at 0730 with 10 minutes to spare, check settings and admire the weather. Oh the weather. Rain, Wind, dark, drizzle and sea mist. Perfect!!! plus the swell was up on the sea. We get a chance to try out our new jackets.

At the Hill trying to get great shots (under the current weather conditions) nearly got blown over, but it was working out.

After 30 mins, Ian decided to move towards the beach capturing different shots at unusual places. Made it to the beach and the runners just Congo lined along. Captured heaps of runners under wet, windy and cool conditions. Smiles on most faces. 

Moved to the headland between the two beaches. The tide was coming in and had to time it right, not all runners got this right.. 

No Shelter to be found so made do with the conditions and capturing the watered down runners. Hint for aspiring photographers, Have a spare card and Battery in your pocket. Yep filled a card, luckily I had a card ready. Battery went close to empty and took advantage of a very small window of opportunity to change it. The other small disadvantage of being out on course for a long time is,,,, your bladder gets full. Finding a great spot to get long beach photos is great with almost 300 runners, BUT there is not much time to empty ones bladder...patience......... focus. 

Waiting for the sweep.... 

We as photographers love the runners in full stride or star jumps (a few this time), but seeing the Sweep means that we are free to make our way back to our start point, and visit a toilet.. One of the last runners said that there was only two more runners behind her, thanks. Velta sent a message to Ian as she had finished the 8 km runners and made her way back to the finish line, slowly. 

Ian moved back to capture the last two runners on the trail and got them on the entrance to the beach, really happy people. 

Still no Sweep... moved to a spot to get the Sweep on The Hill.. waited 10 minutes. No Sweep.. moved along past the hill...no Sweep. Hope she is OK... got further down the hill found the Sweep. She had taken the scenic trip upon the return. Happy she was OK. 

Ian made it back to the car and headed back to the finish line. A Tad tired but happy the plan had worked. We helped with the disassembly of the Finish line, Lunch was put on by the Race Director. PLUS it was a chance to celebrate 60th birthday for Duncan. 

Lunch complete. Head home. Had to have a nap on the way.

Home, unpack car, start processing photos, feed the cats and chickens and clean cameras.

Processing. 

This involves downloading all the photos, remove the not so good ones, fixing the good ones and find the best ones for the Momento Photos. This takes time. Two computers running two of us processing. Once this is complete, uploading to GeoSnapShot. Ian had to work the next day so was off to bed by 10 pm. We finished at 0600 on the Tuesday after the Sunday event. We took over 3000 photos on the day but not all those are seen.

Overall the event went well, we are a flexible team of photographers and can adjust as needed. The weather threw us challenge that we accepted. The best way for us to know if it was really good is sales. This is how we measure our craft by the way we capture all the runners in a great scenic location and they show their appreciation.

See the photo results:

https://geosnapshot.com/e/kilcunda-half-marathon-and-16-km-fun-run

The Jackets went very well. Kept out the wind, rain and cold.

We now start to think about the next Event. Hallora Marathon next weekend. 250 plus people in the event. 

See you out there or on here. Ian and Velta

The Eventurers