59 replies to this topic

[flyingemu]

littleblackpug, on Dec 5 2009, 05:15 PM, said:

As always the company was great, the track awesome, the social at the finish line, the Carmen Cupcakes and the swim = fabulous.

omg, you mean to say that i missed out on Carmen's cupcakes too! AAGHHH!

[Mick]

Wow, what a great day !

Otford -> Bundeena 29.33km 3:44
Bundeena -> Otford 30.27km 4:10

Ourimbah and I hit the road before 4am to give some people a lift from the finish to the start. Headed off a few minutes before 7am after letting Milov and crew go first to scare off all the snakes and clear the spider webs. Mainly ran with SlowManiac (who beat me in a SHORT sprint along the beach), Cliffold, and Ourimbah. Bumped into a few others. Had a bit of a chat to JoeyB? who was keeping the boys honest.

The scenery and variety of trail is amazing. Running through rain forest with palms and vines, to fire trails, raised metal grids, beaches, single track, amazing cliff top views from hundreds of metres up, creeks to keep cool, etc. The wildlife for me included an echidna, kangaroo, crows, various birds, and lizards of all sizes. There were a couple of sections where I ran continuously at a reasonable pace for around 5km, and others that had climbs with knee high steps.

We ran as a fairly social group with lots of jokes (putting my hat down the front of your shorts is not funny Ourimbah) and talking until after half way. I don't think others could believe how much we talk while running AND how much we argue. Pipi went past us and after a while I thought I would see if I lift to his pace. I was staying within 1 minute, but after a while I got to an intersection where I got the map out and lost touch after that and ran the rest without seeing anyone.

The only downside of the day was that because I was using the run as Bogon2Hotham training and doing an Out&Back I didn't have the opportunity to hang around at Bundeena for long to socialise. Ourimbah said he was going to run a bit of the return leg with me. The extent of this was about 30 metres. I knew I was making him hang around, but I had always said I was doing O&B and really wanted to see the trail a second time. I said he "might" be able to convince me to stop at the car park midway. I crashed about 30 minutes into the return leg and was thinking the O&B was a bad idea. I thought I had eaten enough, but I only ate one bread roll at Bundeena as I was mainly fiddling with my feet. I shoved down some food and came good shortly after and managed my energy levels well after that. Got a welcome Go CR from a group of 3 after that, and ran into another 2 a bit later for a chat about packs.

I saw the smiling SlowManiac and Ourimbah at half way, but I was enjoying the run and asked if they minded if I went all the way back. No problems, Ourimbah said he would park at the finish and run a few km towards me, I figured 4-5km, and continued on my way. I even had a strange thought at about 8km to go that I should do another lap, weird ...

At around 24km I got to a grassy headland and picked the trail going up the hill, there must have been a trail that hugged the coast, but I didn't see it at the time. The bush didn't look familiar and I was just about to get my map out and I saw a bloke with 3 kids and he said "are you doing Otford-Bundeena return". I said "yes, I think I have about 5km to go". He confirmed that at the top of the hill, the fire trail was about 5km. I think it was Nikolay, but I didn't ask to confirm. Anyway, figured I was on the correct path and kept going up the hill. It still looked wrong, I knew it was wrong, but I didn't want to run extra, so kept going. I was then worried Ourimbah would be running back towards me, on the correct trail, and miss me. I got out the mobile and left him a message.

Getting on the fire trail early was actually a good thing as it meant the trail was more runable and I was reasonably happy with my pace for the last 5km and it was good practice for what I will need to do at the Bogong2Hotham finish.

Got back to Otford, car, no Ourimbah. Left another message, laid around in the sun, left backpack on windshield so he would know I was around, and walked up the road for an apple pie and ice-cream. I started walking back and Ourimbah was driving along the road. He was probably tempted to run me over, but resisted. He had sensibly only gone for just over and hour, and managed to find some people who had seen me. He said he had planned to run for about 6km towards me, so I really only made him run 16km instead of 12km.

I'm probably going to hear about this navigation mistake for a while.

Great run, good to see some familiar and new faces.

[Greg_Waite]

JoggerK, on Aug 24 2009, 11:26 PM, said:

The issue is that the National Parks people have rumbled me and have spoken to me about organised runs in the Royal National Park saying I have to comply with their guidelines....

On the other hand I may try to comply with their demands but I have this feeling that it won't pan out right. Normally the only approved runs are on Lady Carrington Drive...

Kev, could you expand on this? I guessing from what you say they may have developed something specifically for informal, non-permited runs. Have they spelt out these guidelines, or is it just hints from censure over past informal runs?

[Ourimbah]

Yeh.Had a great day.After the first 29km's I thought I might keep Mick company for a few km's but soon changed my mind and went for a swim.

Went back to the start to run out and meet Mick but yet again he took the easy option,I made it to 8km's and thought he is either lost or injured.Well injured didn't worry me because somone would find him next week and lost who cares just get back to the car and go home.(I had the keys).

Made it back to the car to find Mick's pack and these big green dirty smelly undies hanging on my wipers.

Great to catch up with everyone and have a chat.

Darrel
Darrel

[nikolay]

Hey Mick, sorry I didn't recognize you (it was you who gave me a lift after B2H this year?). I thought you just took the "easy" option, so didn't warn you for being off track. I've done this run return few times and always take the firetrail option on the way back - gives you a bit more variety and some good running in the last 5km.

I took my family to South Era beach that day walking from Garawarra farm and back (the third "kid" was my wife). Good thing that I didn't come along for a run as I got some virus that day - I'm home in bed today with temperature and a very sore throat. Maybe next week... The coastal walk is definitely very scenic, one of my favorite runs - I'm glad you like it.

[Owly]

I've walked and run sections of this trail but never the whole thing so was really looking forward to yesterdays run. I've a few 26k runs lately so wasn't too worried about the distance. Running angel and I had committed to running together so I knew if I got lost I wouldn't be lonely.

Wasn't feeling 100% at the start but put it down to nerves. Enjoyed the Otford to Burning Palms section with J for a commentary on the local area. Got to Garie and was feeling a little under the weather but we walk/ran the hills/ sandy bits and it was ok. The hill out of Garie was steeper and rockier than I remebered and I was grateful For the opportunity to stop and let Scambullet(?) et al past.

We later caught Scambullet and friends as they waited for two members of their group. We heard one lament that he couldn't access facebook.

The downhill section went well but I was confused by feeling breathless here. The breathlessness got worse till Watamolla where, after the carpark I found I felt sick and breathless even standing still. Neck and chest muscles had spasmed which didn't help at all.

Ended up walking to the finish. Sara stayed with me despite my urging her to run ahead.  The sandy trail at the end was out due to nausea.

Carmens cupcakes were the perfect distraction. I'm still having bouts of breathlessness today. Totally strange.  

Loved the track though x

[Mick]

Ourimbah, on Dec 6 2009, 09:09 AM, said:

Went back to the start to run out and meet Mick but yet again he took the easy option,I made it to 8km's and thought he is either lost or injured.Well injured didn't worry me because somone would find him next week and lost who cares just get back to the car and go home.(I had the keys).

Made it back to the car to find Mick's pack and these big green dirty smelly undies hanging on my wipers.

As usual. I do 15km more than you and have still taken the easy option.

I'd almost forgot about the undies, glad you appreciated them  

nikolay, on Dec 6 2009, 01:22 PM, said:

Hey Mick, sorry I didn't recognize you (it was you who gave me a lift after B2H this year?). I thought you just took the "easy" option, so didn't warn you for being off track. I've done this run return few times and always take the firetrail option on the way back - gives you a bit more variety and some good running in the last 5km.

I took my family to South Era beach that day walking from Garawarra farm and back (the third "kid" was my wife). Good thing that I didn't come along for a run as I got some virus that day - I'm home in bed today with temperature and a very sore throat. Maybe next week... The coastal walk is definitely very scenic, one of my favorite runs - I'm glad you like it.

Hi Nokolay. Yes I gave you a lift back at B2H this year when my cousin met me at the finish.

I'm glad I did the option of good running for the last 5km, so no problems there. Ourimbah would find something else to pick on me about if it wasn't that.

[trailpuddin]

Top day!  Thanks Kevin for organising - but I still swear you got a taxi from Wottamulla, how else would you get to the finish so quickly?    Well done on the return to form.  

I love this track.  Every time I run it I just feel so privileged to be healthy and living in such a great place.  Had alternating bouts of nausea and cramps from about half way but still enjoyed every minute (albeit a little bit grumpy for a short while).  Thanks in particular to Cliffold for keeping me company. Its impressive to see such a strong runner master the "toddle" (the gear below the shuffle) so quickly.  My biggest concern was that I wouldn't be able to consume a large piece of apple pie and ice cream on return to Otford but glad to say ginger beer and a swim returned my appetite to full strength.

This run has everything you could ever ask for.

[MichaelT]

My first fat ass run

Thanks for the lift to the start line Darrel, really appreciate it

Started off with Milov and others (sorry I forgot your names) soon realised after 5 km the pace was a little above me, wanting to enjoy the run I slowed my self down to take in the sites

Track was challenging but breath taking, great way to start a Saturday morning, Enjoyed a quick dip at Bundeena followed by cupcakes (thanks Carmen) + coffee, breakfast of champions!!

[Jogger]

A really great morning out. Glad that we got fewer runners this year - approx 40-50 spread between 6am-7am.
The morning started off cool, cloudy but was bright and sunny by the end.
I just ran and chatted - mainly with JoB, Tim, LBP.
I felt strong & fit and finished in a good time 3.48 even including the sandy track.
Great to catch up with everyone at the finish, cupcakes, swim, chats etc.
Was surprised when the BMMC brigade turned up, even sleeptrain, they started late ...

Till next year ..