Little update from my race on Saturday. It was probably my hardest run so far.
It was only 12 km but 3 km of the race was up 922 meter elevation, pretty step and technical trail, lot's of rocks and climbing.
I only entered to the race few days before it, I wasn't sure if I was going to run it because I have been sick and not able to train much. But I thought It would be fun and good training. I can only learn from it.
The race day..
The start time was 2pm, pretty late usually races is on very early in the morning.
But I think because it was a big family event they have the race during the day.
Our friend Jeff drove me and Jakob out there, it is 25 mins south of Cairns. Saved us money and hassle to hiring a car and Jakob had someone to hang out with while I was running.
I always get so nervous before my race and at the start line,
Everybody sprinted off so quick at the start, it's 3 km flat running before the mountain.
I'm not very fast running flat or haven't trained much sprinting or speed work. Last time was before my injury in March and I since I have been in Cairns I have only run around the trails here and done few flat runs but they have been slow as soon as I get down to 5 min pace my legs feels tired,
So after the first km I saw on my watch I was running 4.20 pace and thought I need to slow down because otherwise I will be dead when I get to the mountain.
I had couple of people passing me but I tried not to worry about it,
I knew it will be hard to keep up to them at the' mountain because it is so step and I can't go very fast up. When I got to the mountain and the hill started I just wanted to give up.
My leg was aching and it was so bloody hot!! Of course I'm not going to give up, but I was thinking to myself why do I enjoy this, it is just so hard. haha! I passed lot's of people up the hill and didn't have anyone going pass me up the hill and back down and to the finish line so that was good.
Going down hill was easier but in the same time so hard because you have to watch your feet it is loose rocks and very technical. One step wrong and you are gone.
When I got back down I only had 3 km of flat running left, it felt like I wasn't moving at all, but when I was looking at my watch I was keeping up with good speed. I was just so tired and wanted to get to the finish line and it was the best feeling crossing the finish line. It was such hard race, I finished 4th and I was very happy with that. I haven't been able to train much at all leading up to the race so I didnt expect it to go this good.
I love the atmosphere at the trail event everybody is so happy and positive when you out there running and cheering and pushing each other, I love that!
Mt Sorrow
On Sunday Me, Jakob and Jeff went to Cape tribulation to hike up Mt Sorrow. It is North of Cairns at Daintree rainforest.
They say that the hike takes 6 hours and you shouldn't leave after 10 am, we got there like 11;30 and stopped at the information centre to ask where the hike starts and she goes
"We wouldn't recommend anyone to start the trek after 10 am in the morning"'
Yes I can understand people who is extremely unfit and no hiking experience, but seriously someone with normal fitness and a little bit of experience with bushwalking will be fine to leave 12 am as we did.
I was extremely sore from my race the day before, my quads and calf muscles was tight and sore.
We was walking slow up to the top, it is about 4 km in 970 meter elevation something, It is pretty step walk, We also stopped and had lunch half way up and was chilling out and enjoyed the view when we got to the top before we walked back down, we also had another little break on the way down. Jeff that was walking with us is not use to walk this much so we had to slow down a bit for him.
We were back to the car just before 5 so it took us 5 hours in slow pace and few breaks,
When you got the top you can walk another 10 min to get to another lookout that is a lot better but the walk there is difficult and can be a bit dangerous, a little bit of climbing up som rocks and you have to walk on a very narrow pass and you don't want to loose your balance there. But worth it, the view was great at the lookout.
If you do the hike make sure you bring a jacket, because it is windy and cold at the top of the
mountain.
Some of the photos on the way up to the summit, I love the trees in the rainforest. they are so cool.
It was a great weekend and one more thing ticked of from the bucket list here in Cairns, We are thinking to go to New Zealand in the next couple of weeks so we cant waste our time here.
During the week it is not much time to do things, more than work and training, unfortunately I'm sick again and got antibiotics from the doctor, hopefully I will be good by the weekend so I can get out and explore something new. I want to do the smith track this weekend. Hopefully
// Gina Johansen xx
B