This run was scheduled for tomorrow as part of the Coolrunning Fat Ass Beyond the Black Stump Run but since the prediction was for hot day we decided to run the day before and to start early. Mike & I arrived at Berowra around 5.20 and headed off to run the 33 km involving some road running, some bush trail running, 2 ferry crossings and lots of hills.
The day for me can be divided neatly into the four segements. The first three section I ran strongly and felt resonably comfortable and then the wheels fell off on the last section after the return ferry crossing. The first section approximately 9km was easy running mostly along fire trails to the river. It was a beautiful still morning and until we got the ferry we did not see another person. I enjoyed the quite and the coolness of the early morning before sunrise and we got to the ferry quite quickly. The ferry had just arrived so the timing was perfect. 
The next section after the ferry was approximatley 3 km of mostly winding uphill on paved road.
The road gives way to a sandy path past houses and then a narrow path towards the ruins of an old castle. The turn around point for the run at 17km is an old sandstone ruin with an interesting history. The last kilometre to the ruin is a steep gully with loose boulders and very difficult to get firm footing, so the running was fairly slow in this section.
The return from the ruin I felt strong especially the downhill on the paved road. We ran past a big group of Turramurra cycling club riders going in the opposite direction. I was pleased to be running downhill. Again we were lucky with the ferry it had just pulled in as we arrived. This time the trip across took a little bit longer as there were few more cars to disembark before us. We refilled our camelbacks at the Berowra Waters marina and headed up, up and away along the Great North Walk trail. The trail seemed to be almost vertical in sections and goes over two steep ridges before you get onto the flat sandy trail. I struggled with the steep climb and felt nauseous and almost threw up several times. It became difficult to drink yet I felt thirsty. I don’t know if it was the energy gel I had half an hour earlier or the water I drank at the marina that made me feel ill. After that it was a walk/run to the finish. I finished in a time of 4.20 including the ferry crossings.
Very happy to finally do this run. Absolutely stunning countryside which I have never visited before. I would love to come back and explore the waterways perhaps on a kayak. 
By the time we finished, the temperature was in the early 30’s and although we had planned to have a picnic at Berowra Waters we ended up heading back home and to the beach for a cooling swim. The ocean looked perfect with hardly a breeze to break the surface. 
The swim was followed by a glass or two of Charles Melton Sparkling Burgandy to see out the year. Great way to finish the year - running in a stunning natural place I have never been to before. Tuesday 30 December 2008 (Easy - 5km)
Had plans to do an interval session but changed my mind as I headed out the door. Since I was going to run a long trail run tomorrow I decided to do an easy loop around Narrabeen Lake. Saw Gavin who lived a few doors down from us and stopped to chat. I love these local runs and despite having run sections of this route for years I always see something I had never seen before.
Had plans to do an interval session but changed my mind as I headed out the door. Since I was going to run a long trail run tomorrow I decided to do an easy loop around Narrabeen Lake. Saw Gavin who lived a few doors down from us and stopped to chat. I love these local runs and despite having run sections of this route for years I always see something I had never seen before.
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