Since the Canberra Marathon I have had an ongoing problem with a strained right achilles and a shin splint on the left leg. So I have been taking it easy and giving them a chance to recover. It seems to be getting better but slowly.
On Saturday 26th I ran the Parkrun slowly with Greg who ran a personal best and then the next day I ran the Airport Adventure Star with the 6.20 group to tbe 20k mark and then jogged the last 10k with Mike.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Yerranderie Weekend
A fabulous weekend of family, friends and adventure. And the weather was sensational. What a great place to have a reunion staying at the Yerranderie lodge. Cecile and I went on a short run around the "town" and later a bunch of us climbed up the Peak. Afterwards Martin and I explore the Colon mine site.
Later we had a big campfire meal and a great dinner cooked by Michele and Kelly. It was also Neil and my 50th birthday so it was great time. We had the Kroghs, the Leamons, the Loyds, the Castros, Derek and Charlotte, Randall and Karin, Janet, Honor, Michele, Kate, Geoffery and Serena.
Next morning Greg Moinica and I hiked up the Peak at 5.30am for dawn and we were rewarded with a magnificent sight. The horizon was overcast and as the sun struggled through the clouds, shafts of golden light played out over the Blue Breaks and Axe Head range.
Then an amazing thing happened. About 10 minutes after first light a mournful howl came up from the wilderness, then another from somewhere else, soon there were half a dozen howls joining the chorus. A dingo chorus. Then suddenly they stopped and it was silent again. Magic moment.
Later Neil and I went down to the graveyard and then onto the Tonalli River. He was on the trike and I was on foot. Getting up and down the hill was a mission but it worked out OK so I ended up running about 12 k. Then it was a long road back to Katoomba where a local had reported me missing to the Police! After sorting that out we had dinner at the Arjuna Indian and then home.
Later we had a big campfire meal and a great dinner cooked by Michele and Kelly. It was also Neil and my 50th birthday so it was great time. We had the Kroghs, the Leamons, the Loyds, the Castros, Derek and Charlotte, Randall and Karin, Janet, Honor, Michele, Kate, Geoffery and Serena.
Next morning Greg Moinica and I hiked up the Peak at 5.30am for dawn and we were rewarded with a magnificent sight. The horizon was overcast and as the sun struggled through the clouds, shafts of golden light played out over the Blue Breaks and Axe Head range.
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| Dawn at Yerranderie Peak |
Later Neil and I went down to the graveyard and then onto the Tonalli River. He was on the trike and I was on foot. Getting up and down the hill was a mission but it worked out OK so I ended up running about 12 k. Then it was a long road back to Katoomba where a local had reported me missing to the Police! After sorting that out we had dinner at the Arjuna Indian and then home.
Katoomba to Yerranderie
Ed and I set out at 8.30pm from the beginning of Glenraphael Road for the end of Narrowneck and down to Medlow Gap. On the way we passed through the flagging for TNF 100 and the impressive ladder work at Tarros.
We crashed under the little information shelter about 11.30pm. It was bloody cold with a heavy dew. Fortunately I was warm in my -5 sleeping bag and ultra lite thermorest.
We got going about 8am after checking out the hut just down the road, and headed down the fire trail to Cox's River. It was a very pleasant walk.
At the Cox's Ed thought the crossing was shallow, so I stripped off starkers and walked in. It was about 1 degree C. Very quickly I was up to my armpits and freezing! As IU came out in my birthday suit Ed said "I didn't realise you were so fat!" Ha ha ha. He spent the rest of the weekend apologising, as if I cared.
We then found that 20 metres downstream the creek was only ankle deep.
Then it was up the hill to Mt Cookem. Once on the summit we were rewarded with the most fantastic views back to Katoomba and the Wild Dog Mountains.
Then it was on to Yerranderie 45km away along the Scotts Main Range road. This is a wide super smooth dirt road which is quite monotonous but passes through some beautiful country. After 15k we came to the Catholic Bushwalking lodge and we called in for lunch. It was deserted when we arrived but a group was clearly staying there but were out fly fishing from the looks of their gear laying about. Ed cooked me up a savoury rice and a cup of tea. After half an hour I was ready to get going and set off at a slow jog for the last 30k. Ed was feeling stuffed so he was going to stay the night and come along in the morning.
I had come 15k when a 4wd came along the road and there's Ed in the passenger seat getting a lift! One of the fisherman came back and was driving up to pick up his mates and gave Ed a lift. So I hopped in and we got a lit another 4k up the road. Then it was another 11km trudge along the road in the dark to Yerranderie. Finally got in at 7.30pm and were welcomed by our family and friends at the lodge.
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| The View from Mt Cookem |
We crashed under the little information shelter about 11.30pm. It was bloody cold with a heavy dew. Fortunately I was warm in my -5 sleeping bag and ultra lite thermorest.
We got going about 8am after checking out the hut just down the road, and headed down the fire trail to Cox's River. It was a very pleasant walk.
At the Cox's Ed thought the crossing was shallow, so I stripped off starkers and walked in. It was about 1 degree C. Very quickly I was up to my armpits and freezing! As IU came out in my birthday suit Ed said "I didn't realise you were so fat!" Ha ha ha. He spent the rest of the weekend apologising, as if I cared.
We then found that 20 metres downstream the creek was only ankle deep.
Then it was up the hill to Mt Cookem. Once on the summit we were rewarded with the most fantastic views back to Katoomba and the Wild Dog Mountains.
Then it was on to Yerranderie 45km away along the Scotts Main Range road. This is a wide super smooth dirt road which is quite monotonous but passes through some beautiful country. After 15k we came to the Catholic Bushwalking lodge and we called in for lunch. It was deserted when we arrived but a group was clearly staying there but were out fly fishing from the looks of their gear laying about. Ed cooked me up a savoury rice and a cup of tea. After half an hour I was ready to get going and set off at a slow jog for the last 30k. Ed was feeling stuffed so he was going to stay the night and come along in the morning.
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| The view from Yerranderie Peak |
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Puffing Billy Race May 5th
This is a terrific event and I am glad I came. The race is run against the tourist steam train called the Puffing Billy, starting at Belgrave and finishing 13.2kms later at Emerald in the picturesque Dandenong Ranges.
Entries were limited to 3200, and the event was very laid back compared to the C2S.
All the vols and train staff were super friendly and clearly look forward to the event. It was well organised.
The day was cool with drizzling rain. Perfect for running. After Mike Brady sang the national anthem we were off. The first 2ks were downhill before a long uphill. The hill was long but not steep. I got to 5k in 18.40. Then there was a long flat section before another very long hill.
All the time you could hear the steam train coming closer, its whistle echoing through the valley. Really motivating. Michele, Honor and Serena were on the train, and they reported that at the start the driver ran the length of the platform with a start bib on to the cheers and delight of the passengers.
I reached 10k in just over 40 minutes going up the big hill. The train normally gets in to Emeral around 51 to 53 minutes so I was quite confident that I would make that easily. The train was coming up a cutting alongside us and I slowed down a bit to watch it. It was struggling with wheel spin which produced a terrific high speed chuffing noise. But I was too busy watching the train to realise that there was a level crossing on top of the hill! Uh oh!!When I realised what that meant I started sprinting but too late, a vol pull a mesh barrier across the road to let the train through. Ha ha. That'll teach me to loose concentration It worked out well though, because as I stood waiting the train passed and Michele, Hon and Serena saw me and we exchanged cheers. That was fun. It took several minutes for the train to pass and I knew I need to be at Emerald station 3k away in 10 minutes to sure of beating the train. Fortunately it was mostly downhill.
Thankfully I felt good and was soon overtaking runners as we left the downhill road and ran along a level foot track for 1.5k. Then we came into a park area and a very steep muddy downhill. I went for broke and rocketed down the slope. Finally there was just 500m to go, round a few bends then a short uphill pinch. Across the line in 52.55. Great fun.
I ran out to the end of the platform and waiting for the train which came in about 3 or 4 minutes later.
After a cup of tea we caught the train back together to Belgrave and then had a very pleasant lunch at the cinema cafe. Then we spent several hours exploring Fitzroy and Melbourne CBD.
Very enjoyable event. Look forward to breaking 50 minutes next year.
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| The Drivers fill the Engine with Gatorade! |
Entries were limited to 3200, and the event was very laid back compared to the C2S.
All the vols and train staff were super friendly and clearly look forward to the event. It was well organised.
The day was cool with drizzling rain. Perfect for running. After Mike Brady sang the national anthem we were off. The first 2ks were downhill before a long uphill. The hill was long but not steep. I got to 5k in 18.40. Then there was a long flat section before another very long hill.
All the time you could hear the steam train coming closer, its whistle echoing through the valley. Really motivating. Michele, Honor and Serena were on the train, and they reported that at the start the driver ran the length of the platform with a start bib on to the cheers and delight of the passengers.
I reached 10k in just over 40 minutes going up the big hill. The train normally gets in to Emeral around 51 to 53 minutes so I was quite confident that I would make that easily. The train was coming up a cutting alongside us and I slowed down a bit to watch it. It was struggling with wheel spin which produced a terrific high speed chuffing noise. But I was too busy watching the train to realise that there was a level crossing on top of the hill! Uh oh!!When I realised what that meant I started sprinting but too late, a vol pull a mesh barrier across the road to let the train through. Ha ha. That'll teach me to loose concentration It worked out well though, because as I stood waiting the train passed and Michele, Hon and Serena saw me and we exchanged cheers. That was fun. It took several minutes for the train to pass and I knew I need to be at Emerald station 3k away in 10 minutes to sure of beating the train. Fortunately it was mostly downhill.
Thankfully I felt good and was soon overtaking runners as we left the downhill road and ran along a level foot track for 1.5k. Then we came into a park area and a very steep muddy downhill. I went for broke and rocketed down the slope. Finally there was just 500m to go, round a few bends then a short uphill pinch. Across the line in 52.55. Great fun.
I ran out to the end of the platform and waiting for the train which came in about 3 or 4 minutes later.
After a cup of tea we caught the train back together to Belgrave and then had a very pleasant lunch at the cinema cafe. Then we spent several hours exploring Fitzroy and Melbourne CBD.
Very enjoyable event. Look forward to breaking 50 minutes next year.
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