Belgrave Line. Heathmont to Belgrave.
HEATHMONT. 17/3/2018. 130th Run. 28.8 km.
Long run where everything went really well up until I started. Caught the 7:23 am on a Saturday to beat the heat but despite getting to Heathmont by 8:25 it was already 22 degrees and very windy. And the heat and the wind seemed to get worse as I started up some of the bigger hills so far. I forgot how hilly the outer suburbs can be in Melbourne. Ran past the Cadbury factory in Ringwood but having worked in the chocolate industry for nearly 30 years it wasn’t that exciting. Legs started to feel tired and I still had 15 km to go - it’s days like these that catching a red light at an intersection isn’t such a bad thing. Took the opportunity a have a few drink stops so glad I decided to carry money. Cash is a necessary summer running accessory.
BAYSWATER. 9/10/2018. 182nd Run. 29.3 km.
One of the longer midweek runs that started in the rain but got better as the night went on. Had plenty of time as Mary in Hawaii watching team mates do the Kona Ironman so no pressure on getting home too early. Daylight savings just started so had time to include a couple of trails beside local creeks before it got too dark to see. Night running seems slightly more dangerous for a few reasons. Made the first track easily but the second one through Gardinars Creek was just on dusk. - maybe a bit too dark. Found a McDonald’s near Holmsglen and decided to get a large Coke. Good sugar hit and the caffine helpful, but could have done without the gas. Mostly easy run home after that.
BORONIA. 7/1/2019. 201st Run. 30.3 km.
Probably the last of the mid week runs as 30 km seems the limit before I get too hungry. But the benefit of running as the sun goes down is great. Finishing the run in cool conditions is definitely an advantage. The big bonus on this run was finding a shop that sold red Icy Poles, an improvement on the white ones. Biggest challenge as I run some of these outer stations is the distance to cover in areas that don’t have footpaths. One section of High St Rd near Nortons Park was a bit dangerous as no shoulder and during peak hour I probably broke the law. Revisited the spot where I had to jump the fence and climb down the hill at Syndal station but after that it was familiar territory. First run in 5 days so felt pretty good, also had a massage which surely helped.
FERNTREE GULLY. 22/7/2018. 162nd Run. 29.8 km.
Swapped to a Sunday long run due to travelling back from Nhill for work on the Saturday. With a number of trains not running, it was easier and faster to get an Uber out to Ferntree Gully. Uber driver very interested in what I was doing and couldn’t believe what I was doing. Took my details so he could tell other people the story. Uber drivers need to have stories. Messy start to the run as had a few back streets to run through before getting onto Ferntree Gully Rd and then new record of 18 km on the same road. Easy navigation. Up the Wheelers Hill (that I learnt to hate) and past a circus and random breathe testing station. They, unlike the Uber driver, weren’t interested in me. Past Carnegie were sky rail appears finished and home by 6:15 pm. I quite like running at this time of the day in winter so might try it again.
UPPER FERNTREE GULLY. 27/12/2018. 199th Run. 30.7 km.
Only station that has a three word name so I ran it as the 200th run. It was only when I finished and checked that I realized it was actually run 199. Still - last run of 2018 is still significant. Fitted the run in between Christmas travel to Wangaratta and Ballarat. Got early train at 5:37 am and got home by 10 am but still got to 30 degrees by then. Had some luck as I stopped for drink and toilet break and left my good sun glasses behind. Small back track to secure them and than continued the run. Long drag up Wheelers Hill (still hate that section) as I again did the 18 km that is Ferntree Gully Rd. No real short cut around it. Now into frequent long runs so not much recovery time between runs and starting to feel it a bit in the legs. Second stop for Icy Pole to keep core temperature down and glad to get home. Should have planned more of these long runs during the winter.
UPWEY. 26/1/2019. 204th Run. 33.6 km.
Australia Day long weekend gave a bit of flexibility with respect to timing but again the heat meant an early start. Spent yesterday at a funeral in Ballarat and temperature hit 42 degrees so probably started a bit dehydrated. Had a bit of trouble finding the right running path and defaulted to running on the road for a while until the path finally materialized. Mainly downhill in the early stages which was nice but having run this direction before I knew Wheelers Hill was looming. Seems to get a little steeper and longer each time I run it. But this was my last time over the hill so I tried to “enjoy” it. Overcast early but warming up as I went, fortunately plenty of drink opportunities along Ferntree Gully Rd as usual. Home by 10 am and beat the real heat later in the day. Headed off to Wangaratta to celebrate my mothers 80th birthday.
TECOMA. 6/10/2018. 181st Run. 34.9 km.
A long run day but with very little drama or interesting happenings. Originally intended to run from Upwey but such a nice day and with no time pressures I just made the decision whilst on the train to go a bit further to Tecoma. Just meant I hadn’t properly studied the start and in retrospect I went the wrong way from the station and added a bit extra to the run length. The route back to Elwood much the same as a couple of months ago when I ran Belgrave. Apart from staying on Ferny Creek trial a bit longer before joining Ferntree Gully rd, the last 26 km was a familiar path. Warmed up and became a two drink stop day so the extra weight associated with carrying a $10 note was worth it. Slow progress through the construction site underneath Murrumbeena station but starting to look quite impressive. First hot day for a while, suspect there are more ahead.
BELGRAVE. 4/8/2018. 166th Run. 36.1 km.
Yet another long run distance record with Belgrave being an end of line run. With my wife in Torquay for a training camp I was under no time pressure and having left home with the intent of running from Mooroolbark, the 18 min wait at Richmond was a less attractive option than the immediate departure of the Belgrave line. Another course change during transit meant another navigation error early in the run. Got to Tecoma station and had to make small backtrack due to dead end. One day I will learn that lesson. Belgrave is a beautiful area with a single train line so short delay at Upwey, Contemplated visiting Puffing Billy but this run was already long enough, maybe another day. Had a nice traffic management lollipop man walk mr through some roadworks which was nice but I think he was bored and looking for something to do. Experimented by buying an oat bar and eating as an early lunch as I went - not bad. Home by 2:00 pm and glad to be out of the wind.