Sydney - the Encore

Hmmmm thought I better finish the Sydney posts before I set off on my next big hairy arsed adventure.

So what do you do after a rockin' big race the next day - you get up and lace up and get out there before breakfast, that's what!   At Alison's urging we decided to go for a shake out walk through Hyde Park and through more parkland to Mrs Macquarie's Chair.  It would be good for our legs she said!

Looking a bit bleary eyed perhaps ...

Apparently we ran around this fountain during the race, I vaguely recall it ! ha.  

What a fantastic day it was yet again, the Harbour was looking magnificent.  

What a gorgeous view I'd never been down to this part of Sydney for this vista before.

We found Mrs. Macquarie's chair but hmmm Kellie was having a slow time maneuvering down the steps!   One slow step at a time!

Righto, checking Wikipedia it indicates that Mrs. Macquarie's Chair is an exposed standstone rock cut into the shape of a bench on a peninsular in Sydney Harbour, hand carved by convicts from standstone in 1810 for Governor Macquarie's wife Elizabeth.  Folklore has it that she used to sit on the rock and watch for ships from Great Britain sailing into the harbour.

Well the chair has now sported three running girls from South-West Victoria!

So from there Alison decided to go for a run to the Opera House, 

what a view, how lucky the people of Sydney are to run around this area.

Kellie and I decided to just wander so we had a bit of a look around and then wandered through the beautiful Botanic Gardens back through Hyde Park to the motel for breakfast and packing.

We left the cases at the motel to collect later and went for a wander down town.  I sent this pic to Mike and told him I was looking for some after race bling to take home!  ha.  Whenever we saw someone wearing a Marathon Finishers shirt we made sure we congratulated them, got a few big smiles!

Our plan was to treat ourselves at a lovely tea rooms at Queen Victoria Building, we had spotted it on the Saturday and promised ourselves a spoil-yourselves-morning-tea.  Of course wearing race bling!   And we thoroughly enjoyed it.

One last train trip down to Circular Quay for a wander and a goodbye to Sydney, back to the motel to collect our cases and then taxi to the airport.

Until next time Sydney, an awesome weekend, I will return!

Sydney - the Prelude

Okay, well sooooo much happened last weekend I'm going to have to divide it into three posts, so bear with me.

Sydney - the Prelude

Sydney - the Main Event

Sydney - the Encore

So the Prelude ...

Friday afternoon three very excited runners made their way to Avalon Airport, thanks to Alison driving.  And it was a sign.  In our uncanny way amongst our closest friends in our Athletics Group that we turn up wearing the same colours - we've even done it for the plane flight - all wearing stripes!  It was a sign!

The flight to Sydney and we got in before the scheduled 7pm and decided on a taxi rather than working out the train system.  I think the poor driver thought we were checking up on him, we all had our mobile phones out and he kept explaining the one way streets that he really *was* on his way to our accommodation.  Except he took a wrong turn so turned the meter off and made his way back to where he was meant to be going.  So there's a tip people, you won't get ripped off in a taxi if they think you're GPS checking up on them!  

We were delighted by our accommodation at Hyde Park Inn.   I can well and truly recommend it - in terms of location (right opposite Hyde Park),  location to the train stations (within a very easy walk to both Museum Station round the corner and Town Hall Station a couple of blocks away), and the accommodation itself was exactly like the picture and the slight problem we had with the fridge not working they actually replaced the fridge for us.   The accommodation also gave us free continental breakfast, free newspapers, free wifi and there was free parking (if we had a car, which we didn't).

Alison found a nice pizza/pasta place around the corner called Macchiato, and we were ready for a feed so headed down there post haste.   Ended up with a flirty waiter who asked me for my ID, hahahaha.  Well it was a bit dim in there, the girls quickly got out their phones and used the torches for the menu!  Got to love their ingenuity.  You can take the girls out of the country but ...

Up and ready on Saturday morning to explore we headed to the Expo to pick up our race pack and drop off our bags to the bag drop - warm clothing and anything we needed after the race would be taken to the end for us tomorrow.   I tried on a number of the Asics event tops but they are all such super slim fitting and didn't suit me at all.  I came away with a nice cotton t-shirt with the event on it, which I actually liked a lot better and I have been wearing it ad nauseum this week with jeans.  I also bought some mandarin GU which has been my favourite flavour of late, tastes like Fanta!  What's not to love about that.   The GU man (well what do you call him, he seemed to be a GU aficionado) was showing us the new GU wafers about to come out, a pre-run snack to have to keep the hunger pangs away. 

So right, event bag dropped we headed back to the hotel to take our all important race bibs back so we didn't cart them all over the city and decided we should do a trial run to the event start for tomorrow, being that it would involve a train trip.  Nothing like being prepared.  We had bought our Opal card and timed our walk to the Town Hall Station and then the train trip to Milsons Point.   

Silly me, I don't know what I was thinking, we were on the train and I looked out and it was my first glance at the Harbour, and then the penny dropped.  WE WERE ON THE BRIDGE!  But were we?  I'm looking out the window for the bridge, is it possible we were on the bridge or another bridge?  And I'm asking all these questions out loud in the train to anyone who would listen to me ... "Are we on the bridge, noooo we're not on the bridge, are we? OH MY GOD WE'RE ON THE BRIDGE!!"  

Apologies to my travelling companions for being such a dork!

So we we were glad to have done this trial run to Milsons Point so we knew exactly what we were to do the next day and could work backwards so we knew what time to leave the accommodation.  So we had a little wander down Milsons Point, I'd never been over there, it was great seeing the Bridge and the Opera House from this unique angle.   And as you can see it was a magnificent day.  We were just relishing being in short sleeves after leaving such a cold Victoria.

So as the tourists we were, we thought a ferry trip would be in order so decided on a ferry to Darling Harbour.  Inside or outside?  Doh, was there any question.  We enjoyed the scenery as we sailed.

We really didn't want to walk too far, so took a very easy stroll to the Queen Vic Building to our meet up with the other ladies from the 12WBT Runners Connect group.  Although on the way Alison and I were accosted by "Giovanni" from some beauty salon.

First rule of thumb ... DON'T MAKE EYE CONTACT !!

Too late, he had us in the store and sat down and started applying gunk to our eyes.  He doesn't just take any woman off the street you know, he only takes those he thinks he can help!  What a line!  Need to work on your flattering skills Giovanni.  Once the $300 bottle of diamond dusted encrusted gunk was presented to us, Alison and I hightailed it out of there.  Oh Lordy Lord.

Lunch at the Jet Bar at QVB, yay, getting to meet the Sydney contingent from our runners group was surreal.  It was actually hard to take pictures in the cafe as it was dull inside so by the time the cameras came out a number of the ladies had left.  But not before I got these shots.  I also got to meet my RDU buddy Tamra in the bright pink shirt, we cat and mouse all the time on Run Downunder.

And after lunch we got to see some of the delicacies at Zumbo.  I didn't even trust myself with one macaron, it all looked too amazing.

We utilised the kitchenette in our room that night and Kellie, Alison and I had pasta with a plain tomato napoli topping, parmesan cheese and a bread roll for dinner and it was perfect.  I didn't even do a 'Flat Carol' like I usually do, this was as good as it got.  Red on red, that means fast right?

Alarm set for stupid o'clock 4am wake up as we would want to leave the accommodation by 5am the next day, we said our good nights and I'll honestly say I had one of the best nights sleep pre-race than I've had before.   More to come in the next post.  Stay tuned.

Bush walking

Forgive me blog for I have sinned, not keeping up.  I'm out there running and being active, so that's my excuse.  I'm on holiday from work, spent some time in Daylesford with mum, oh heck haven't even uploaded those photos either.  I'll do some scrapbook pages so you can check them out then.  Here's a quick pic at Trentham Falls.  I also ran in Daylesford both mornings I was there - round the lake one morning and from Daylesford to Hepburn Springs and back to Daylesford the next morning.  Uphill against a head wind all the way back.  Who's great idea was that one!!  

And then last weekend Mike and I decided to go bushwalking, just up at the Picaninny at the Grampians, not one of the grander mounts because I wasn't sure how Mike would go.  I have climbed Mt. Abrupt (see below) before but Mike, even with the bravado, I'm not sure he was up to that just yet.  

The aim of the day was that Mike wanted to get some nice photos to use as inspiration for painting and I wanted to take wildflower photos.  They are on my big girl camera which I still haven't downloaded.  These photos are from my phone.  I carried a Nathan water bottle round my waist which was very welcome as the weather was warm.

It was a magnificent day, so beautiful.  Some pics of the trail.

A lovely view from the top, we sat a while and chatted with some other people up there.

Mike decided to do a Ussaine Bolt impersonation, or was that him telling the time from the direction of the sun, you be the judge.

And being that he wanted a good pic of Mt. Sturgeon and you couldn't see it through the trees from where we were, he decided to go off track.  Yes, it's moments like this that gives your wife a heart attack Mike!

All in all a fantastic day, we had previously bought salad sandwiches from Dunkeld and had them in the esky so when we got back to the car we sat down at the picnic table and ate our lunch, chatting to more people who had just arrived.  Yep, we are a couple of chatters we too!  

We have this area just a mere 1 hour north of us, we need to get up there more often for sure.  Mike has made it his goal to climb Mt. Sturgeon so fair warning, he's in training!!

Brisbane and back !

Since my last post I have had a lovely long weekend up in Brisbane with my bestie and family.  It was just what we both needed, not having seen each other in three years.  How has that happened?  We have become so reliant on the instant technology of phones and emails and texts and facetime, that time passes us by and we don't realise how long it's been since we were face to face.  Added to the fact we don't live in the same state kind of has something to do with it to.   We have vowed never to leave it that long again.

A couple of pics of a fantastic few days which we packed a lot into.  Brisbane however is hot.  Steamy hot.  Steamy hot like you've just walked into the bathroom where someone has had the hot water going in the shower hot.  I guess it's something you get used to, but the same temps down here feels nothing like what I experienced up there.

So on the Saturday I had my first foray into Costco, oh my goodness.  It was nuts!  And Saturday night we went into Southbank to eat and enjoy the riverfront and market.  So many people, it was fun to people watch when we were at the restaurant.  Remember, they sit the beautiful people outside (that's always been my motto!!) and we were outside!!

Candid pic of S and family at the market.  Tee hee, they didn't know I took this and got them all in it.

Brisbane by night is beautiful.  I even got a few light sparkle flares in this pic, 

even without the tripod - I had balanced my camera on my camera bag.

This Brisbane sign was really lovely, the colours of the letters kept changing.

A bit mesmerising.

And we went up the Wheel of Brisbane.  Such a gorgeous night time view from the top

although the windows of the cabin things we were in were a bit gritty so

it was hard to take a clear pic.   Having said that, how gorgeous does it look

in all it's green and gold splendour.

And we had a very unique icecream from Nitrogenie.

Icecream using Liquid Nitrogen.  And it was amazingly delicious!

On Saturday we hit the road.  Can I say, thank goodness for a car with Air Conditioning!

The weather was like a steam bath outside. 

We got a gorgeous view (according to my notes but I stand to be corrected)

somewhere in the Blackhall Range area.

We exercised our legs on a fantastic walk through the Mapleton Falls area.

Absolutely gorgeous.

Love this pic of my fave family.

And we saw the beautiful Glass House Mountain Range.  

So unique, these mountainous structures just popping out of the ground.

Thank you Mark, will treasure this pic!

Despite over the weekend I was missing my furbabies big time,

I did get a lot of puppy cuddles from Otto.

How beautiful is this face, he's too pretty to be a boy!

And the shy Miss Tilly with the white eyelashes.  

Now THIS is a pretty dog.

Australia Day we made pav, had roast lamb, how patriotic

and just hung out and created great memories. 

I got my Lego on with Daniel.

And Eliza played the piano for me, it was so beautiful she brought me to tears.

I wish I had taped it, classical piano playing of the finest.

And Sonia and I were definately not couch potatos, we went out for a walk.

There was no running in Brisbane.  I've been told if you want to run you need to be out

at 5am to beat the heat.  This was 7.30am or so and honestly by the time we got home

it was as if I had jumped into a pool fully clothed, my running gear was wet through.

Now I need to tell you a wee little story about my trip home.   And I will ask you for your honest answer.  If you had checked in, and your boarding pass had your gate number printed on it, would you have bothered looking at the departures screen?  Not I !  Why would I.

So I'm sitting there at Gate 23 a bit early (mind you I was at the airport nice and early so I had just meandered about a bit) and the flight was going to Sydney at that gate was just boarding.  No matter, my plane must be the next, so I sat myself down and waited.  And waited.  I suddenly thought hmmm there's no plane taxiing up to the gate here, maybe I better go look at the board, there's only about 10 mins till my flight takes off.

Then I hear my name over the loudspeaker, Passenger G, last call for Passenger G, your plane has boarded at Gate 17.  And even then I thought, huh, there's someone here with the same name as me!  Until the penny dropped, it was me they were calling.  And I was at Gate 23.  Well no one was safe in my path, I ran like there was no tomorrow and got to the Gate out of breath.  She told me to calm down, breathe, okay and board.  So I got on the plane, averted eye contact with everyone, mind you the hostesses were getting their show and tell stuff ready in the centre aisle for the safety demonstration.

We live and learn huh?

Thanks for a great weekend my bestie, we will NOT leave it so long until the next one.  XX

Pain in the butt !

Okay so my sore back has moved itself down to my butt.  Mike really has a good excuse to call me a right royal pain in the arse now, doesn't he! ha.  It's actually feeling heaps better I will admit.  I did the third Flaggy Summer Series race on Wednesday night, but decided to walk it.  Man oh man that was tough watching all the runners fly on by.   I did test myself a bit in the last five minutes and did a very slow run back.  All seemed okay.  I'm making sure I use my roller now after my runs to iron out my butt kinks! ha.

Now that I'm having Friday's off work, it's a nice chance to go out early for a run.   What a prize I got this morning, the sky sure did put a show on for me.  So beautiful.  I did a very easy 3.7km, I don't want to go nuts too soon, I do want to run another day!

So someone who has a slight injury, what would she do, do you think?  Hmmm, enter more races!  You'll see the list on the right hand side of this page has grown just a tad.  Eeeeek two half marathons this year!  How did that happen.  Not to mention I have now entered the Great Rail Run too.  I fear I'll be the last over the line, if there's a field of only 150, but it fits in perfectly with a required 16km run on my half marathon training plan, eh what's another km right?  So being that it's perfect timing I thought why not actually enter an event instead of just running for the sake of running at home.

I want to do the training for this half marathon smarter this time.  There's a podcast I like to listen to put out by Trevor and Angie of Marathon Training Academy.   I like their holistic approach to training for a race and doing so injury free.   So I'm taking their Half Marathon training plan on board this time round.  I had to convert miles to kms but I'm good, I have it typed up on a spreadsheet on the fridge, with week numbers and dates and what I will be doing.   Stay tuned! 

This weekend I'm off to Brisbane to meet up with my bestie.  I'm so excited, I can't believe it's been so long since we were face to face.  Email and texts and facetime will do that to you, time goes by too quickly.   So there will be stories to tell, rest assured.