Bad News and Holidays

Well, I didn't post last week, as I couldn't be bothered and was also very busy. I couldn't be bothered as I found out I won't be going to IM Melbourne. Boo hoo. So I stopped training for 3 days. I was pretty gutted for a day or two there and just could not be stuffed doing anything. It was as if I had no reason to train at all. Then I realised that was not true and I should just harden up and get back on the horse anyway. The other reason was I was so busy getting ready for holidays and working flat out for 10-12 hours per day anyway.

Well here I am now in Strahan, western Tasmania and I have been running everyday since leaving Perth (5 days now). Have spent a few days in Hobart with friends. They live on a big hill (Mt Stuart) 3k from the centre of town and have amazing views. The bad part is, the last 1km to their house is very steep and all uphill. I would guess 10-12% gradient. I ran up Mt Wellington (well the last 12km anyway). There is a race that goes from the casino to the summit and is 21km long. That would be one tough race. The last 12k is at an avg of 8.0 %, according to MapMyRide. It was a really tough run but with very rewarding views.

Tassie is a beautiful place with so much natural beauty and amazing scenery. I have seen so many really cool things around here. Like 2300 year old Huon Pine trees in rain forest in a world heritage listed national park. Macquarie Harbour (2.5 times bigger than Sydney Harbour), Hells Gates and Sarah Island convict ruins. The town itself is very quaint little place and is 'ye olde town' style. The locals are friendly (they know a tourist dollar when they see one). West of town is Ocean beach, which has the freshest air outside of Antarctica - as the next bit of land is 8000km away in Argentina! I ran out there and then ran along a small piece of the 33km long flat and wide beach. It was amazing and the air was fresh!

Uploading photos is slow here, so I will save it for later or at home...

Tomorrow is Cradle Mountain and then up to the North coast