Paluma Push 2013

On the coat tails of our teams amazing efforts in Trans Alp 2013, congratulations again to Imogen and Mike, I was soaking up the sun in North Queensland, Paluma to be more precise. The Paluma Push is a 70km (with a 45km option) point to point marathon run annually by the Townsville Rock wheelers. It is not an event that crossed my radar until this year and after racing it yesterday I think I am addicted!

The Push was first run in 2002 and with an admirable amount of local support and club involvement the event has flourished. This year the Push was sold out prematurely with 550 riders on the start line, 107 of which were female. Paluma is a lovely little town approximately 90 minutes (80-90km) north of Townsville. In my opinion the event begins as soon as you turn off the Bruce Highway around Crystal Creek to start the amazing ascent to Paluma. The road to Paluma is spectacular and I was glad to have a zippy little hire car for the road is quite narrow and hatch held the road quite well. It is worth ensuring you drive this road in the light and don’t rush, as the views are very special. That said I have always aspired to drive a rally car and the tiny compact hire car did the corners justice, smashed that road!

The race start is a very sociable 0900 and this year was a little different to previous years and quite novel. All the riders are lined up on a grassy easement with a playground dead ahead flanked by a town hall and a toilet block. The target is the road the other side of the playground and it is go time! Fortunately myself, and the other top 10 ranked riders, were positioned a few meters in front of the bunch allowing a few minutes to negotiate the playground before being swept up in the wave of riders vying for the front bunch on the road.

When safely on the road, there is sufficient undulating road to spin the legs and warm up before hitting the first climb. The road turned up and the bunch splintered leaving each rider, except I suspect the male elites, riding for him/herself. Hills have a habit of breaking things up, especially long hills like this one with a nice steady gradient. I climbed well (credit to Pepper Coaching) and hit the top of the hill ahead of the rest of the women then never looked back. The trails from the top of the climb to the finish line in Hidden Valley were heaps of fun and so varied in terrain.

The first section was a patch of tropical rainforest; wet roots and rainforest floor with a few rocky step ups and a well ridden path, then onto some paddock bashing (we cant have a race in Queensland without incorporating a rough cow paddock in there somewhere) with some nice single track loops thrown in for good measure. The 70km riders pass through a series of extra loops but are always returned to the main trail, riding amongst the 45km riders, for periods before getting drafted onto another loop. I managed to embark on a few of these loops twice before the volunteers called me back to redirect me. When heading to Paluma race blinkers must be off or you may find yourself heading the wrong way at a one of the forks on the trail. There are also a few river crossings to look out for, they can be ridden but water is above the bottom bracket (sorry Venture Cycles but I drowned my BB again).

The course was heaps of fun, more climbing than I expected but the descents and single trails made for some amazing riding. The après race atmosphere at Hidden Valley was very special, the crowd at the finish was amazing and the energy generated but all the support inspiring. I don’t think I have been to such an apparently ‘small’ event and found it to have such soul. There was massive club support from Townsville, Mackay, Cairns as well as shop support and families. The finish at Hidden Valley was ideal with cabin facilities, pool, showers, bike wash, sausage sizzle and a coffee van.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first Paluma Push and intend to include it on my 2014 calendar. If you are interested register early as this year sold out early and make sure you think about the logistics of the event. The start is Paluma but the finish Hidden Valley, fortunately there is a shuttle back to Paluma post race for a mere $15, riding is an option but there are a lot of cars heading along the road post race and it is kinda dusty in parts and gradually uphill. Don’t drink and drive as the road down from Paluma could be tricky under the influence. Hidden Valley does have accommodation as does the Crystal Creek Caravan Park (I stayed in a cabin which was lovely) and I suspect some accommodation at Paluma.

Perfect for a winter escape.

Jason English ripped the course apart in 2:38:52 and I finished ahead of the other women in 3:10:33.

Full results: Rockwheelers