wawick pentath-run 2014

I’ve just spent the weekend in Warwick participating in the annual Pentath-run. It’s a fantastic and unique event so when I heard friends were going I couldn’t resist.

On Saturday there was a 1/2 marathon (21.1km), 4.6km x-country and 5km TT. This was backed up on Sunday with a 10km hill climb and a 1500m sprint through Warwick town centre. The idea is to complete all five races which add up to 42.2km, marathon distance.

I was hoping the Saturday 1/2 marathon race would help my Gold Coast marathon training (with only 5 weeks to go I needed to test my pace) but I wasn’t expecting so many hills, which I hadn’t trained for since Gold Coast is a flat course. The hills at 16 and 18k were particularly memorable but I kept repeating ‘shut up legs’ and managed a PB. The landscape was breath-taking, with fog rising off the fields as we ran through the countryside from Warwick to Yangan.

I chose to miss the x-country and took on the time trial (TT), reluctantly and with heavy legs but the atmosphere soon took over and I was quite happy with my time. The best thing about the TT was the location at Sandy Creek, with the finish line located next to the pub! There’s an unofficial race to be the first to finish the TT and down a beer!

Finish line on the left, Sandy Creek pub on the right

The fog was rising as we drove to the foot of the hill climb in Killarney

On Sunday I skipped the hill climb (not literally, that would be silly) and photographed the athletes who made it look so easy. The falls at the summit were quite something and reminded me to spend more time in nature (and remember my tripod for truly awesome shots).

The fastest runner going flat out to the start of the hill climb

It’s business as usual for Brisbane Running Buddies who participate every year

The 1500m dash completed the event and I managed a 1km PB. Next year I’ll return, with some training and attempt all five challenging races. It was fantastic being with the Brisbane Running Buddies – what a great bunch of people! I thoroughly enjoyed your company over the weekend. Thanks to Dave for extending the invitation.

the outdoor type

Less than two hours from home lies the great outdoors; mountain air, bushwalking and greenness.

Years ago I would head to Lamington National Park on a Friday after work, pitch a tent in the dark and wake to the pademelons grazing outside.

Earlier this year I ran the Border Track from O’Reilly’s to Binna Burra. What an experience, navigating tree roots and overhanging vines in the dark, dark rainforest.

This trip I brought my camera and took advantage of my affinity with birds.

Shot with a Canon 7D and (mostly) Sigma 50-500mm lens. I hope you enjoy the images.

                         

goal oriented living

i’m a person who doesn’t like goals. living in the present is at odds with planning for retirement! this year though i’ve set some goals.

my fitness goal this year: to complete a half marathon. two weeks into my 20 weeks of training i enter the australia day “convicts and wenches” 10km race at victoria point in queensland. i see my friends are all doing the half marathon though so i upgrade. it’s a late night decision, before i consult the weather forecast or think it through rationally. i mean, i know i can run 10km, so where’s the challenge in that?

its done nothing but rain this past week but now the rain ceases and it’s a muggy 30 degrees as we set out…fast. cycling has given me endurance. you don’t want to be dropped. you stay in that peloton at all costs. running has made me more body-aware. you have to settle into a run, you start to enjoy it, then all too soon, your body has had enough. there’s an art to talking yourself out of giving up and that’s the real challenge.

i finished my first half marathon in 2 hours and 10 minutes. i hated most of it and i’m not about to do squats or lunges or much of anything today but i did it and now i can aim to run it more comfortably in july at the gold coast half marathon, a much bigger event.

so, with 11 months left in the year, i need to set another fitness goal…

king tides this weekend

spent the morning taking photos of my neighbourhood; enjoyed an amazing sunrise at thorneside, (where the ocean is parallel to my street), ran in the bush near lota before taking pictures of the boardwalk, where it was cyclist pandemonium as they all removed their shoes and socks and carried their bikes through knee-high water. too high to ride through, even on a mountain bike – believe me, i tried to talk them into it for the “spray” shot but they weren’t having any of it. i particularly liked the “planet” jerseys, reminding me that this is our home and rising sea levels are going to be a problem. these shots will be sent to green cross for the king tide project, planning for the impact of rising seas.

then we went to the beach!

rainbow beach

school holidays and friends invited us to stay at their ‘shack’ at rainbow beach, just 3 hours drive from brisbane. we rode a boogie board at carlo sandblow, avoided snakes on the walk to the beach, swam in the ocean, adopted a poodle (temporary), made an unreal pasta dish, enjoyed the company of children, vowed to be more passionate in life and took a few photos. home now, feeling inspired to work on bathrooms and beach houses this week