Had an uprecendented day of field work today. We were searching for new localities of two rare species; the grass dart a species of butterfly and Floyd’s Grass (Alexfloydia repens), which is the food plant of the butterfly. We found both species if two new localities in the Warrell Creek catchment. These species had not been recorded outside the Coffs Harbour area previously.

It was amazing that at each site today that we found Floyd’s Grass there were the Black Dart butterfly also present.

Water Dragon on Lily Pads

Why you ask Big Kev?

Because I”m running.

Pre Race: This was race 4 four of the Bunch of Fives 5km race series. I was placed second in the series leading into todays race. The Cross Country run is held near Woolgoolga High School and follows trails, raised wooden walkways, cycle paths and grassy verges.

I arrived early and went for a walk and a warm up jog. A film of sweat was already appearing on my arms. By ten minutes before the race only a small field had assembled. The series leader who lives nearby jogs over. I’m glad because I’d  hate to lead the series based on him missing a race, he is clearly the standout in this years race series.

I have a chat to some of other contestants pre race. And soon it is time to line up.

The race. Off we go along the road, lined by huge Eucalypt trees. There is not a cloud in the soft blue sky, and not a breath of wind. The leader, Richard, is cruising along, enjoying the scenery. I try a different strategy in this race,  go a little easier the first kilometre then build momentum. In previous races I’ve gone out too hard the first couple of hundred metres.

We turn of the road, onto a grassy verge, behind the houses backing onto the Woolgoolga Lake reserve. I’m only about 20 metres behind Richard. He then takes off a small hill and is gone.

The path picks a walking trail through the grass that goes up and down, over  eroded sections with exposing roots and loose sticks. I go easy on the downhill sections, sometimes hopping gingerly so I don’t put my foot in a hole and trip.

The trail finishes up near the shore of Woolgoolga Lake. You can hear children playing in the reserve across the lake, there are dogs barking. The sun is low in the sky, and it is starting to light the lake and Swamp and Paperbark Trees in a magnificent golden glow.

The trail is a proprioceptive challenge and you really need to pick your way carefully through parts of the course. The are sections of beach sand, and rounded gravel stones, little up and downs, and protruding tree roots exposed by water erosion. The course is shaded by a beautiful tall eucalypt forest, with ranforest trees and vines.  

Woolgoolga Lake is a magic part of the world.

1km 4:14

There is a runner behind me keeping good pace through this section. The race goes across a raised wooden boardwalk over a swamp and mangrove forest and then exits onto a cycle around the Woolgoolga Sports Ground.

Richard is already going past on the way back on the cycle path as I step onto the path. He has at least a 200 metre lead at this point.

2km 4:22. I’m sort of in cruise mode, but am feeling the pinch in my lungs. I turn back on the footpath and it is Michael keeping pace. I have built up a 100 metre lead on him, which is pretty useful this early in a 5km race.  

I head back along the cycle path, and then run through a short trail section, with a steep little pinch of a hill. Then it is back onto a road near the Woolgoolga Bus Bay. I look to see if I can see Richard, but there is no other runner in sight. I sort of wonder if I am doing the course right, and slow momentarily. I go with my hunch that the course is right and I do a loop back through the start finish.

Then it is back along the road. I feel as if I am comfortably in second so I am racing, but probably not going as flat out as if there where someone close behind or in front of me to catch. There is nothing like close company to push you harder.

3km 4:25    

Then it is back onto the rough trail part of the course. And although the conditions are more benign than last year, it is still very hot and humid, and I start to slow on this section of the course. However, this race is about placing really, and time is not so important.

4km 4:40.

I enter the cycle path around Woolgoolga Sports Ground the second time. I get to the turn around point and I have about 200 metres or so back to  Michael in third. Michael knows this course well, and he finished quickly to beat me in last year’s race, but I’m confident I have him covered this close to the finish today.

5km 4:19 (22:01.87) I try to finish as strongly as possible.  The last 200 metres includes a short little hill, which slows me down some.

I finish 2nd in 23:01. This is 1 minute 21 faster than last year.

Post race. I cross the line and despite my intentionally conservative early pacing I’m really blowing hard for a while afterwards. I sweat profusely for at least ten minutes. The humidity really sorted me out.

I have a pleasant chat with several runners afterwards. We compare Garmin readings and the consensus is 5.2 km. I suggest that there is often a 100 margin for error with Garmins. Some of the certified 5km and 10km courses that I have run have measured 5.1km and 10.1km.

I get a sense of belonging to this great little running community. I get in the car, and I feel as if it is an evening well spent. I look forward to the final race on the track.

This is my first placing in this series, and it consolidates my second place overall in the standings. Richard is well out in front of everyone in the points, and he could probably miss the next race and still win. I’m glad because he didn’t deserve to miss out due to injury or unfortunately missing a race. I’ve been a little lucky this year because some of the top runners have been missing due to injury, or have missed races.

I have another race tonight, I want to focus on that. Do the best I can. Hope I’m not tired for my race tonight now.

The sun had come out this morning for the first time in over a week. It was nice and cool for a change last night.

1) Central Coast Half Marathon

2) Jacaranda Fun Run 1st 40-49

3) Salt Fun Run 2nd 45-49

4) Bronze medal 5km 40-49 group Mid North Coast Cross Country.

A photograph of me at the start of the Dorrigo Fun Run

http://www.coffscoastindependent.com.au/news/local/sport/athletics/runners-conqueror-dorrigo-hills-and-humidity/1707535.aspx

Bunch of Fives Cross Country Race 4-CC-5th January

Coffs Coast Fun Run 10km-26th January

Bunch of Fives Race 5-The Track 5km-12 February

Queensland Masters 5km Track race-19th March

Brisbane Twilight Half Marathon-21.1km-21st March 

Seaside Scamper 5km-28th March

Sunday morning long runs are back in my life. How good is that? I can slip on my running shoes head out the door and run and run and run some more. I love Sunday morning long runs, did twenty years ago, still do. You get that pleasant sort of tiredness for the rest of the day. It’s the endorphins healing your tired body. Great stuff! 

I treated today’s run as an easy run, didn’t push at all. I have a bunch of ives race on Tuesday so I want to be reasonably fresh for that.

20km 1 hour 47:43

Pran’s Theme Mike Oldfield The Killing Fields.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r68lkEILxTE&feature=related

Sunday: rest

Monday: 12km

Tuesday 12km

Wednesday rest

Thurs: rest

Fri: 5.3

Sat: 12km

41.3km

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbG491AgSes&feature=related

OMD souvenir, I remember this song playing on the radio and liking it.

Did an easy 12km recovery run this morning. 12km in 65:51. Really tried to relax. I was bit fatigued from yesterday and my back was sore.  It was again very hot and humid and even at that very slow pace I was drenched in sweat.

After last years Sawtell Fun Run my achilles was so sore that I couldn’t run run for a few days afterward. I really recover more quickly these days.

Oh well, time to crank up the miles this year and see what sort of improvement I have left in me.

I watched some of the movie “Run fat boy run” on the movies channell. I was really disappointed with the way the marahton race was done. At the point the movie became just another one of those films made about sport by people that now nothing about sport. The marathon depiction was totally cartoon like and unrealistic. Any credibility in the characterisation that had been built up in the film was totally ruined. The characters seemed a bit stilted and not true to life. I got tired of the puzzled but sweet smile on the leading lady’s face. Her boyfriend was a carboad cut out.   Some of the other characters reminded me of those larger than life cartoon sketches in Australian films like Strictly Ballroom, Alvin Purple and Crocodile Dundee.