Upfield Line. (Part 2). Moreland to Upfield.

MORELAND. 20/6/2018. Run 154. 17.6 km.

A horrible run. Not physically, but emotionally. Wednesday night after work run which started badly when my journey planner gave me a bum steer. Overcame the slow start and got to Moreland by 6:10 pm. Normal Sydney Rd to Royal Pde route but in Princes Park took a detour to pay respect at the memorial of Eurydice Dixon. One week after her murder and still a lot of people and a lot of tears gathered. Not sure how long I stood there - but when I finally left I was terribly distracted. I have 3 daughters and the emotion of visiting the site affected me. This treatment of women has got to stop. I didn’t write down much about this run when I got home. Just didn’t seem so important - This run was overshadowed by more important things.

COBURG. 1/4/2017. Run 34. 19.8 km.

Had my first real break (5 days) since starting the challenge due to my birthday and business travel. Caught the Saturday morning train into the city and just missed the Upfield connection - on a weekend that’s a 20 minute penalty. Finally got to Coburg at 8:45 am but at least still a cool morning. Left the station and cut through a carpark - not a great idea on a Saturday morning and then across to Sydney Rd. The car park wasn’t the only place for lots of traffic and Sydney Rd on a Saturday morning isn’t the ideal casual running spot. Nice run into the city through Parkville and then chose the Bourke St Mall to cut across to St Kilda Rd. I love the atmosphere on a nice morning in the CBD. Slightly overcast as I headed home but nice running conditions so took the opportunity to run along Elwood canal.

BATMAN. 4/4/2018. Run 134. 20.2 km.

Left work with the intent to do Merlynston but the tram was late going into the city. That meant I missed the planned Upfield train and had to settle for the next train. It was already getting dark so I decided that I would save some time and distance and do Batman instead. Getting familiar with this direction home so simple run down Sydney Rd, through Parkville and Royal Pde into the city. Was intending to run down St Kilda Rd but with all the road works associated with Metro tunnel, detoured back onto Queens Rd and then Fitzroy St. Starting to get dark so kept to the well lit streets for a variety of reasons. Home by 8 pm and nice conditions made for good run.

MERLYNSTON. 25/7/2018. Run 163. 20.8 km.

Wednesday night run but still feeling a bit sore from long Sunday run (Ferntree Gully). Assumed the soreness would go away once I warmed up but no such luck - stayed with me the whole way. Eased off the paced but that helped when I took a phone call from Peter (ex Mars) and was able to talk for 20 mins as I went. Ran through the city and noticed that it was the downhills that seemed the hardest. Passed another booze bus in Lakeside Drive, not very stressful if your not driving. Easy run from there as mostly flat. Not one of the more enjoyable runs. Just hope I’ve run the soreness out by the weekend.

FAWKNER. 12/8/2017. Run 79. 21.4 km.

More train line maintenance meant another change to my plans. Was originally heading off to do the Sunshine station but no loop trains meant early arrival at Flinders St station and saw the option to go to Fawkner and jumped on. Any of the long run options will do at this stage. Followed Sydney Rd for almost 8 km with one small detour to visit a house in Lobb St. This was party central in my first year of uni. Looked very different now. Back out onto Bell St and past Pentridge prison. All the stations out this way have easy navigation as it’s easy to run a straight line. Royal Pde and into the city then just stayed on St Kilda Rd to the junction and finally Barkley into Elwood. Back feeling better after struggling of late. Be positive.

GOWRIE. 25/4/2018. Run 138. 23.3 km.

ANZAC day run so chose a course that would take me past the Shrine. Got a ride to Elsternwick station with my ever helpful wife but just missed the connection at Southern Cross. Finally got to Gowrie and started the well trodden path down Sydney Rd and into the city. Lucky I wasn’t trying to achieve a good time as roads in the CBD were blocked at Flinders St as the ANZAC parade was still going. Took a while to find a way around the crowds but finally got onto St Kilda Rd and headed to the Shrine to pay my respects. Nice to run along side the parade. Met my wife Mary who had also run to the Shrine and we were able to run down Queens Rd together. Mary then headed off in another direction and I headed home. Not a super fast run overall but running with the veterans - Special.

UPFIELD. 17/2/2018. Run 123. 26.9 km.

End of line run. Got a super fast start to the day so I could get to Torquay for lunch. Caught the 7:03 am and had best ever change at Southern Cross where I only had to walk across the platform for an instant departure - most excellent. Virtually half this run was along Sydney Rd. 13km before I hit Royal Pde. But better than running the other way - if I had turned left when I left the station, then the end of Sydney Rd would be more like 800 km. Got a glimpse of the city as I got onto Sydney Rd whilst in Campbellfield and it did look a long way away. But otherwise an uneventful and very straight run. No real interest on taking any variations today as starting to heat up and running to a schedule. Got home around 10:30 am and with a quick shower and change - I made the lunch in Torquay - goal achieved.