Pichi Richi Half Marathon June 29

Time to pack our bags and head off again. We do our usual routine of staying out at the airport, sleep is so very important in the lead up to a run. We know we have a big drive 3.5-4 hours tomorrow from the airport to Port Augusta, so we are in bed early. 

The alarm goes off, and I'm excited to be heading to somewhere I've never been before, in fact, neither of us have actually stopped there, (Darren drove through years ago' if that counts). We head to the gate after picking up our routine lattes. The flight is non eventful, before we know it we are in Adelaide. We make our way to the car hire, and pick up our cute little Hyundai. 

We drive the few hours to Port Pirie and stop for lunch. It's freezing, although blue skies are trying to break through.

Port Pirie

Our long drive!

It doesn't take much time to arrive in Port Augusta after lunch, and we find our accommodation  and check in. We are located on S pincer Gulf, and although the temperature is in single digits, we layer up and go for a walk. 

Spencer Gulf

We head back to our room, to watch some AFL before heading out to our pasta dinner, hosted by the rotary club. I love when events host a pasta night prior to our event. It's great to talk to the locals and share our journey.

We head off in the dark for dinner, and for the life of me, after 2-3 u-turns, I just cannot work out how to arrive at our destination!  I eventually call the rotary club, and receive directions, which sees us making yet another u-turn.

Our night is great. We share our story and everyone is genuinely interested in our goal. After a great meal, we head back to our room. We were shocked to find out that the start line is not in Port Augusta, but in Quorn!! This means we will be up even earlier in the morning now.

The alarm god off, we go through our usual routine, and are in the car on our way before long. I am thankful for our late checkout, there is no way we would have been able to get back, showered and packed up in time! It is still cold, well, actually, freezing. Drizzle is forecast! 

We arrive at the footy oval, park our car, and head to the bus, which will take us 21km back through a winding hilly road. I sit there freezing, I think my lips are blue. Darren doesn't say much as we wait for the bus to transport is to the start line.

We get out of the bus, and I am thankful to see that there is a fire to keep us warm! What a fabulous idea!

Me keeping warm!

Before long, we start our run, and my count down begins. Darren heads off early and I am left alone to pound the hilly roads.

Darren is waiting for me at the finish line, and he has had a good run. With 16kms of up hill and only 5km of flat road, he loved the beautiful countryside, having never been to the area prior.

I wouldn't say I didn't enjoy the run,mi loved the Flindes Ranges, but I didn't like the drizzle, and I certainly DID NOT like the hills, any of the 16km of them!! As I ran, I found someone's running bib, and didn't think twice about picking it up and handing it in at the next drink station. After all, your running bib is the one thing that stays with you for every kilometre. To some, and to me, my bib is something I cherish!

Some of the sights....

Well I arrive at the finish line, and have to queue up for my medal with all the 10km runners. Quite disappointing to have to queue for so long. I'm cold, I'm tired, I'm hungry (nothing changes there), and just want to get the bling and leave. 

And another event over with. We drive back to Adelaide to catch our flight, with a few minutes to spare! We are happy to be heading home, injury free, another event under our belts. I am so looking forward to our next one....Broome!! Mid 20's every day! Can't wait for sunshine and Cable Beach!

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.

Brimbank Running Festival

We leave home just after 7am. It is 6 degrees! Luckily we have heated seats and the temperature in the car is 22! We have both used the DoTerra Blue Rub on our legs, it's smell reminds us of deep heat, without the burning and stickiness. Car smells awesome! We drink our TORQ energy drink on the way, not the carbonated drink type. It is a milky type consistency and tastes yum.

Just over an hour later we are driving into Brimbank park, the temperature is 12 degrees and feels like 6 degrees still. We head down to the registration desk, and pick up our bibs. 

We head back to the car, and wait half an hour before start. It's still cold; freezing!!

Just before 9am we head to the start line, and listen to the instructions. We catch up with Paula, one of our running buddies. Before we know it, we are told to start, and we head off. We are not allowed to run with headphones, and I am missing my music already! 

Darren felt the scenery was very picturesque. It was a great scenery run, and was very cautious with his left quad. The DoTerra blue rub worked a treat! No pain at all! He ran wit me most of the run, only up the huge incline did he get so far ahead of me that I couldn't see him.

The scenery was pretty. I stopped a few times and took some photos. There is no point running so fast that you don't enjoy what's around you, that's my take anyway.

The skies had cleared, and weather was amazing!

We were overwhelmed by the size of the Buddha!

The one difference with this run to any others we have done so far was the other runners. Sure, usually a few will say hi or keep going, or well done. But I think most runners that we went past offered encouragement. It was really good comradere. We were also appreciative of the drink stations, tables with lollies, watermelon, chocolate and bananas!  Very well organised run!

As we approach the 16 kilometre mark, that HILL awaited! The incline was tough! It was 313M after all!!! I ran for the most part of it, but by two thirds of the way, I had to walk. The sun was shining down on us, and once I reached the top, I knew there was only a couple of Km's between me and the finish. It's a mind game. Without my music, I had to listen to naure. I did also do a lot of counting.....

1, 2, 1, 2, 1234, etc...

It was great to run through the finish line together!

Our awesome medals to add to our already full medal holders!

No spare space for medals, oh, and my new bike 😃

We didn't break any records today, well maybe elevation. Our goal of finishing without injury reached again. Our next run is next weekend's Puffing Billy run, and on Saturday I'm doing the 19km Hanging Rock run. Stay tuned for more of us, running away xxx

ANZAC Run April 2014

It may be a long weekend, an extra long weekend, but that doesn't stop us setting a 6am alarm for today's run.

Darren's hip has given him a bit of grief since last weeks run in Canberra and as we drive up to the city he says he hopes it holds up.

This reminds me how important it is for us to complete our events without injury. I'm not sure I would want to run an event interstate knowing Darren was on the side line; he says he would try twice as hard and run for both of us. Let's hope we don't have to visit that this year!

It's an amazing sunrise this morning and we marvel at it as we drive out of our home town. We have Billy with us this morning; he is running in his aunty's place, my little sister who is nursing an injured foot. Billy is fairly quiet all the way to the city; it's his first event with Darren and I. He is studying year 12, and aspires to study medicine; I figure a run will be as good for his health as anything.

We park the car and walk the couple of km's to the start line. We drop our bag at the bag drop area and meet up with a friend we haven't seen for a while. It's his first fun run and he is caught up in the atmosphere.

Pre run

We head to the start line and there is a small service before we head off. The last post echoes through the morning and gives me goose bumps; it always has. We head off, I don't see Billy till the end of the run, nor Darren. The Tan is not an easy run; it never has been for me. Anderson st is my nemesis and I run most of the way up, but end up giving in and have to walk on both laps. I run past a guy who has a t-shirt on that's says he is an ANZAC's grandson and a Vietnam vet's son; he is running proud. This hits home as to why we acknowledge ANZAC day.

Darren ran at one speed, not wanting to hurt himself. About halfway through he was a bit sore, but finished with no injury=mission accomplished!

I run through the finish line, collect my medal and there are some servicemen not too far away. I have my photo with them; and our friend Craig, then go find Darren and Billy.

We are hungry and head down to Richmond to refuel. Soon we are on our way home, another run complete.

Time for a stretch and rest! Next run: Brimbank Trail series half marathon, Sunday 27 April.

Australian Running Festival April 2014

Our 4th half marathon is upon us. Canberra bound we are. Darren picks me up from work on Friday afternoon, and once again, we head out to the airport. Runway view room again, only we are not as excited as last time. The night is dark, cloudy and drizzling, not great conditions to watch the planes take off and land. Oh well, dinner in our room it is.

We head to the terminal in the morning, stopping at Gloria Jeans for a Creme brûlée latte. We head to the gate, and soon after, board our plane. It is a short 55 minute flight to Canberra airport, neither of us have flown into Canberra before. It is a great airport, very clean and modern. We walk to the taxi rank and before we know it have arrived at our hotel. 

We check in, even though it's only 10.30 in the morning, take our bags to our room, and head outside. it is glorious outside; it's been cold and wet at home. We walk down to the museum and spend some time marvelling at the displays. We walk back to the other side of Canberra towards the gallery, where we have purchased tickets to see the Gold and the Inca exhibition. We marvel at the gold, the handcrafted drinking vessels, and the gold, then have a quick look at the Sidney Nolan display; he is one of my favourite artists.

The afternoon is passing all too quickly, and we make our way to the Australian War memorial. It is quite a walk up Anzac parade, and we stop and look at the memorials along the way. Inside the Australian War memorial we take a wander through the displays and then position ourselves for the last post. We are privileged to witness a memorial service for one of the WWII diggers. The last posts echoes through the late afternoon, and we leave to make tracks back to the hotel. We think we must have walked a half marathon already!

We decide on pasta for dinner, and find a place that delivers; no more walking for today. Our delivery arrives, we eat, watch footy, then prepare for our early morning departure. We must walk 3.7km to the start line.

I try to take it easy walking to the start, but Darren is a stride or 3 ahead of me. Soon we catch up to other runners, and I am still quite happy to take it slow; I didn't want to use all my energy getting to the start line.

At the start line area, we ask a lady to take our photo and she explains that this is her first half marathon. I tell her it's our 4th for the year, and that we are running in every state and territory in Australia this year. She gets excited and asks me if I'm 'Sharon', when I answer yes, she says "you must be Darren" and explains she had been reading our blog. Life became too busy to keep up with posts, and I hadn't posted for almost 2 months, but I am inspired knowing that it really is read by people and inspires others. Even though I didn't catch her name! this post is for you!

We head to the start line, and Darren gives me his customery kiss on the cheek? I tell him I'll see him at the finish line as always. It's a single lap course so I'm not sure that I will see him out there. It's a well organised run, lots of drink stations, wide paths, and amazing scenery. I must admit, it was exciting running around Parliament House with the Australian Federal Police on the side of the road. 

It is quite warm in the sun, and at the 16km mark I see a man on the ground I a red singlet and black shorts, and I panic...I hope it's not Darren. As I get closer the paramedics are looking after him, and I am relieved; firstly that he is ok, secondly that it's not Darren. I push on, a few hills, and soon I hear my Runkeeper announce it's 20km, yet the sign post says 19km. Oh dear! I think I am going to have to run an extra kilometre. Sure enough, I run through the finish line and it is 22km in total. I'm spent, Darren is spent. We eat, drink and then slowly walk back to our room. We shower, them jump in the pool for a while. The water is cool, not the 27 degrees we thought it was, but the water is good for us, so we stay.

We spend the afternoon eating and relaxing before our flight home. I'm exhausted, I just want to sleep. Soon we land, and drive home. I unpack the bare essentials, hug and kiss the boys, then head to bed. Sleep comes so easy on the night after a half marathon, and come to think of it, the following night too. We are sore for the usual 2 days, by Wednesday we are feeling pretty normal again, and talking about the 'next' one.

Our next run however, isn't a half marathon, it's the ANZAC run on Easter Monday, a 10km run. It's going to be pretty special as an inaugural run, but special as ny middle son, Billy, is doing the run, in place of my little sis who is nursing an injured foot at the moment.

I'll keep you posted in a couple of days about that run.

Happy Easter

Xx