running long 2:05:00 [3]
shoes: Asics GT-2000
Gosh, this was a struggle, despite the absolutely beautiful morning. South from Ave Rd, past Perry (catfeeding stop) into Shepherds Hill, the full length of the valley up to the trainline & along singletracks to Eden Hills station then over into Bellevue Heights & down through the uni. Nearly didn't recognise the plaza, because it's now a 3-storey building; that map will need updating before sprint series. Loved the view out over the ocean when crossing the footbridge high above the pine forest, but my legs were really starting to struggle with the horrible tightness through groin in hamstrings & adductors (worse after riding bike?) and I needed a number of stretching stops on the way back through the park & suburbs.
Saw quite a few guys coming down the new MTB singletracks in the park and heard one say "that was great fun, I can't believe this is on our doorstep". I reckon national parks and council have done the right thing by not treating Shepherds Hill as a conservation reserve, but I bet they'd be surprised to know that I startled an enormous kangaroo in there first thing this morning. Also there was a point where my legs were so tired going uphill that I just sat down on a rock and looked out over the valley and listened to the numerous very-happy birds; we are so lucky to have pockets of bushland like this tucked in amongst the suburbs.
Absolutely exhausted and legs quite uncomfortable by the end but they responded well to a huge breakfast of bacon/eggs/tomato/mushroom cooked at home with G who got back late last night from a trucking trip to Melbourne. He commented that it's odd that he's gone to Vic at nationals time, but I haven't!