#studley park

“Wyoming House,” Studley Park, Melbourne, Australia,

That's about how much it took to unsettle my stride along the river bank. Melbourne has had its biggest deluge in the last 150 years and it showed on many parts of the Studley park trail. Some parts were washed away scoured down to the rock. Other parts were lakes of mud which the off-road cyclist had churned to a quagmire. Still more narrow parts along the river bank were treacherous - presenting great opportunity to practice balance and motion, I only misjudged the once. Not bad; one slip on the 16.20km trail run. Meanwhile the more undulating parts were perfect for running. 

The morning temperature of 6.4C (feels like 3.8C according to the Met) seemed a little chilly from the comfort of the apartment. But the sunny day was perfect for a t-shirt and shorts run.

This week is a recovery week; a completed 32.9km of planned total of 32.0km in three runs. A good training week. A week of 40.0km follows then an easier week of 28.6 then comes the peak weeks for the 'half' starting with a 'B' trail race. This race will be at Studley Park over the course I have been running the past few weeks.

In the next few months I have a number of races to look forward to, the distances and technical difficulties building to the 50km trail run at Maroondah Dam in February 2014. What have i planned, well it looks like this:

B    Studley Park Trail Run (15.0km) Sunday 30/6/13

A     Run Melbourne Half (21.1km) Sunday 21/7/13

B     Plenty Gorge Trail Run (17.0km) Sunday 28/7/13

B     Silvan dam Trail Run (21.0km) Sunday 28/8/13

B     Two Bays Trail Run (28.0km) Sunday 12/1/14

A     Maroondah Dam Trail Run (50.0km) 16/2/14

I intend to tackle this on a 50-80km a week training program. With regular massage and making a return to some WuChu training for stretching and balance work. Looking forward to it all.

In the mean time focus on building the distance and skills gradually - and enjoying the beautiful surrounds I run through - like the boathouse at Fairfield, with the swollen muddy Yarra River as foreground.

This week was steady progress on my running. A weeks total of 47.23km (don't you just get a giggle out of the accuracy of your GPS) with a invigorating 15.63km trail run through the beautiful Studley Park. It was a chilly 9C in the morning but as you can see a beautiful sunny 9C.

This weekend features one of the tough single stage races in Australia. It is the North face 100. The run is in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales -n terms of mountains it's the best we can do on an ancient continent. It is still one tough race. This years winner, Brendan Davies, tore around the course in an amazing course record of 9:17.

Meanwhile in the warmth of Melbourne I contemplated my race plans.

Over winter we have a great Trail Run series sponsored by Salomon. That is 3 races of 15, 17 and 21 kilometres. Each successive race over more challenging terrain and slightly longer distance. In between Race #1 and #2 I will run the half-marathon distance "Run Melbourne'. this should be interesting my first time to have a standard distance time - without doing a swim-bike combination beforehand.

Then there will be a break until the New Year. that will be kicked-off with the Two Bays trail Run. I'm going to run the 28km trail - they have a 56km run as well. That I will leave until the following year. Mid way through February is a classic on the Victorian calender - the Maroondah Dam trail run. That is where I will tackle my first ultra-distance run, 50km over some undulating and possibly hot conditions.

I've made plans for 2014 but that is enough for now. Leave you with a snapshot of the nesting flying foxes in the trees behind me.

Now I am a trail runner. Yes today's training was me running 18.2km, on a trail.

Melbourne was again stumped up some beautiful autumn weather. Those who whinge about it seriously do not get out and about enough. Sunny 18-23C for my run with a brisk northerly blowing up clouds of Studley Park leaves as I ran.

Studley Park was a magnificent venue to run. I followed (mostly apart from the bits where I ran too far or missed a turn) the 15km course set out for the upcoming Salomon Trail Running Series race #1. A windy and flat trail follows the swiftly flowing Yarra River. Running is mostly off bitumen and hard surfaces and is through eucalypt forest or across grassy fields.

Truly a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Plenty of bird-life and no snakes. Part of the run took me through the trees where the colony of flying foxes, marsupial bats, noisily roost during the daylight hours.

The peace was occasionally broken by mountain bike riders, a handful of walkers with their dogs, with not another runner in sight.

Tried out my new trail running shoes. Felt fantastic great grip and feel on the trail - recommend Trailroc 245 by Inov8. Sorry Salomon, these shoes or just the biz.