So, Monday night saw me join my first ever Wooterval session (intervals with the Wooters – a running group with puns!! My kind of club). This was great. We warmed up along the path to Nobby’s lighthouse and then crossed over to the field just behind the beach where we ran our 6x 4 minute intervals with a 2 minute (I think) rest in between. We even did some awkward core work on the grass at the end. Then I ran the 5ish km home to Carro, a huge grin on my face. It felt good to try and run a bit faster again. This bodes well (I hope!) for my forthcoming debut into those Parkruns that I’ve heard so much about. Yep, I’ll be jumping on the bandwagon on Christmas day for a different take on my usual early morning Christmas run (I run every Christmas morning, in memory of my father, who together with his good chum Bob Smith, ran a Christmas run each year) and will finally pop around the corner to the Newy parkrun (which turns out is the Carrington one! Who knew…).
Friday night was the Friday Fruit Loops beach and trail run, which was just over 10km of relatively fast-paced trails through the Glenrock Reserve (and sand for the first and last bit – the start and end point was Merewether Ocean Baths). My FAVOURITE terrain to run on is those skinny, winding paths through the forest – so much fun speeding through surrounded by trees and jumping off occasional rocks and tree roots. After the run I took a friend’s wise advice to jump straight into the ocean baths for a swim/cool-down. Pure bliss. I was pretty wrecked by this point, what with being ill with a virus a couple of days prior (have been downing the turmeric drinks like they’re going out of fashion hey – seems to have worked well so far) so the cool salt water felt A-MA-ZING. Afterwards we headed to the surfclub for some much needed post-running fuel (= pizza and a beer).
The final group run of this last week was this morning’s ‘Newcastle Runners’ Christmas Gift’ where a large group of various running groups around this area met up at the Merewether Surf House and ran up along Memorial Drive and Anzac Walk to King Edward park where a cleverly themed running-themed Christmas carol was sung (by most, I spectated – my voice is not really with me at the moment, it hasn’t read the memo that I’m not ill anymore and is the last thing to get back to normal I guess) and photos were taken. Then we carried on down to Newcastle beach and along to Nobby’s and along the breakwall and back. A great morning! Here’s me practising my ‘woot-face’ with the Wooters. I snuck into their photo despite my shirt belonging to another group there - the Five30runners (I’ve joined both it seems – and more on the way! I like the look of the Naked Runners’ shirts, watch this space):
There you have it: a busy week and also busy trying to pack up my things and finalise a few bits and pieces before I fly away on my travels. My own work has intentionally slowed down (having informed my clients that I will soon be MIA for a while) but I will be back with a bang in late February so all good. Arrghhh, well it is the silly season after all. Shit’s getting real. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is my last post pre-Christmas Day, so a very very merry Christmas to you all!!! I hope you all have a happy, healthy (of course! Everything in balance and moderation), safe, fun, beautiful, and loving time wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. All my love, Lou xx