Competing on home turf was advantageous for runners and mountain bikers alike in the CareFlight Woodford to Glenbrook Classic on June 30, with Blue Mountains residents taking out the top spots.
In the 25km mountain bike race, Benjamin Green from Lapstone took the honours in 41 minutes 37 seconds, a mere fraction ahead of Blackheath's Brian Price, followed by Owen Gordon from Springwood, 41:38.
The 25km run was won by Lachlan Oakes from Sydney in 1:32:18. Part-time Glenbrook resident Larissa Tichon was the first woman home in 1:43:28, followed by Jodie Earl from Bullaburra in 1:45:02.
"I train here about once a month and got a 9 minute PB, I felt really, really good and couldn't recommend this race more to anyone out there," Tichon said.
Earl, who has only been into trail running for 18 months, since having kids, was happy with her result.
"There was a bit of strategy involved, you have to pace it in the first 10km and then gun it in the last, and I stuck to that plan and it all worked out," she said. "That's the first time I've run that race and I'm pretty happy."
The 37-year-old who is coached by Brendan Davies, was glad to be back running in the Blue Mountains after representing Australia at the World Trail Championships in Portugal in June. She was the 77th female out of 188 women in the 45km race.
"I'm so lucky to return home and run on trails that are on par with some of the best in Europe. I felt a bit tired in the first half of Woodford to Glenbrook but perked up for the fun downhill finish. I'm always surprising myself with my results as I still feel pretty new to the game," Earl said.
Hundreds of entrants took part in the Woodford to Glenbrook Classic, which is a fundraiser for CareFlight - the aeromedical organisation which brings injured and ill patients to emergency hospital care.
