Bike ride- Galston - Berowra - Brooklyn

A ride with the three David's.

David B picked me up and David E. Rode from Hornsby through Galston gorge, across to Berowra ferry and then down to Brooklyn before turing around and back up for coffee at the Pie in the Sky cafe.

Also picked up david A's brother Andrew along the way. Nice cracking ride back to Hornsby.

Good morning

Parkrun 24/3/18

Lovely cool weather. Good warm up. No real niggles. Wanted to go easy and so was determined not to overtake the leader on the first lap. Strider Chris led the way and gapped me by about 20m. But he came back going past the graveyard and I sat on his shoulder. Finally decided to overtake at the turnaround.

Coming up to the hill on the first lap another guy overtook me and cleared out. 

I felt tired on the second lap and slowed a bit.

Crossed line in 19.41 which I must improve on but ok post six foot.

Lane Cove Star 18th June 2018

I volunteered to lead the MTG group. Starting at Morrison park we looped around Lane Cove, up to MacQuarie centre and back along the harbour. 29k all up.

Six runners made up the group and we set off in the dark at 6min/kms.

The group soon started struggling to keep 6mins and by the time we got to 20k they were walking the gentle hills and one poor fellow was done in. 

I sent the faster five on ahead at Eastwood station and I accompanied the slowest runner on the short cut down Blaxand and Victoria roads.

He was really spent but kept plugging away at a super slow jog. Always cheerful but suffering he kept going. At one stage I went into a 7/11 and got a Frosty Fruit and a long black and walked. I was still going faster than him.

We finally arrived back at Morrison Park after 4 hour and 22 mins. I was tired. But still it was a good recovery from Six Goot and the MTG runners were very nice people.

The other five who went the full course still hadn't turned up.

Six foot track 2018

Arrived at Katoomba about 5pm after stressful afternoon. Picked up bib at the Carrington and went to find a campsite on the Radiata Plateau.

I found a wonderful rocky outcrop that overlooked Nellies Glen. There were sharping grooves all over it. No tent I simply lay down on my thermorest and slept.

I was woken up at about 5.30 next morning by the first announcements of the PA at the start line. I packed up And jogged the short distance to the start.

It was a great atmosphere at the start and I had a chat with many old friends. 

I started at 7.15 in wave 3 and I felt good if a little lethargic. I reached the river in about 90mins and then started up the Mini Mini saddle. I did the slow and steady jog and soon I was on top. The downhill is my weaknes and I went down to Alum creek dead slow and was overtaken by all the runners I passed going uphill. 

Through the half way point and up the Pluviometer I felt pretty good. I ran the whole thing and arrived on top just after 3hours.

The Black Range was endless and a steady stream of runners overtook me, but I kept running. Approaching the deviation at 4hours I felt the first twinges of cramps in my adductors. I have never had a cramp there before. 

The deviation was torture as the inner thighs keep cramping and I had to wal and stretch. A lot of runners went past. 

Finally on the descent to the Caves and I had to go down dead slow. Finally crossed the line in 5.28. Not fast but apart from the cramps I felt great.

I got the bus back to Katoomba and had a good chat to a lady called Danielle from Heathcote. Then walked back to Radiata Plateau and camped on the rock platform again.

Bounced up in the morning to a brilliant dawn without any clouds. But shortly afterwards fog came pouring over the cliffs and filled the valleys. Very spectacular.

Hopped on the xl250 and rode to Jenolan to meet Bruce for the ride to Wombeyan over the Boyd plateau. A great weekend.

Strider’s 10k North Head 3-3-2018

Well it's been almost three years and a broken pelvis but finally got back under 40 mins for the 10k.

As it turned out things went exactly to plan. 

Great conditions, no wind, not too hot. I ran with the pacer for the first 3k and then went about 10 seconds ahead. I was 20 seconds up on the last turnaround at the lookout and lot about 15secs on the last rise.

Always felt comfortable. Not much left on the final sprint up the gentle slope but soon recovered.

39m 52s.