We nailed the stairs, we trampled the beaches, we CANED
Coastrek .
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| We so happy. At Mona Vale. 15km in. |
Aaah Coastrek 2014, such fond memories.
At the beginning we sped to the Palm Beach stairs and
hurtled up them like little mountain goats, avoiding the queues of last year
and riding the adrenalin rush as long as we could.
The weather was cool, and a bit windy. The rain and wind
increased during mid morning, and it was hard for a while, but not nearly as
cold and treacherous as last year. By late morning, the rain was gone and the overcast conditions were perfect.
I felt great. We all
did. We kept being surprised at how
great we felt.
The difference between our mental state last year and this
year was huge. And it proved how much
the relentless wind and rain in 2013 drained our mental energy as well as
physical.
OK, I’ll stop banging on about how much harder it was in 2013
starting…now!
The beaches were wide, flat and the sand was firm. Even the horrid 2.5km on soft sand from
Narrabeen to Collaroy was, if not easy, certainly bearable.
Here is the day, broken down by rest stops and breaks.
We
started at 7am:
Picked up at 5:30am and driven to starting point by Splendiferous Support Crew.
Palm Beach to Mona Vale: Three hours, 15 km. Coffee and
Gatorades delivered by Superb Support Crew.
Mona Vale to Dee Why: Three hours 10 km Hot chips at Dee Why
brought to us by Superior Support Crew.
Dee Why to North Steyne: 1.5 hours 7 km Blister bandaid
changeover by the beach and a refreshing lemonade icy pole.
Queenscliff to Tania Park: 2.5 hours, 12km. Family jumping madly up and down on
rocks. Sensational Support Crew back in
action with added bonus children. Lemonades, bananas and love.
Tania Park to Clontarf: 45 mins, 2km. Family magically reappeared and jumped up and
down some more, then walked along beach with me. I do love them. All talked at once and wanted to hold my
hands at the same time.
Clontarf to The Spit: 1 hour, 1 km. We shall not speak of this again.
The Spit to Balmoral: 1 1/4 hour, 3km. Met by family about 300m from end and walked
hand in hand (little bit of argy bargy about whose hand for how long) to
finish.
8pm: Crossed as a team of four, arm in arm.
We had some aches and pains, some blisters, but at the end I
felt awesome. Well, I certainly didn’t
feel bad.
At home my husband (who is a darling) ran me a bath with
Radox and in an elegant touch, lit a candle.
And Febfast is OVER.
OOOOVVVVAAAHHH. Mike planning
curry, red wine and Rugby tonight (the old romantic).
I hope I don’t get pissed after one glass because that would
be embarrassing.
