Training Log Archive: rach

Cairns parkrun! First event today. Nice course along the esplanade and a beautiful day for it.

Mountain biking at Smithfield. This was a ride and skills session for women organised by one of the bike shops, but unfortunately it was pitched at a fairly basic level so I didn't really get much out of it. Still nice to be out there.

St Andrew's College, Redlynch. This school was in lockdown earlier today after 2 armed men were thought to be in the bush and canefields behind the school. So of course we were running through the bush and canefields behind the school. General advice was if we saw 2 dodgy characters in black to run the opposite direction!
Anyway after last week's efforts, the organiser set me a public challenge this week that if I cleared the course in under 50min I would win a block of chocolate. Completed with plenty of time to spare :)

C • haha 1

FTC - Xfit

Around centenary lakes and to volleyball.

Esplanade. Never seen so many hospital staff out running.

FTC - TRX

Paluma Dam Trail Run. At Paluma, north of Townsville and the southern end of the Wet Tropics. Drove down Saturday night and camped at the dam. A fair bit cooler up there than Cairns, so got to actually use some winter clothes this winter. Anyway the run was from Paluma to the dam along some old hiking trails through the rainforest that haven't been used for a while. So very overgrown and tricky and generally slow going. The race was advertised as 25km but was a fair bit short, although no-one was complaining. Sam did a great job to get over 100 people in the 12km option, and 50 or so in the longer race.

FTC - Xfit

Creeks run

Park-O Cairns Style. Esplanade & centre of town.

Creek & Mt Whitfield & Esplanade

FTC - TRX

Smithfield with Roger

FTC - TRX/Synrgy

Redlynch, along Freshwater creek and up a few hills.

FTC - TRX/Synrgy

Easy run around gardens.

Had been trying for a while to find a time to mountain bike with Roger, one of the other interns. My legs were feeling the effects of yesterday and he hadn't been riding for a while, so we agreed to take it very easy. Was fun exploring some of the trails I hadn't seen yet.

The Great Pyramid Race at Gordonvale. Beautiful day for this but definitely hot for a 2pm start. I hadn't run or walked the track before so didn't really know what to expect. Started out with a 3km fairly flat run from the centre of town to the pyramid, then the fun began on the single track. Certainly there were no switchbacks or attempts to make the track any less steep than the most direct path up the mountain. I knew to expect some walking but it was most definitely more walking than running, with virtually every step being a step up a rock or over a tree root. There were little bits of rock scrambling too. I think mentally the worst part of it was just under halfway up the mountain when I still hadn't reached the SES volunteers at the halfway mark, and knowing that I still had more than half the mountain to go. Managed to get through that and it was a relief to see the leader on his way back down. Reached the top as 4th female, and would have liked to stop and enjoy the view, but it was straight back down again. Race rules said that people coming down had right of way and I found people were great at getting off the track. I was glad that I was in the first part of the field though as this would have been annoying. The downhill was tricky but got through it alright, although my legs were very wobbly at the bottom! Passed one girl on the way down, but the other two were out of sight. Then a fairly horrible run back to the centre of town. Lots of people out cheering which was nice. Ended up 21st overall, 3rd female. The two ladies ahead were both previous winners and have done it multiple times before which I think would have helped. The men's winner ended up in hospital due to dehydration. Great atmosphere for it with markets, rides, food stalls and the type of entertainment you only find at country markets. Halfway up the pyramid this was definitely going to be my first and last attempt at the race, but maybe I'll consider it again.

C • Well Done 5

Metrogaine at Kewarra Beach. Dragged Josh around again and was joined by Andrew who I don't think knew what he was getting himself into. Cleared the course with 40s to spare. Lots of talk about how cold it was tonight - only 18 degrees!

FTC - XFit

From Crystal Cascades, up to Lake Morris, then up the Bridle Creek trail. A lot of climbing!

Beautiful morning for a run along the Esplanade.

Metrogaine starting on the esplanade.