Sri Chinmoy Cherry Lake December 2018

I haven't done a running specific post in a long time, some have been combined into short holiday reports though.
I think the last specific one was Run For The Kids 2015.

This months race wasn't anything major, but I'll have a go at writing a short review on any new races.

• Location: Cherry Lake, Altona - 40 minutes
• Distance: 10.5 kilometres - actually 10.7 kilometres
• Result: 41:20 @ 3:51/km - 8th of 128

An easy location to drive to, except I parked in the first available car park which was about 500 metres walk each way to sign up, so most of my warm up time was used for that.

I decided to wear Nike Lunarglide instead of the lighter Nike Lunar Flyknit since those are a smaller size 12.5 and I wasn't sure how they'd go over the distance. So instead the Lunarglide are a medium weight but a bit worn with about 600 kilometres already run.

Just had time for a two kilometre warm up then straight into the race. All three race distances started at the same time and without a turnaround point so you don't know your position for sure.

I took a safe approach to the start like usual, just went out around 3:50/km to avoid a blow up later. Like usual though I struggled through the middle of the race even without running to the limit. Got a quick drink at 7 kilometres only because it was a warm day, and had a better third lap to finish with an alright time, but hardly better than midweek training sessions.

The course was pretty standard, three laps around a big lake but all on a concrete footpath surface unfortunately. The only other issue was lots of swarms of small bugs on one part of the course.

Ran another lap and a half for a cool down, since I didn't finish high enough for any medals.

NSW Part II 2018, December 25

Off to Gungahlin for the Christmas parkrun. I've done this once before, as the second event on 2018 new years day, but missed out of the top 10 so wanted to give it another go. I was just hoping for anywhere in the top 10 but still had really sore legs during the previous two days since running around Bathurst.

Didn't feel much better during the warm up so was considering not running. Somehow settled down a little while waiting for the run to start, so was able to participate. Dropped down to 11th after a kilometre, was going to give up but just waited a bit longer. Got lucky when a couple of people slowed down, 19:04 was good enough for 8th this time!

Back to hotel to checkout, and get ready for the long drive home.

Stopped in Gundagai after 2 hours for early lunch. Drove a bit more and swapped over before the border, still feeling comfortable.

Rested for a bit but took over driving for the last two hours. My back was so tight and painful the rest of the way, glad to finally make it home in the afternoon.

NSW Part II 2018, December 24

More driving again in the morning, through the south west suburbs of Sydney towards ACT. The road conditions seem quite different and lower quality, lots of patchwork pieces of cement.

Reached a country town at Bowral after a couple of hours, but still cars and people everywhere. Went to the Bradman cricket museum, $20 for entry. They had a lot of older cricket stuff, didn't have time to read all of the accompanying information:

• Australia vs England test matches
• Beginning years of cricket
• Bradman
• World Series Cricket

There wasn't too much about modern One Day and Twenty 20 competitions, and no good magnets in the shop.

Had lunch while in Bowral then drove on to Goulburn to see The Big Merino.

Driving again to the final stop for the day, Canberra the home of motorways and ring roads. Even had just enough time to visit another Nike Outlet in Fyshwick on the way in. This time I got one pair of newer Zoom Fly shoes and some shorts and socks.

Drive to the hotel, it had 'budget' in the hotel name and it was really compact. Drive to the city centre, it was very quiet on Christmas Eve, some places were still open for dinner at least. Drive back to the hotel, seems to be a 15 minute drive to get anywhere in Canberra, but lots of empty roads and room for expansion.

NSW Part II 2018, December 23

Another early start to go for a run around Mount Panorama. I had been sick all week and wasn't breathing well today, and that was before starting up the hill.

The run was so much harder than I expected, almost down to walking speed on the way up and the corners never seem to end. It wasn't possible to run flat out on the downhill either as it was too steep and may have been quite dangerous. I was originally planning two slow laps but went a bit too hard on the first one so left it at that.

Due to time constraints could not spend more time to visit the Motor Racing Museum once it opened unfortunately.

Back to the hotel to checkout and drive for an hour to Lithgow or Bowenfels. Stopped to view The Big Miner's Lamp, you can only see the back of it from the parking lot so wasn't too exciting.

Kept driving to Penrith in (very) far west Sydney, although still heavy traffic somehow. Stopped for lunch in some park then drove on to Parramatta. The motorway was probably supposed to be 110 km/h but was 80 km/h the whole way due to minimal roadworks that weren't actually in progress on the day, so basically like every other roadworks you have to slow down for.

Always have time for a quick stop at the Nike Outlet in Auburn. They have individual queue lines so of course got stuck behind a woman who took like fifteen minutes at the counter, seem to be doing a double and triple check of every item on the receipt and debating the prices. Didn't have many size 13 in the store, so just got one pair of older model Zoom Vomero and some Lunarglide that I can probably wear around at work.

Expected to have quite a bit of spare time but just made it before the 2:45pm start of the NBL game at Sydney Olympic Park. It was the only event for the day, but all of the stupid street parking is one hour which is totally useless. Finally found a spot with a normal ticket machine, almost cost as much as the match tickets.

Just made it to the seats with about ten minutes to spare. The seats were in a corner on the second level, pretty good views actually. Sydney were leading after the first quarter, but just stopped scoring in the last quarter and lost once again.

A much better experience than watching a game in Melbourne, not as loud, less annoying music, no kids with clappers or thunder sticks.

Stopped at a burger place in Parramatta, also ordered the potato scallops, Jason had never heard the term before.

Had good quality wifi for once and was able to watch Match Of The Day on the laptop!

NSW Part II 2018, December 22

Had a small breakfast and a quick ten minute drive to parkrun. So better than the Melbourne suburban parkruns in that regard, but you only have the choice of one parkrun here...

Ran a bit of the course early to get an idea of the area for about one kilometre out and back again. At the official start several guys ran ahead early, but I was into third before too long. I was close enough to be able to follow the person is second and had no chance of getting lost, although the course was pretty well marked anyway.

I ran a quick last kilometre but remained in third for a time of 19:22. A good trail course although the surface was a bit rock hard in places, not too technical.

Back to the hotel to checkout and apply some more bandaging. A quick detour to The Big Strawberry 10 kilometres west of Cobram, didn't get any strawberries but did get a magnet.

Driving again into NSW, started getting a bit fatigued and a sore back again after about two hours, but made it through to Narrandera for a lunch break in the hot sun.

Drove another hour to Barellan, just a small detour and a stop to see the The Big Tennis Racquet, definitely the best big thing on the trip. The GPS started going through the back roads, I made it as far as Barmedman before needing a break from driving.

More back roads through Grenfell until finally back on the main road at Cowra. A bit of a strange route, the speed was still 100 km/h but all of the places along the way seemed to be ghost towns, no signs of any people or traffic on the roads.

Finally made it to Bathurst, the hotel has closed much earlier than advertised but was able to get a key from the after hours safe.

Got some dinner then a drive around the Mount Panorama circuit. Only really one place to stop around the circuit if you followed the rules, at Skyline. The track was quite steep which was to be expected but also not nearly as smooth as I expected.

Was just able to get the Steigen athletics race working on YouTube with the hotel wifi - had a women's 5km and men's 10km.

NSW Part II 2018, December 21

Finished work a bit early to have enough time for a three hour drive to Cobram for the first night. There was about a kilometre of traffic waiting to exit at Greensborough in the afternoon, so was happy to be going in the opposite direction.

Managed two hours before getting a sore back, probably better than expected given how much pain I'd been having the last few weeks. Stopped in Shepparton for dinner and a break, then the last hour to Cobram.

The hotel was across the NSW border in Barooga and was pretty small compared to Cobram. So drove back to Cobram for some food and drinks. Lost a battle with a soft drink bottle lid and my hand was all ripped up and blistered afterwards. So second time back to Cobram for some bandages.

Tired so set the alarm for Cobram parkrun in the morning.

Townsville 2018

August 03
August 04
August 05
August 06
August 07

Townsville 2018, August 07 (Let's Rock)

Last day. Started with a tough hike up the 'goat track' to the top of Castle Hill which overlooks Townsville. Tough on the legs with all of the wide steps. Good views from a few different ledges.

Castle Hill.

Not one goat on the goat track.

The walk back down was easier, stopped at Queens Gardens for lunch. Would have been a good spot for running. Back to the city again to buy a magnet, only a couple of shops with limited options, but picked the best option.

Downtown.

Revisited Jezzine Barracks, near where the race was held on the weekend. Had some World War 2 stuff around, and various public art. There's a big public rock pool right on the beach, but was a bit to cold.

Drove down the long cape road to Cape Pallerenda. Looked like another good running track with some hills on Strava, but so rocky you'd twist an ankle for sure.

Just driving around a bit more before having to head to the airport, went past The Strand again and some botanical gardens. Got some dinner then drove to the airport. Best airport drive ever, just driving down a road with houses on it...and there's the airport car park!

Steps: 26,500
Drive: 350km approx

• Townsville
• 7 out of 10
• Good
• Better place to be during winter
• Having a car
• Running and walking tracks
• Townsville airport
• Traffic
• Bad
• City centre size
• Jellyfish in the water
• Limited entertainment options
• Melbourne airport
• Missed Out
• The Big Brolga - if it still exists

Townsville 2018, August 06 (Death Magnetic)

Bit of a rush start:

• Drive to city
• Find somewhere to park - the one 'main' street gets busy on a week day
• Stop at the supermarket
• Run to the ferry before departure

The boat only took about 20 minutes to get to Magnetic Island, not much to see.

I'm on a boat.

Got off the boat and walked to Arcadia and Alma Bay along the road. Surprised by how the amount of housing development on the island.

Not one arcade machine in Arcadia.

There were no footpaths going up the big hill to the other side of the island, so a good time for lunch.

Hiked through the bush instead towards The Forts track, hard work climbing up all the steps, only passed a couple of people. More walking around The Forts track to reach some old fort lookout towers, very dusty. This was supposed to be the best place to see koalas, but did not see any!

Bush walking.

The fort from the other fort.

Walk through the bush and along the street to Horseshoe Bay at the other end of the island. Probably ended up with about three hours of walking on the island.

Wasn't too much to see at Horseshoe Bay so got a bus back to the ferry, since the next run wasn't for more than an hour.

Steps: 26,000

Townsville 2018, August 05 (Road Rules)

The 10km race start was only at 7:45am, probably could have been a bit earlier. Drove from the hotel to the race, I thought roads might be crowded, but plenty of street parking everywhere!

Did a quick 2 kilometre warm up around the streets, while the marathon and half marathon was already out on the roads. Sweating from the warm up wasn't a good indication, walked over to the start and got in the front row.

Started a bit slow off the start, having gone too quick in the heat in Singapore earlier this year. Skipped the 2.5km drink station which was a mistake, struggling by the next drink station which wasn't until 5.5km. Need more drinks!

Not a huge field of fast runners, I probably made my way up into the top 25 quickly but was mostly running by myself afterwards. There was a couple of hills later in the race which were a bit difficult, not having a great time trying to stay under 4:00/km.

Grabbed another couple of spots late in the race, gave me something to focus on. The distance was 10.13km which didn't help my finish time, just came in under 40 minutes but not close to any personal beats. Lately my races haven't even been as good as my training runs, need to make some improvements to race preparation, especially hydration.

Drive back to the city to the farmers market on Flinders Street, not much for sale except cronuts! Got some food for lunch at stopped at the Palmetum - a place will palms. Good place with a little rainforest.

Palmetum.

Started a long drive north to Paluma, but took a detour first to the Frosty Mango. Basically it's just a larger version of a milk bar on the highway, selling lots of ice cream flavours and a few other mango specific products.

The Big Frosty.

Took the road inland to Paluma, one of those annoying roads with bends every few seconds and narrow roads, 40km/h max speed. Stopped at Little Crystal Creek for a break, had a river and some rock pools.

Little Crystal Creek.

More slow driving to get to Paluma, nothing at all in the town, almost drove past the other end without realising. Got out of the car at last, walked around for a while, had some nice tracks though the forest. Otherwise very quiet and deserted.

Somewhere in Paluma.

Downtown Paluma.

Drove back to city, lots of dead kangaroos on the highway, no near misses this time.

Steps: 13,000 + 14.5 km