Pigeon House Mountain and other holiday adventures

Just back from 2 weeks hols at NSW south coast (Manyana), endless summer of beaches, bbq's, sleeping, reading and of course running.

The highlight as far as running goes was 2 trips up Pigeon House Mountain...about 500M up

I ran with 2 friends and we all had a great time, I was very proud of my ascent in 41mins and descent in 21 on the second attempt....the view from the top

Stepladders near the top...

good friends...

Also did a long 20km solo Marathon training run which was pretty boring...looking forward to tomorrows first run with the warriors in 2011

Happy Trails: Mt Ku-ring-gai to Berowra

What a beautiful cool morning for a 15km trail run with the boys from Mt Ku-ring-gai to Berowra and back. We met at the entrance to the bush track at 530 am and commenced downhill for 2 or 3 Kms to beautiful Cowan Creek...

After stopping to look around we took off again for around 8kms along the river bank, followed at one point by a lone boat, hopping and skipping along a pretty technical track with lots of ups and downs..

Then a 2kms climb up past the F3 to Berowra station

..followed by 5km road run along Pacific Highway, pretty hard going by this point

All up a fantastic way to start the day..well done boys!!!

Best Trail Run Ever! The Sphinx to Bobbin Head

At lunch today me and my running partner ran a beautiful trail for the first time, the Sphinx track at Bobbin Head. It starts with a massive downhill run where we bunny hopped our way down pretty fast, then takes us to Cowan Creek

From there we squeezed past around 50 school kids on an excursion as they clapped and screamed out "go mountain men"...came to a lovely water fall..

...on for another 4 kms or so to Bobbin Head Marina and Park...

Then our plan run up Bobbin Head trail was dashed by it being closed for renovation so we ran up the road for a 3km uphill climb...elevation not to bad though

A great varied run in perfect conditions of 19C

Adventure Friday

This Friday i am planning on going on my first real trail running adventure away from home..so far Ive explored local tracks but on Friday Ill run the Bobbin Head Warimoo/Sphinx track route. Its a 10km run so I'll be able to slot it into my lunch break working from home without too many problems...the elevation is steeper than Im used to but the route looks fantastic along the Cowan Creek



If any Warriors or other readers are free that day let me know, it would be good to have a partner....this website, Wild Walks, seems a great way to explore new territory by the way

Lunch Time Trail Run: Great North Walk

Sitting at home on the computer on my 'work from home day' getting really bored so I decided to take my new Montrail shoes on their christening run....(I bought them at a new shop, Footpoint Shoe Clinic, Top Ryde, they had size 14!!!)

Packed lots of water as its was pushing 28C, added some very appropriate Dub to my Shuffle and off for my lunch time adventure...

Berowra Valley National Park is just 1km from my house, the Great North Walk can take you all the way to Newcastle...

Heaven! Around 8kms...didnt bother timing it, just out for an enjoyable trot!

Keith Jarrett and the Great North Walk

Today before work I ran part of The Great North Walk near my house for the first time ever....it starts about about 1.5kms from my house and has a variety of routes as short as long as you like...today I took a short exploratory run from home to the entrance near Bellamy St Pennant Hills through the bush to Eloura Road, Westleigh..

Had to walk in a few very slippery places, get my feet wet across two streams and climb some reasonably steep hills....it did a fantastic job of breaking the monotony of road running and brought back that joyous free feeling you sometimes get in the bush......just me, nature and my ipod playing the incredible Keith Jarrett...he's the most amazing jazz pianist and much better than church!