What does a runner do when it shines? He runs.
And when it rains? He runs, of course.
Non-runners call it addiction. Runners call it running ?
It was classic autumn weather in Melbourne over the weekend. Sunny today, drizzling the next. Perfect! With Alfie very reluctant to get out of bed and Hunter still sore from cross country racing overnight, the boys persisted with another parkrun on Saturday before resorting to carrying grocery bags for Mum. I love how they balance their lower body and upper body training ? ?? I suppose with another year of parkruns in, it might become a lifetime habit for them. At least, that’s the cunning plan ?
On Sunday, I returned to Maroondah Dam for a shot at the “sprint” marathon course. I hadn’t planned for Maroondah Dam or any short course race this year, so this probably would be my only marathon in 2019. I had completed the 50km here with Julie last year as the first event back from the North Pole. But somehow, I had forgotten all about how hilly it was until summitting that steep hill covered in mist and drizzle.
It felt great climbing nearly 2,000m amongst a plethora of ferns thriving in the wet condition and slippery slopes galore. The Tanglefoot Track loop, looming up shortly after the Mt. St Leonard summit, lived up to its name. I’m sure a few runners kissed the ground against their will with all those tree barks doing a good job tangling up everyone’s feet.
Feeling fit throughout the run, for the first time in 5 years of running, I did not feel like it was a long run. The average pace up and down the slightly technical slopes still hurt my time, but I’m aiming, with the steady progress still being made over these hills, to improve the time to about 5:30 next year.
Not someone to do a same event twice, I have come to like Maroondah Dam and Coburg 24hr in Victoria so much that they are now on my regular list. Seriously, if you’re new to trail running in Victoria, just run any event organised by Brett Saxon (No, he doesn’t sponsor me!)