Part A: Home to Mt Lofty, same route as last week. Left at 4.30am, 86min to Waterfall Gully again - it had felt like I was running faster but maybe that was an illusion as it was dark until I hit Waterfall Gully Rd (already it gets light later than a week ago; how bad will it be in the mornings by Easter?). 2 minutes slower to the top than on Christmas morning - I'd like to blame the heavier pack but will need to carry twice as much for Cradle :( So, 2hrs 6min for 19km and about 700m climb.
Part B: Summit to Sea official 33.5km, very well marked/taped route from Mt Lofty to Seacliff (though we actually finished at Brighton Jetty) using trails in the Hills Face Zone as much as possible. It's not actually downhill all the way, there could be as much as 500m climb in the route.
http://www.sarrc.asn.au/Maps/tr_s2sea_mapnotes.pdf
http://www.sarrc.asn.au/summit2sea.html
Not sure but there could have been as many as 80 people starting at Mt Lofty at 7am, I was with John/Lauren/Zara for about the first 400m and then as soon as there was the slightest incline I just died. I had nothing left in my hill legs, and the first part to Crafers winds up and down a bit. I reckon about 30 people passed me in the first 5km. Down through Sheoak Rd and Belair wasn't too bad, scenic at least. I was passed by Terry (he should not have said that he intends to beat me at Pichi Richi next year - them's fighting words) and, just before Echo Tunnel, the Japanese couple. Mayuko has been out for some months through injury and so have a couple of other women I've not seen for a while; makes me grateful I'm holding up okay.
At the drink stop in Hawthorndene I had my "this isn't fun anymore" moment as I'd been out for 3 1/2 hours already, still had nearly 20km to go and my feet didn't like the bitumen. Then I came across 2 people who'd been running faster than me but kept getting lost, and I felt better :) Through Eden Hills and Bellevue Heights I could see them getting away from me again in the distance and I settled into a trot about the same pace as David Close, a wiry fellow who is at every trail run and marathon and is probably twice my age. Down through Flinders Uni, to Main South Rd. Now I was in the territory I'd marked last night so didn't have to think much at all. Up through Darlington and the final killer hill with slippery grass to the top of Morphett Rd.
George was there with an esky full of cold drinks (and a book to read) and a neighbourhood cat hanging around him! I was pleased to see him, but anyone who came behind me (and there were at least 40 others) was even happier!
And then, in the words of Paul Kelly, "it's all downhill from here". 3km to Seacliff and 2km along the beach to Brighton Jetty and the clock between the SARRC banners. 3hrs 18 min for 33.5km, I was glad to finish! The time doesn't include stops - all up it was about 6 hours since I'd left home. Not a brilliant pace but steady, and I'd only had 4 hours sleep. Don't think I ate quite enough on the run and could have ingested a bit more carbohydrate over the last couple of days also. And I definitely sweated out a lot of salt. I wonder if there is any way to measure salt loss?
I managed to get my shoes and ankle tape off before cramping and then paddled in the ocean. John, Lauren & Zara had been there at least half an hour and were now cold, already having been for a swim. We were so lucky it wasn't a very warm day, as the last people didn't finish till after midday. As they finished, everyone told me about George's cat, and how it had hung around for ages until it tried to catch a bee and departed hastily with a stung paw!
Now I have sunburn, tight hips/groin/knees, and the inclination to start writing my gear & food list for Cradle. Or I could just go eat some food...