Run 33. Dumb ways to Die. 24/08/2019.
Remember the metro trains “Dumb ways to Die” campaign – I had a similar experience as I set off for my run between Bells Beach and Anglesea. Having taken a wrong turn within the first 500m of following the walking track, I ended up on the beach, then climbed back to the track, then back onto the beach then back up the cliff, then onto a dirt road going who knows where. Finally through a snake breeding ground (where I saw a kangaroo but no snake) and onto the Great Ocean Rd which turned out to be more dangerous than the snake breeding grounds.
Had no trouble coming up with my 10 most likely ways that I could have died during this run:
Slipping on rocks and hitting my head
Bitten by tiger snake in breeding grounds
Dehydration
Hit / attacked by kangaroo
Struck by tourist bus on Great Ocean Rd
Falling off cliff
Drowning after stranded by high tide.
Struck by mountain bike on downhill section of dirt road.
Heart failure
Running into an Ivan Milat situation in the forest.
Should have known by the 6 min first kilometer that this was going to be a tough day. The steep steps had already pushed my heart rate above 160, and the beach sand was getting into my shoes. At least I only had 20.1km to go.
Finished in 1:56:18 to set a new slow record, but having spent some 40% of my running time in the 155 plus heart rate zone (usually average about 10%) it was no wonder I was cooked well before the finish. Looking forward to the flat, firm footing roads of Melbourne for my next run.
My Three Learnings
Nice hiking tracks not good half marathon courses
Beach sand in your running shoes is nothing but a negative
Your heart rate can get way high whilst running slow up steps.