Training Log Archive: Craney

Along the new MTB path which runs alongside the Thredbo River. I ran from Ngarigo camping ground down to Lake Crackenback resort. Perfect run (net slight downhill) for the day after a longun. Felt much better for it. Another beer at the distillery afterwards.

Gracie kindly dropped me in Thredbo (after enjoying a coffee while watching a platypus in the pond there) at 10am and agreed to pick me up at Charlotte's Pass at 1pm, so I had 3 hours to play up on the main range. Gorgeous sunny day, so I ended up doing a cracking run up Australia's 2nd and 3rd highest mountains.

First half hour of course was a slog up to Eagle's Nest. Felt ok though and kept plodding - some downhill MTB race was going on, which kept me entertained. Then hit the horrible metal boardwalk which goes along the plateau for 5km - which you're not allowed to run along. This really is a stain on Australia and something I knew about from previous 'runs' but had blocked from my memory. Are there any other moderately tame popular mountains in the world where running is not allowed but walking is? It goes without saying that I did run it anyway, and of the 200 or so overweight walkers with poles and massive rucksacs that I passed, 1 felt the need to say 'excuse me mate but it's no running'. I muttered something about not asking for them to build a steel highway up a mountain but then of course spent the rest of the run thinking of better comebacks. In the end, I think 'oh piss off' would've been the best one. If I was so inclined, I'd organise a massive run up there just to annoy whoever wanted to get annoyed by it. Aaaanyway, I was annoyed by Kosciuszko by that point, so decided to skip it and press on to get some peace. Took the side trip to Mount Townsend first - on the way out over Mueller's Peak, which was a bit slow and rocky, before hitting a footpad, which took me to the top. Awesome views out west in particular. Footpad all the way back to the main path was much quicker. No people at all on that little detour (lucky for Mount Townsend that it's not 20m higher). Then on the main path to Carruther's Peak, before cutting off to do the out and back along an old unmapped 4WD path to the top of Mount Twynam. Finished off with the path (now a road) to Charlotte's Pass. A great part of the world - worth knowing where the unmapped walking paths/nice terrain is to properly enjoy it. Townsend was the highlight. Happy with how I felt physcially - took water and snakes which got me through. Pretty sore by the end though. Picnic at Sawpit Creek followed by a nice cold beer at the distillery and I felt right as rain.

C • I have a disability 5

IW

HFW

Evening run around the burbs finishing with Taylor - pretty much dark as I descended.

IW

HFCallum Brae, as that's where Grace dropped me. A nice run via Farrer but I felt very ordinary.

HFW via back of Mugga and Sheaffe trig.