Running around the world: Australia (again)
Continuing my photo heavy “running around the world” series where I cover places I’ve run on my open ended world trip.
So far:
I also wrote about how I got into running and why I love it.
In this post I’ll cover my return to Australia in May 2023 and the great runs I got to do while in Melbourne and on trips to Adelaide, Alice Springs and other parts of Australia.
I’d done six weeks in Australia earlier in the year and Melbourne had stuck in my mind. After months of running around Southeast Asia (figuratively and literally) I needed a break. Something familiar. Melbourne with its Victorian architecture and London-ish vibes was ideal. Even better, it was going into winter and after months of heat and humidity some cold and wind would be a welcome change.
I’d be going back to where I’d stayed in February. North Melbourne. Royal Park became my regular route. After a nine plus hour journey from Phuket via Bangkok and a long sleep, I went out for a 10 km run the next day.
Felt good to be back on this route! I’d run it a couple of times back in February.
I looked into races as I got settled in. The Mother’s Day Classic was coming up so I signed up for the 12 km race. This was going to be in the The Tan racetrack just south of the city centre. 0700 start. It had been a while since I’d run a race! The Royal Parks Half Marathon in London the October before had been my last one.
May is winter time in Melbourne, so short days. It was cold and dark when I got there at 0600.
Very happy with the result and the atmosphere was great!
I kept my regular runs going around Royal Park and after a few weeks took a couple of trips to explore other parts of Australia.
Adelaide for a few days and a couple of runs in Mawson Lakes, a suburb I stayed in at a friend’s place.
Then onto Alice Springs for some sightseeing, Uluru, hiking the West Macdonnell Ranges and hot air ballooning. Got a quick run in too.
Returning to Melbourne my usual place was unavailable for 10 days so I stayed in Fitzroy North. The Merri Creek Trail runs along there and is a lovely route to walk, run or cycle.
Then back to North Melbourne to resume my usual route around Royal Park.
It was around this time I replaced my running shoes as I’d hit around 600 km (it is advised to replace running shoes around 500–600 km). Strava can track this. I use the Brooks Adrenaline GTS series for stability (underpronation). Got a new pair and donated the old ones to the op shop I was volunteering at, they still had some life in them.
End of June I did a trip to Canberra (first time was in February) and got in a longer run around Lake Burley Griffin.
After this was a Great Ocean Road trip which did not go to plan. I’ve written about it here. Lost the car on day one. Still managed to get a run in at Apollo Bay along the coast.
In August I took a three week trip to Japan. It was stunning but I’ll cover that trip and the runs there in a separate post.
Back to Melbourne, but now staying in Parkville for a month, right next to Royal Park. So my usual 10 km route for a few weeks. Then an Airbnb down by Batman Park on Flinders Lane, which let me run along the Main Yarra Trail. A long walking/running/cycling route along the Yarra river. Perfect.
Moved again, this time into a two month lease. Not as close to the Main Yarra Trail as before but still central. Close to Carlton Gardens which was ideal for shorter runs.
Signed up for the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival for the 10km race. The half marathon was sold out.
It certainly was a festival, up to 40,000 people in attendance.
Just a really great race. Got my personal best for the 10 km. 48:34 according to the chip timing! Very happy with the pace too.
I got a little more serious about running after this great result. Focused on diet and nutrition too. Wanted to build on this and increase speed and distance. Started lengthening my Sunday runs to get to half-marathon distance, 21 km. The Yarra trail was perfect for this, no interruptions.
Great views along the river of the city and its skyline.
Hit that half marathon distance recently and now trying to maintain it.
Then there was a little trip to Sydney for an old school friend’s wedding. Got in a 10 km run around the central parks.
Phew. That’s a lot of running! Where to from here? Well I’m off again on the road in December. Bali and Hong Kong. Then Taiwan. No plans beyond that for now.
Excited to run in all these new places! That’s the beauty of running, can do it anywhere.
Can’t wait for the next run.
