Run 73. Tram route 5. 3/2/2020.
Third tram run in a row. That’s 12 down and only 12 to go (half way). Early start to the run thwarted by a heavy shower of rain, so instead of getting wet I decided to watch Superbowl. Just meant I got dressed in my running gear 7 hours earlier than I had to. Bad start to the run when I realised my headphones had suffered a technical difficulty and it was impractical to use them. This was to become a quiet run.
But once I got going it was all good. Downhill start into the short Km CBD and then onto St Kilda road. Tram 5 is the sister to tram 64 and I caught either one to get to uni in 1982. Yet again got detoured around the Metro Tunnel roadworks and that added a bit of distance. Avoided the dangers of St Kilda junction by running wide of the traffic and staying away from the bike tracks. Veered off Dandenong road to follow the number 5 tram down Wattletree Rd and before I knew it I was at the end of the tram line.
Having only done just over 13km at this stage, the 8km run back home to Elwood was the ideal distance and slightly down hill. Felt comfortable down Glenhuntly Rd and by cutting through the old Elsternwick golf course I was able to finish the 21.1km distance and be with 1km of home. Stopped the stopwatch right on the distance mark and wrapped to realise a new fastest time of 1:42:26. It has been a while since I ran a PB in this challenge so can’t give up on the sub 1 hour yet.
My Three Learnings
One headphone not working renders the listening experience awkward and uncomfortable.
Dressing hours early for a run appears to increase speed.
Downhill and with the wind takes pressure off the heart rate.