Run 53. Tram Route #67. 16/11/2019.
Another tram route and again it started outside Melbourne University. Logistics of getting to the start reminded of all the train runs I did. Drove to Elsternwick – train to Melbourne Central and tram to the big tram stop outside the Uni in Swanston St.
Easy run back towards Elwood following the tram tracks with two of my favourite running conditions in play. The first is the downhill into the city and the second, the always pleasant, short Garmin kilometers around the tall buildings of the CBD.
But this was followed by two of my least favourite running situations. This time the ever present road works associated with the Metro tunnel (which should be finished in time for run number 582) and unusual but annoying situation of having to run past my normal finishing location in Elwood and continue onto the end of the tram route in Carnegie.
Usually if this second situation occurs it is only to make up a few hundred meters, but today I still had 10 km to go as I passed my car at Elsternwick station. But overall the good outweighed the bad and that allowed me to run a top ten time of 1:46:32. No doubt if I can find a steep enough hill to run down the one hour half marathon would be more in reach.
My Three Learnings
Toilet stops during a run can be critical.
Running past your normal stopping point can be mentally tough.
Multiple roadworks are more annoying than single roadworks.