Gone to the Gong 2003
It is early and I have been laying in bed feeling disappointed about not finishing yesterday’s run and wondering if I could have done anything different. I think I will have to simply admit that shit happens and there will be another day. My ankle is now feeling very tender and I am thinking I won’t be running for a few days (hopefully no more than that).
It all started on a dark Saturday morning. I caught an early train to the Quay allowing enough time for a trip to the men’s, there were a few odd people around that time of morning like a man was having a shave and some weirdo in running gear and a Camel Back - oh that’s my reflection. I grabbed a black coffee at a shop just opening and headed to the Opera house to meet up with the fellow crazies.
At the steps, Kevin Tiller & Kieran Thompson were there chatting and looking a tad cold. As it got to 6am we all looked to Kevin for our instructions but he pointed out that he did not have a map. So without Lawrence we may have a fat ass run where part of the task is to find your own way there. Not much later Lawrence came speeding up on his bike announcing, “Better late then never”. So we were now a group of 7 not counting an “official” photographer and Sean Greenhill there to offer moral support. Maps were soon handed out and directions given. Then with an “on your mark” we were off.
I ran at the back for a little while waiting for my body to warm up and then as I felt better I managed to catch up with Jan and Kieran who were cruising along. Kieran soon cruised ahead as he does and Jan and I ran for a while chatting. The city streets were quiet and good to run on. Jan needed a quick stop so I continued on by myself. Brighton Le Sands came much quicker then I thought and the run along Botany Bay was great. The day was clear and cool, good running weather. The path ducked under and then over the Captain Cook Bridge. At the top, Lawrence had written in chalk “how good is this” and he was right!
The run went through Sylvania Waters and past some very nice Real Estate, the type you dream about when you talk of winning lotto. The run so far had been so varied and picturesque I had not even thought about the time. Miranda passed by to the left and running low on water I stopped to fill my pack at a tap. Whilst there 2 of the group caught up. We ran together winding up some nice steep hills to Grey’s Point. At the top Lawrence was camped there offering coke, coffee and cheers.
I was feeling good so I hit the trails without a stop, time so far 3:21.
The path to Audley was a nice change where I did a bit of walking. As I neared Audley Lawrence came speeding down the road on his bike with a big grin. Nothing better then a steep hill when you are on a pushy. The other 2 guys had met their lift and were on their way home.
I filled up with water at Audley and saw Kieran for an ever so brief moment. Lady Carrington Drive seemed to be endless. I guess this is a sign of fatigue and pace was getting slower I was now running at a familiar Ultra Shuffle. After a while I saw Lawrence again checking on us all, we chatted for a bit until he rode on ahead. By myself I started to daydream trying to keep my mind on how far there was left.
I am starting to think that it is daydreaming and not my inability to read maps that gets me lost. Needless to say I missed the turn off. About 10 minutes on I realised this but I knew that along Lady Wakehurst Drive there was a trail heading back to the Garie turn where Lawrence was. I did not realise that the turn off for the trail was so far away. Lady Wakehurst Drive was narrow and there was plenty of traffic forcing me to run on the shoulder, which was strewn with branches and leaves. Then I went over on my right ankle. I did not think too much about it, it was not that painful and I plodded on. But then as the miles mounted so did the pain. I tried to run on the edge of the road but the camber seemed to be aggravating it further. Eventually I had to stop and after some stretching I was reduced to a walk. I told myself that once I get off this bloody road I would be fine. I finally got to the trail, which turned out to be a bugger of a climb, and it doubled back for ages. Plus it is always good to add extra travel when you are trying to run 100km. After an eternity of climbing I came to Girraween farm. I tried to run for a bit but only managed to go a few paces, my ankle was now quite painful. The sign said 8km to Otford and off I walked. Walking started to get painful and I was forced to admit to myself that Otford was going to be it for today. I called my wife and in my “sorry for myself” voice I asked her to come and get me.
I finally limped into Otford with a dark cloud around my head around 1:15, took my shoes off and was surprised to see no swelling. Some apple pie changed my outlook and I sat there and realised that it was a nice place to sit and it had been a great day for a run with a great bunch of guys. This was confirmed when Jan and then Lawrence arrived. We chatted, they ate and we SMS’d Kevin to find out where he was. He was about an hour or so away so Jan and Lawrence continued on.
Eventually my wife pulled up I dragged my now stiffening body in to the car ending my day’s adventure.
It all started on a dark Saturday morning. I caught an early train to the Quay allowing enough time for a trip to the men’s, there were a few odd people around that time of morning like a man was having a shave and some weirdo in running gear and a Camel Back - oh that’s my reflection. I grabbed a black coffee at a shop just opening and headed to the Opera house to meet up with the fellow crazies.
At the steps, Kevin Tiller & Kieran Thompson were there chatting and looking a tad cold. As it got to 6am we all looked to Kevin for our instructions but he pointed out that he did not have a map. So without Lawrence we may have a fat ass run where part of the task is to find your own way there. Not much later Lawrence came speeding up on his bike announcing, “Better late then never”. So we were now a group of 7 not counting an “official” photographer and Sean Greenhill there to offer moral support. Maps were soon handed out and directions given. Then with an “on your mark” we were off.
I ran at the back for a little while waiting for my body to warm up and then as I felt better I managed to catch up with Jan and Kieran who were cruising along. Kieran soon cruised ahead as he does and Jan and I ran for a while chatting. The city streets were quiet and good to run on. Jan needed a quick stop so I continued on by myself. Brighton Le Sands came much quicker then I thought and the run along Botany Bay was great. The day was clear and cool, good running weather. The path ducked under and then over the Captain Cook Bridge. At the top, Lawrence had written in chalk “how good is this” and he was right!
The run went through Sylvania Waters and past some very nice Real Estate, the type you dream about when you talk of winning lotto. The run so far had been so varied and picturesque I had not even thought about the time. Miranda passed by to the left and running low on water I stopped to fill my pack at a tap. Whilst there 2 of the group caught up. We ran together winding up some nice steep hills to Grey’s Point. At the top Lawrence was camped there offering coke, coffee and cheers.
I was feeling good so I hit the trails without a stop, time so far 3:21.
The path to Audley was a nice change where I did a bit of walking. As I neared Audley Lawrence came speeding down the road on his bike with a big grin. Nothing better then a steep hill when you are on a pushy. The other 2 guys had met their lift and were on their way home.
I filled up with water at Audley and saw Kieran for an ever so brief moment. Lady Carrington Drive seemed to be endless. I guess this is a sign of fatigue and pace was getting slower I was now running at a familiar Ultra Shuffle. After a while I saw Lawrence again checking on us all, we chatted for a bit until he rode on ahead. By myself I started to daydream trying to keep my mind on how far there was left.
I am starting to think that it is daydreaming and not my inability to read maps that gets me lost. Needless to say I missed the turn off. About 10 minutes on I realised this but I knew that along Lady Wakehurst Drive there was a trail heading back to the Garie turn where Lawrence was. I did not realise that the turn off for the trail was so far away. Lady Wakehurst Drive was narrow and there was plenty of traffic forcing me to run on the shoulder, which was strewn with branches and leaves. Then I went over on my right ankle. I did not think too much about it, it was not that painful and I plodded on. But then as the miles mounted so did the pain. I tried to run on the edge of the road but the camber seemed to be aggravating it further. Eventually I had to stop and after some stretching I was reduced to a walk. I told myself that once I get off this bloody road I would be fine. I finally got to the trail, which turned out to be a bugger of a climb, and it doubled back for ages. Plus it is always good to add extra travel when you are trying to run 100km. After an eternity of climbing I came to Girraween farm. I tried to run for a bit but only managed to go a few paces, my ankle was now quite painful. The sign said 8km to Otford and off I walked. Walking started to get painful and I was forced to admit to myself that Otford was going to be it for today. I called my wife and in my “sorry for myself” voice I asked her to come and get me.
I finally limped into Otford with a dark cloud around my head around 1:15, took my shoes off and was surprised to see no swelling. Some apple pie changed my outlook and I sat there and realised that it was a nice place to sit and it had been a great day for a run with a great bunch of guys. This was confirmed when Jan and then Lawrence arrived. We chatted, they ate and we SMS’d Kevin to find out where he was. He was about an hour or so away so Jan and Lawrence continued on.
Eventually my wife pulled up I dragged my now stiffening body in to the car ending my day’s adventure.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, January 01, 2005 at 2:12 PM.
