Hello September, Goodbye August!

Time flies, and it's zooming by really quickly.

Where are the brakes?

I don't want the year to end so soon!!

It's been 2 years since I've moved to Melbourne and there's so much I've yet to experience or see. We probably need to speed things up a little but it's hard when a) they can cost a bomb and b) we just want to stay at home and do some gardening, or go trailrunning, or catch up with friends.

Winter has been tough, in a sense that we don't feel so inclined to go out there and run. We found ourselves doing a bit of workout in the comfort of the gym and I have to say that multi-tasking (watching TV while running on the treadmill) makes me a happier person - I wanted to watch Masterchef Australia!

Now that Spring is coming, we can't wait. More daylight means being able to tend to the garden when we return home from work! We'd feel more energised, too when we arrive home after work. Winter's dark evenings kinda sucked the life out of us that made lazing in front of the TV more tempting than going out for a run.

Last weekend saw us taking an hour drive from our place to Olinda, Dandenong for a 20k trail run. Jon wanted to recce the route for the Dandy Hipster Run (taking place on 26th Sept) and seeing that we needed some training for our race this weekend, we succeeded in dragging our fat wobbly arses out of bed at 5ish am. 

Disappearing into the wilderness.

Photo credit: Jon.

We felt so alive! Wooooo....

We walked up this stretch and joked about setting up a few mobile coffee stands along the way.

I thought it was the end of our run but turns out that we had another 2k to go after this this.

It was great running in the Dandy's again. We love love love being surrounded by the lush green and tall trees and the muddy trails. I rolled my left ankle when I tripped over nothing and it took 10 minutes of rest before I could continue on. With 5k to go, it seemed like a huge feat but somehow, I could walk OK, especially on the inclines. Once my ankle felt much better, I managed to jog the last 3k as the route was flat. I was pretty pleased; thank goodness no major injuries. *mixed feelings*

Yet somehow I managed to twist my RIGHT ankle a few hours later. In my tired state of mind, my foot slipped off the pavement while we were walking towards Freedom. Arghhhhhhhhhhh!

Now that hurt 10x more than the earlier incident!

I sat around on the sofas in Freedom while waiting impatiently for Bin to make his purchase and go.

I hobbled around most of the day and it was only at night (after our dinner guests had left - we invited them over at the last minute so we could continue catching up) I managed to ice and heat both ankles.

Anyway, to cut the long story short about my being a heroic idiot with 2 injured ankles, I haven't been able to walk properly not because of them, but because of my very sore quads! My ankles are good, albeit just a little swollen. :)

Website: Inaugural Dandy's Hipster Coffee Run

So Much Eating And So Little Running

With the in-laws in town and with the weather a bit crazy every now and then, I haven't been running as much as I would have liked. I'm sure there is a way we can get around it and hopefully we'll get that started next week!

We drove up to Silvan last Saturday to check out the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. AT AUD$22 per entry, I thought it was very steep. I offered for the hubs and I to wait in the car while the in-laws went in but the MIL insisted everyone went in.

Thank goodness we had brought a picnic basket, otherwise we'd have to spend more money on food inside!

I made sure the PILs were right behind me. Heehee!

With rows and rows of brightly coloured tulips, the first one to capture my interest was the 'Queen of the Night'. So dark in colour and looking black at first glance, they are really just a deep shade of maroon.

My other favourite is the Rosalie, which is a pretty shade of purple.

The place was crowded and no one hesitated to pay the entrance fee (except us*). With temperature as high as 27'C, I suppose it was a beautiful day not to be wasted indoors.

*I offered for both the hubs and I to wait in the car while they went in to explore. :D

We spent two hours inside and eventually left the place, only to find ourselves at the National Rhododendron Garden where no entrance fee was required! We didn't manage to walk right to the end of the park as we turned back halfway through. 

The place was equally crowded and its parking area was filled with cars.

(I'm not much of a flower person but I now know what rhododendron and Chinese cedar are!)

Despite protests from the FIL not to stop by for pie, we did find drop by Pie in the Sky anyway. After driving so far, surely we had to stop at tourist traps spots to cross something off the list!

We ordered the Beef Curry, which was dry and lacked the spicy aroma one would expect from curry. It was instead rather salty and its meat wasn't tender. An extremely forgettable choice.

My favourite is definitely the Korma Chicken, and MIL thought it was nice as well. The minute I cut through the pie, its gravy oozed out, making it extremely inviting to dig in. I suspect its filling is almost creamy that makes it a delicious pie. It's a multiple gold award winner!

(I really hope I can try making it one day!)

Weekend Run: Dusk 2 Dark Trail Run at Dandenong's

That's both YB and my new series, in case you're wondering. Running from dusk until night fall in the forest gives you a taste of how it feels like running in ultra races with only the sound of your breathing and footfall keeping you company.

:D

I'm just kidding. It wasn't a run entirely in the night. We started after 4pm and stopped running after 7pm. The sun was slowly setting at 6pm and by 6.30pm, after squinting so hard to follow the track, we put on our headlamps. We could have gone for another loop (as planned) but best not, as no one knew where we were. We decided to call it quits and come back another weekend.

We started off at the Puffing Billy station and we were just in time to see it chug by. They have an event called the Great Train Race held in early May where participants are to run from point A to B in the fastest time. Between these two points, two trains will cross your path and the objective of the race is to try to get to point B without getting stuck at each train crossing! Each wait may take 5 minutes (I'm just guessing). 

Sounds like fun, doesn't it? 13.2KM through the Dandenong Ranges.

It is such a popular event that we didn't manage to sign up for it earlier this year. If you're keen to do this, best ensure that you sign up the minute it's open for registration!

We were so glad it was a sunny day that Sunday, 9th September 2013. The past few days leading up to Sunday was a bit chilly, with temperatures dipping below 10'C.

Weekend Run: Part of Roller Coaster Route

"What are you doing this weekend ... besides running?" is a proper question to be directed to any runner who desires his/her mileage fix.

"What are you doing this weekend?" simply doesn't sound right, because you know our answer would be, "Running!"

With us, it is sadly (not really) the same weekend routine of shopping, running and eating out. Take running out of the equation and you'll have a very restless couple; the woman whining about missing the trails (and feeling fat) and the man who feels like the weekend went by unproductively (and feeling fat).

See Olinda Creek Road? That's near the Silvan Reservoir Park.

After recceing the Silvan route for the Salomon Trail Run Series for two weekends in a row, we decided to venture to the other side of Dandenong Ranges on 17th August 2013. YB had taken part in the Roller Coaster Run on March 16th, completing 43KM in 6 hours. (Read his blog entry here.)

Staring at the route's elevation profile was pretty, as it really did shape like a roller coaster ride, but asking me to participate in that race would have been a different issue altogether. I doubt I would have made the cut-off time!

My mini Roller Coaster Run/Climb!

Our run that weekend was a short 13KM and even within that short distance, I felt that the climbs were tough. And that wasn't even the complete route!

If only there were kangaroos hopping about!

It was a nice weather to be out, although the skies did threaten to rain any minute.

Salomon Trail Run Series 2013: Recceing The Silvan Route

Note: For non-participants and non-runners, you may scroll down and enjoy the beautiful scenery encountered along the way. :)

That's what the amateurs (and elites) do, if it's possible. They'd familiarise themselves with the route as much as possible, until it is engraved in your head. Knowing your race route helps to strategise your race as well as your nutrition on the go.

Next Sunday, 25th August 2013, one of the ongoing races in Melbourne is Race 3 of the Salomon Trail Running series which will be held at Silvan, Mount Evelyn, Dandenongs. The earlier races were held at Studley Park in Kew (Race 1) and Plenty Gorge in Plenty (Race 2).

Nope, this won't be the starting point!

Prior to our recce, we did some research on the Internet and was unable to find enough information on the route. (I didn't look hard enough!) Todd Keating, the Bitumen is Boring Ambassador 2013 for Race 3 eventually put up a short video of his run for the 1st 10KM. The 21KM category is actually new this year (for Race 3) as previously only the 7.3KM and 14.3KM categories were available. :)

* On further research, I came across Jason Montfort's race report on last year's Silvan 14.3KM. The route for 14.3KM remains unchanged this year. I think! 

This post is to give you some inkling of the route via  pictures as well as tips to assist first-time participants for their race next week. It may be more relevant to those running the long course (21KM)  and part of the medium course (14.3KM).

 

Our summary/conclusion of tackling the route is basically this:

1. Bring a pole ... 

Or find a nice branch along the trails to use as a walking stick for the crazy inclines and declines. It will reduce the stress to your calves and quads when going up, and the impact to your knees when running down.

2. Bring a bottle of electrolytes ...

To sip on while you're panting up the crazy inclines. You will need them to deter/avoid your legs from cramping. Never wait until it's too late or otherwise, it will be a miserable run towards the finish.

* Water/aid stations are available at every 7KM and the electrolyte drinks provided may not be sufficiently concentrated. If you don't want to carry a bottle, maybe you'd want to drink up at the water stations instead.

We start at the parking area and head out towards Mount Evelyn first.

 
Long course (21KM) in red.
Medium course (14.3KM) in green.
Short course (7.3KM) in blue.

This is the elevation profile for the long course which looks ridiculously daunting (for a scaredy-cat runner like me) and has a cut off time of 3 hours.

The medium course will run along the same route up to KM12.5 thereabouts.

Once you've completed the 1st loop and return to the water tanks, you will continue onto a brief track into the forest before reaching a singletrack which joins a 2WD road. (Olinda Creek Road and Road 10) 

This flat run is an estimated 2.6KM to the 1st water station at KM7±. Drink up and have a piece or 2 of chocolate before you tackle the upcoming incline. 

The incline on Wols Track is about 2KM long and up to an elevation of 337m before you have at least 1KM of respite before a 200m dip and a steep 400m climb up on Richardson Track.

Salomon XT Wings 3 - The Review

My pair of women's Salomon XT Wings 3 is about 3+ months old and they're probably one of the bigger investments I've made (so far) in terms of my running hobby. We know that Salomon products are sold in Malaysia at a very steep price and during the sale period, you're lucky if you can purchase something with at least some discount to soothe that potential cardiac arrest of your wallet.

The upper is made of a single layer of open air mesh combined with a nylon layer, thereby making it quick drying and very breathable. There are textile parts placed at strategic sections of the upper mesh to help prevent overheating on very warm days. 

The tongue cover prevents mud and debris from getting inside the shoes. 

With the Quicklace™ system, one quick tug of the laces tightens them, with minimal adjustment required if necessary. I've always been in awe of these minimalistic laces - they look so delicate yet they are quite strong.

Once you've tightened the laces, tuck them into the pocket located at the top of the tongue cover.

(Can they design a similar one for our running shoes with regular tie-on shoelaces? Sometimes they come undone even with double knots!)