Gwandy Special

Today Total: 26k (+14k MTB)
Week Total: 50k
Month Total: 208k
Year Total: 208k (MTB 14k)

2nd Edit: Thought I'd add the map of where I ran - and to answer a question - sorry to disappoint but no the Big T isn't some giant statue of a big black guy covered in gold chains where you can buy buy cheezy souvenirs - it's the name of a fire trail :-)

The map shows the run - the Big Prawn is at the apex where you can see the Pacific Highways scarring the land. The only flat part of this run is the bit around the lake.



Edit: Couldn't resist going for a quick 14k sprint on the trusty mountain bike when I got back to Sydney to add just on another half an hours training for the day.

Up at Gwandalan for the weekend and decided it was time to do my first long run since Gosford before my legs and mind forgot how. I feel like a bit of a drama queen as after Fridays tumble and carrying on like a pork chop all I have to show for it is a mildly bruised left knee and a grumbly right shoulder.

Went to the bowling club for dinner last night and then sat (in a blissfully smoke-free environment) and listened to the band for a while - they must have been the only good old boys not in Tamworth (country music festival) for this weekend and I have the lines "he's a member of the outback club, he don't back down and he don't give up" seemingly indelibly printed on my brain. Usually I hate it when this happens - but as a mantra to adopt for Six Foot Track preparation you probably can't go past it.

I headed out for 26 hilly k's through the fire trails in Munmorah State Rec Park and Crangan Bay - not as steep as Quarry Rd but bugger all flat sections either. I had 2 goals in mind: one to run all the hills and two to not have any double figure 1k splits (some of the hills are fairly steep and long) - mission accomplished.

Emerging out of a fire trail onto the road to Catheriine Hill Bay I bumped Sydney Strider Michael who is just getting back into it after a couple of years off and we had a bit of a natter. From there I made my way up to the Big Prawn on the Pacific Highway for a water resup and then headed home via The Big T and Crangan Bay Fire Trail catching sight of a couple of kangaroos on the way.

I really started to suffer over the last bit and when the Garmin clicked over the 26th k I decided discretion was indeed the better part of sore legs and hit the stop button at 3 hours 11 mins and elected to walk the last 500 meters home.

Not the most encouraging run but I guess there is still 7 weeks to go.