MICHAEL Hosking has put behind a difficult year to notch up back to back Nail Can Hill Run victories.
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After finishing as a runner up “plenty of times”, he said it felt good to notch up the second win.
“It’s been a difficult year because my grandpa passed away a few months ago which mucked up training a bit,” Hosking said.
“He was a big supporter, he didn’t get to go to races but he was always interested, always wanted to know how I was going and celebrated a win when I got one.”
And wins don’t get much better than conquering one of the toughest events going.
Hosking come home with a time of 39.16, nearly a full minute faster than last year.
“I was trying to run a low 38 but it was a tricky run today,” he said.
“We all went out pretty quick and everyone blew up going up the hill ... but because of the heat it made it really quite hard on top.
“It was a good surface, the heat just made it a bit tougher than normal and I really struggled a bit in the second half.
“And when you’re out in front it can be hard to keep pushing yourself like if Jesse (Featonby) or someone else was up there with you.”
Hosking said the challenge of Nail Can kept him coming back.
“The race suits me but it’s the history too — with guys like (Steve) Moneghetti it’s nice to get your name on the trophy alongside them,” he said.
“Hopefully Jesse will come out and race me next year and we’ll have a crack at going under 38.”
Caellum Crowe was second in 40.49 and Ben Buckingham next across the line in 41.12.
First female across the line was former local Ellie O’Kane (45.25), who notched up her third Nail Can title.
O’Kane won Nail Can in 2010 and 2011, but left to travel and recently moved to Torquay.
“I grew up and studied in Albury and when I lived here I was running up and down Nail Can all the time,” she said.
“I knew I’d probably forgotten how tough it was and it was tougher than I remembered.
“It’s those hills — you can’t replicate them especially not in Torquay.
“But I love the course, it’s really enjoyable and very special to me.”
Second was Cara Peake in 48.08, who won the race in 2013, and third was last year’s winner Nadine Barnes in 49.02.
Both Hosking and O’Kane were also the first ever winners of the Hero of the Hill for reaching the top first, Hosking in 16.03 and O’Kane in 18.57.