Finally ran Palm Beach to Manly. This used to be a race organised by Harboard Diggers running club and always run on the first Saturday of the New Year. It was last held in January 2001 and due to difficulties in meeting regulatory requirements has been cancelled since. The run traverses along 17 beaches that look just like this.
Today a small group of hardy veterans of the race gathered in the predawn darkness to give it another go, running informally. As I live locally to the course and have always been gonna do it - I turned up and was surprised to see a few others I recognised. We headed off at 5.00 am and made easy work of the early hills around Palm Beach. Perfect running conditions with cool wind and cloud cover, most of the morning. This was the best supported run with Michael and Gillian meeting us every 5km with drinks, lollies and fruit. Competition for supplying the runners soon arrived with Alan W setting up a fruit and cool drinks stop also. I ran at a comfortable pace and my legs did not feel tight or tired until Collaroy. As I have had stomach upsets eating on a run before I did not have anything until I got tempted with cool watermelon – had a slices at Collaroy and a drink of coke at Dee Why. This felt like rocket fuel and I had no problems with the final hill at Dee Why and made my way to South Steyne averaging less than 5min/km pace for the last 3 kms. A time at the end of 2.57 with lots of stops along the way. A great run with nice friendly running companions all the way. Can't wait to do it again.
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