Run 63. Barwon Heads to Torquay. 21/12/2019.
Another chance to run along part of the coastline, this time between Barwon Heads and Torquay. Caught a lift from daughter Camille to the center of Barwon Heads and started the run by crossing the bridge to Ocean Grove and straight back. Then turned left and headed towards Torquay. Made a quick decision to turn off and go to Barwon Heads Bluff and then another quick decision to reverse the first decision. Indecision whilst running doesn’t help maintain speed.
Eventually back onto the main road (Thirteenth Beach Rd) and realised that the next 15km or so would be back into a strong wind. Yet again the environmental conditions had conspired against me and there would be no records.
Much more traffic at this time of the year meant more time running beside the road and not on the asphalt. Not so good as the side of the road near a beach can be very sandy. As if the wind and the sand wasn’t enough I now had a couple of hills to run up and at that stage I knew a good time was unlikely.
Ran past the windmill which should have been enjoying the wind more than me. Maybe it was having a day off? Finally got onto Horseshoe Bend Rd and started to get the benefits of flat ground and a bit of a tail breeze. Worked harder than I should of had to for a time of 1:53:46, but it was time to ease in Christmas.
My Three Learnings
Running into a strong head wind certainly slows you down.
Running on sand is not fast.
Running uphill, on sand and into a head wind – no record happening today.