Hurstbridge Line. (Part 2) Fairfield to Macleod.

FAIRFIELD. 4/6/2018. 148th Run. 15.3 km.

Mostly a good run on what started out as a nice afternoon. Got away from work a bit early and caught the 5:06 pm 109 tram to Southern Cross. Thought I got lucky to catch the 5:26 pm express from Jolimont to Clifton Hill but it moved so slowly at times it may as well have stopped to let passengers off. Simple run early on but my route from Heidelberg Rd onto Punt Rd was not the best, next time I’ll do better. Then crossing over the Eastern Fwy was made more difficult by road works. It meant crossing back and forth until finally clear of the area. Straight run down Punt Rd after that up the hill and down to St Kilda junction. Threating rain turned to light showers turned to rain turned to heavy rain all in about 5 km. Whilst I thought I might get home dry at one stage, turns out I got soaked in the last two kilometres. Still better than getting wet in the first two.

ALPHINGTON. 23/5/2018. 145th Run. 17.9 km.

Another after work run where the logistics worked quite well. Tram to city and train to Alphington meant I was there by about 5:40 pm. Easy start as lots of barriers protecting road / rail works so hard to go wrong leaving the station. Got onto Heidelberg Rd near Grange Rd and headed past Yarra Bend Park. Lots of bats and just on dusk made it feel like a vampire movie - eerie. Cut through the back streets and onto Punt near Clifton Hill station. More delays getting over the Eastern due to roadworks and then cut across to Chapel St so I could call in on friends, but again no one home so I just headed back to Elwood.

DAREBIN. 25/2/2017. 23rd Run. 19.5 km.

Caught the Saturday morning train with Eliza again as she continues to look for houses. Early in this challenge means 19.5 km is a long run and I was glad I had my phone for directional checks. First confusion was when I hit the Yarra River at the end of Power St and didn’t know whether to go left or right on Riversdale Rd. Phone check. Back on track and then decided to turn right onto Malvern Rd but that didn’t feel right after about 200 m. Phone check. Cut through some back Streets and onto Westbury St which finally meant I got lost in some alley ways looking for a short cut. Phone check. All up my shortcuts probably added an extra kilometre but it was a nice day to “explore”. All good.

IVANHOE. 13/6/2018. 151st Run. 17.9 km.

Quite an adventure This was a reorganized photo shoot for the Age newspaper story that had been delayed from previous weekend run from Broadmeadows. Left work and timed it nicely to arrive at Ivanhoe just before the 6 pm meeting time and just before the rain started. I thought taking a photo would take about 7 mins but an hour later the photographer finally had a photo he liked. That meant standing in the rain in my shorts and t-shirt. Admittedly he had a blanket and I sat in his van during set ups, but it was still cold. It was just on 7 pm when I left the station, cold, wet and hungry, but still with a 18 km run ahead of me. At least once I started running I warmed up and half way home it stopped raining. Which meant I could have dried out a bit except for the puddles and the splashes from passing cars. Still once your wet its hard to get wetter - just chaffing becomes an issue. Not the most comfortable run but finally got the photo shoot out of the way.

EAGLEMONT. 19/11/2017. 102nd Run. 20 km.

Another of the hot days. I intended to catch the 8:03 am from Elsternwick to beat some of the heat but it wasn’t running so had to wait for the 8:23. Transitioned through Parliament and by the time I got to Eaglemont it was already 23 degrees. No way it was going to get cooler in the next few hours. Crossed the Eastern Freeway and headed up the Princess St hill. I have run this hill before but I’m sure it is steeper when the temperature is near 30. They have started widening the crossing of the Yarra which should remove a significant bottleneck in peak hour. Stopped to buy a drink in Hawthorn as too hot to carry one at this time of the year. Then got stopped in Balaclava to help an older gentleman and I guess his grand daughter find Luna Park. Just needed to know which tram. Heat always ruins a nice run so glad to be home.

HEIDELBERG. 1/8/2018. 165th Run. 19.8 km.

Pretty straight forward run after work on a Wednesday night. Short run to catch the 109 tram and arrived at Southern Cross just as Greensborough train was leaving. Doubted myself a bit when we got to Parliament so jumped off, checked the platform monitor and back on - all good, right train going to the right place. So called express from Jolimont to Clifton Hill but pretty slow to be honest and finally got to Heidelberg at about 5:55 pm. Executed my normal clumsy exit of the station but finally on track. Past by the Ivanhoe station and took a selfie in the same spot as the age photographer for comparison and then similar run home as Ivanhoe run a few weeks before. Spoke to a group at the Amex business and told them about my run tonight so glad I actually did the run I told them I was planning.

ROSANNA. 27/6/2018. 156th Run. 21.6 km.

Longish after work run where again the logistics of getting there was half the battle. First problem was with my Myki card that didn’t “tap” off properly and wouldn’t let me through the gates at Southern Cross Station. Had to run back to the office, wait my turn, then run back to the platform. Missed my target train by at least at peak hour they are not too far apart. Then train / track problems coming into Clifton Hill meant another wait to change tracks. Finally at Rosanna, new station not quite complete but nice. Certainly nicer than the hill on Lower Plenty Rd to start my run home. Ironically at the top of the hill the road changes to Upper Heidelberg Rd. From then on I was in familiar territory and on a cool night and no wind it was a nice run. Bridge on Punt Rd over freeway was reopen to pedestrians so no delay tonight. A truck driver, who appropriate gave way to me, got tooted by a car so I gave the driver an earful, he swore back at me but the truck driver gave me the thumbs up. Good times. Home a bit late due to the start but happy with the run.

MACLEOD. 17/6/2017. 63rd Run. 22.9 km.

Another weekend opportunity to get a ride to Elsterwick station with my wife Mary. Quick change over at Parliament and at Macleod by 10:20 am. First 2 km slight downhill but then big(ish) hill. At least having hills early is better than late in the run. Not long before I was back on the roads I used to take to work when I was at Chocolatier. Phone rang as I was about to cross the Yarra river in Alphington. Celeste (daughter) had noticed the front door to her apartment block had been smashed and wasn’t sure who to call. At least with headphones I could talk and keep running. Took the more scenic route back through Burnley and didn’t get lost so happy with that. Not a bad run but some of those hills are going to be awkward as the weather heats up.