Barossa Running Festival May 25

It's Friday afternoon, we head to Bendigo. It's been a long few weeks for me, as I've been really sick. Kidney infection then a virus for a good couple of weeks. This meant we missed Puffing Billy and Hanging Rock, so there is next years unfinished business.

I'm worried about this run, with no training at all, and low energy levels, I can only hope we continue our injury free streak.

The night before we fly out we always stay at the airport. Nested of heading to the airport though, we have a concert to go to, not ideal, but hey, Dr Hook cannot be passed up, well one of the band. The traffic is horrendous through the city, but soon we are on the open road on our way to Bendigo, in Central Victoria. We meet Darren's parents and Aunty and her friend at a beautiful restaurant and enjoy pasta for dinner, before heading to the concert.nit means a late night, but after spending 3 weeks indoors, it's great to sit and relax and enjoy a laugh.

It's after 11pm when it finishes, and we head to McDonalds cafe for a cuppa. We drive the hour and a half back to the airport and check in; it's after midnight when we get to bed. Not ideal I know.

The following morning we are up at 5.30 to catch the plane to Adelaide before collecting the car to drive to the Barossa Valley.

We visit the Whispering Wall, where you can whisper from one end, and it can be heard at the other end. Quite amazing.

It was a beautiful day weather wise, and we enjoyed 'running' around everywhere

The Lavendar farm smelt amazing, and we stopped here for lavendar scones!

And no visit to the area would be complete without a visit to the Chateau

and The view from Lyndoch Hill

We arrive in Tanunda, and collect our bibs. Ah, NOW I feel like we are here for a run!

Back to the Novotel where we are staying for a shower and dinner, sleep will come easy tonight.

The alarm is set early, 6am to allow us to shower, coffee and have our customary banana.

It's cold at the start line, and we talk to a few other runners. The course is flat, and we are waiting right beside the grape vines.

The run is officially started, and we are off. Darren runs with me for the first 500m then he is gone. The kilometres tick over, and before I know it, it's the 5km mark. Suprisingly I feel ok. I feel a couple of other girls run next to me and we exchange encouragement, and then we start chatting. We approach the half way turnaround together, and the leader of the marathon passes us. WOW!!! We have a giggle as we say we are in second place hehehe.

I leave the girls a couple of Km's later, and am consumed by the surroundings. 

Darren going the other way

Darren, as always, is waiting at the finish line for me. I'm spent, and starving. My time isn't anything fantastic, but it's still a sub 2:30. Darren also finishes under 2:30, and we are happy to have spent some time in the Barossa and to finish yet another event, injury free.

We decide to drive back to Glenelg beach to walk some more and enjoy the beautiful sunny afternoon.

The sunset

Another half marathon under our belts. We are looking forward to Port Augusta. We have never visited that area and are excited at the thought of running in the Flinders Ranges.