M7 Marathon and Ben Hall's Huts

I ran the second half of the M7 relay in 88.50, five minutes off my best. An OK result considering that I was working night shift this week and the ongoing ankle issue. Mike  recorded a great time of 96.17 for the first half. A PB for him. In fact he took us by surprise as he appeared around the bend. The smart money was on him running 100+.
I saw Tim Austin through the week and he diagnosed a strain of the peroneal tendon in my right ankle.  His advice was very good and the ankle started feeling better quickly after doing his recommended stretches.
After the run I drove up to Katoomba and bush bashed my way down the Devil's Hole gully. I lost the track half way down and went cross country eventually coming across the pipeline track. Then I headed down to check out the huts from the Ben Hall TV series in 1975.  Remarkably one of them is still intact and "furnished" 37 years later.  I remember the show, I was 13 when it screened on the ABC. It had a great theme tune from the Bushwackers band.
Only one hut is still standing but the remains of all the others (seven in total) are still there but collapsed. A very interesting "walk down memory lane"

Afterwards I ran/hiked back up Nellies Glen and then along the Cliff walk  to the car at Devil's Hole.

Ben Hall's Hut from the 1975 TV series

Here is a link to a Women's Weekly article at the time of shooting. 

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/5799095?zoomLevel=1 

A shot from the article. The hut is on the right.

And here are two other photos of the hut taken during filming from Douglass Baglin Photography at the National Archives .

For a total nostalgia trip for my generation check out this youtube clip of stills set to the opening theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWDbIr6cKJk

or the opening titles are here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OWQyis_Xgg

Great North Walk Star 9-7-12

Ran with Sean and Georgie just like last week but felt much better. Did not have any trouble running the entire 30k plus and my ankle troubled me much less.

On the Saturday I paced the 45min 10k group with Mike finishing just ahead of me.

Tue Intervals 3-7-12

Monday I spent at the ocean outfalls diving and was totally zonked that night so no run.
Tuesday I finally made it out at 7pm and ran down to Pioneer. All the lights were on but no footballers. I had it all to myself.
Full moon and no wind, but bloody cold.
I did two sets of strides then attempted to run the intervals but the ankle said no. I started off several times but a sharp pain in my right ankle kept stopping me.
It was such good conditions that I felt I should do something, So I persisted until I realised that I got no pain if I stayed on my toes.
Eventually I did 10*300m with 5 pushups after each.

Welcome back now die! 1/7/12

Thats how I felt after running the North Head Star this morning. Its scary how quickly you lose the edge. I was running these easily before Canberra. Now after two months of low activity it was a big struggle. The 6.20 group moved a long at a quick pace,and I kept up without trouble till the end of Manly Beach when I started feeling the strain, then I felt the wheels really come off above the Spit Bridge. My ankle had become sore and I was dead on my feet as Georgie and Sean skipped away down the hill.
On Saturday I ran the Parkrun 5k in 19.20.
Well hopefully the only way is up!
Mike and I have agreed to run the M7 relay together. He thinks he can do a 97 so if I do and 83 we might keep it under 3 hours.  Well at least it gives us a target to train for.