Summit to Sea and a Crazy January Challenge.

On Sunday the four Twisted Sisters and three of the Chubby Hubbys competed in the Summit to Sea trail run here in Adelaide. 34 km. from Mt. Lofty, the highest peak in Adelaide and down to the Brighton Beach Jetty. This is a deceptively tough run and not all down hill as you would think. Plus the last 2 km. is on the soft beach sand. On previous years this event has been 31 km. but an extra 3 km. had been added this year.

The day is a very early start. Up at 4 am. and then drive to Brighton beach by 6 am. to leave the cars and catch the chartered bus up to the top of Mt. Lofty for a 7 am. run start.
It was absolutely freezing at the top of Mt. Lofty ( well by Adelaide standards anyway ) with low cloud and fog. Race Director Terry took a few moments to acknowledge the Traditional Land Owners, and then officially welcomed Chubby Hubbys Daryl and Mike. He laughingly told the group that they had the dubious distinction of coming last the previous year, but then went on to tell all about their achievements during the year. 
 

 Chubby Hubbys Mike and Daryl, the centre of attention !

Some of our group before the start; Susi No Bum,Babette, CH Simon and Mike, Moi and CH Daryl.

Our team all ran in pairs for most of the event ; Tracy and Susi no Bum, Mike and Simon, Daryl and I and Babette joined in with a couple of other runners. Reputations were all on the line here, all of us wanting to beat the others. We are all the best of friends but are not above sabotaging each other for a good laugh and to cross the finish line first.

Tracy and Susi no Bum took off at a quick pace and happily for us soon went in the wrong direction.

Simon and Mike were on a mission and also started strongly. But , as with most men their age their Prostates required frequent nature stops and we soon caught up with them.

I ran the event with my CH Daryl. His work commitments  preclude him from training as much as the rest of us so he can struggle a bit. I started Daryl at a slow pace to warm up and then gradually picked up the speed. He is very good at directions so there was little chance we would get lost. I had also told him he was only allowed one Nature call , so he had better tie a knot in his spout. Personally I didn't care if his Prostate was falling out his nostrils , there was to be NO stopping.

 

 

Moi out on the trail.

The first 10 km. was an easy run along undulating fire trails and we kept up a fairly consistent pace. The next 10 km.  was tricky. The trail here was very rocky and much of it was along creek beds. There were a few spills and injuries in this section and some runners had to withdraw.

I set a brisk pace through this section, mainly because

 Creek Beds + Water + Hot Weather = SNAKES ! And I was scared shitless.

The last 14 km. was a battle of wills between the Chubby Hubby and I. He was starting to tire but I was fired up and wanted to get the Hell out of the long grass and finish. I was particularly inspired by a sign on one fence;

" Snakes on the move, watch your step." 

I loved this tree trunk we ran past and just had to stop and say Hello to it. I wonder how old it is and what it has seen.?

CH  had by the final 10 km. started his usual sniveling. Threats of the usual 3 D's quickly sorted him out.

DIVORCE 

DEATH

DIVORCE   

We were still well ahead of our time plan here and I could feel a great finishing time in my Waters !! If of course the Chubby Hubby kept going. 

I had no idea where the others were but then as luck would have it, a couple of km. down the track I saw CH Mike and Simon heading down the wrong way. CH Mike was limping quite badly.

Now I love all animals, I really do ! And I do try to be a good person. But Seriously, I can not be expected to tell a limping one legged Turkey in a race that he is going the wrong way !!

Especially when the potential to beat him is so tantalisingly close.

 Our first view of the coast.

I stayed with my Chubby Hubby until the last 2 km. and then I left him and went off at my own pace to the finish line.

MEGA SPEW !! When I crossed the finish line CH. Mike and Simon were already there.

Karma you say ! No Way.

The Turds had got so lost that they took a short cut, taking 3-4 km. off and finishing 20 minutes before me.

Susi No Bum and Tracy had finished about 25 minutes before and predictably were not entirely sure how they had got there.

  Brighton Jetty, the finish line.

 Brighton beach and what a contrast to the weather up on Mt. Lofty.

Overall we were all pleased with our times. CH Daryl took a whole hour of last years time, plus remembering it was an extra 3km. this year. I finished 25 minutes faster than last year even with the Chubby Hubby.

 Resting at the finish line with Susi, Kym, Daryl and Babette.

Like most cross stitchers in Cyberland I have decided to attempt the Crazy January challenge. One new project per day until January 15. Hopefully these projects to be finished by the end of the year.

Now I am a painfully slow stitcher so rather than show my new project each day I will wait until I have made some significant progress with each of them.

So here is January 1 project;

IRA RAY CROW. by the Goode Huswife.

Happy New Year to all.

Thanks for dropping by,

Cheers Karen.