Inadvertent Trail Run

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Saturday just past the plans for our respective days went somewhat pear shaped and my Parkrun 5k turned into an awesome trail run. Hubby had a more stressful change yet still managed to get a motorbike ride in.

So what actually happened?

It started like any other Saturday really. I was at our eldest’s ready to Tourist Parkrun while hubby was taking mr 15 to Maydena for a skills lesson and some runs on the MTB downhill track.
We had spoken earlier and I was doing a warm up jog when the phone rang again and a voice told me there was a problem. The ute (with two bikes on board) had simply died on the side of the highway, he had been thinking (and swearing no doubt) and there was only one way to fix it straight up.
I take mr 15 to Maydena and he waits for the tow truck and sorts out the vehicle.
Parkrun can wait, so I rang my appointment for later and cancelled, filled the car with petrol and headed north to be the rescue car.
We were going to be late but if I could make up some time I was going to do it.
I pushed it the whole way and we got there as on time as we could – hubby had rung and sorted out the costs and timing.
I got mr 15 under way on the bike and I settled in by the fire pit to have my first, and most delicious, coffee of the day.

It’s time to run and time to explore.

I finish my coffee and pump one of the guys for info on where I can go running, aside from up and down the highway.
I head off and find the road easily enough, an undulating gravel road that winds for a few kilometres before coming to a stop and the rain-forest path with cave entrance signage awaits me.
As I head up here, ducking under logs and minding my step on the greasy path, I am in wonder of the amazing scenery we have and how it changes so dramatically in a matter of metres really…step off the road and there are new things to be found.
I am creeped out by the cave entrance and head back towards the road. I am 8-9 kms in so decide to see if I can get to 15. I’m feeling like a challenge. The rail track heads east and I figure it crosses the highway at numerous points, I’ll follow for say 3 km and then head back along the road to where I started.

You know what they say about ‘All good plans…’

Turns out the train track winds further inland and for longer before it crosses the highway. I do a run walk along the tracks, some parts are not runnable and slippery – this is trail running after all. While I don’t want to rush I did have a basic time restriction. About 2 hours, so am constantly checking my watch to gauge where I am at. I’m around 11 kms so am conscious of the need to head back. I also have to go to the toilet. And not a wee.
I notice a track and head off the rail lines. Google is my friend and I see that I am pretty close. If I follow this road I will get back to where I am going. By the looks of it, it’s a track in the bush as compared to a gravel road or train lines.

Note to self: I need to bring wet wipes in my shorts pockets next time.

Lucky for me the tracks heads up hill towards the highway and I am at the main road. Bitumen. Easy to run back to my destination.
I google again and notice I have less than 3 kms to go. Woohoo. So happy. I head off and as I get to the car realise I just have to even the distance so keep going for another couple of hundred metres.

And that is how I accidently ran a 15km trail run.
And got back right on time.

Hubby finished sorting out the mess, did a few chores, then went ‘&*#* it’ and surprises us both by taking Mr 20’s motorbike and coming to see us.

The joy on Mr 15’s face was a wonderful thing to see.

As a side note, I am feeling so very lucky and grateful. The strength workouts I am doing are really helping my running. While my hammy still hurts, the DOMS, and general soreness the next day was next to nothing. Like it used to be when I would eat that distance for breakfast.