Our fortnightly summer walks are due to start on 30 October but Katherine organised for interested walkers to meet in North East Valley. I had no idea what to expect. Katherine arranged for a couple to escort us up a rising Watts Road until we came to a farm. We followed a surveyed road over the farm land until we reached the road. We followed the road a short distance to a t-intersection at Campbell's Road. Two of the walkers opted to turn left heading into Pinehill for a quicker 4km walk in total.
The remainder turned right and walked up Campbells Road and walked until we came to a gate that we had to climb. We had an interesting walk along the farmland track climbing over fallen trees and through a swamp. We then had to go down a marked track until we reached the track that heads down to Bethunes Gully.
It was a lovely day for the remainder of our walk back to our cars. Distance 7kms. Time 2 hours
Saturday, October 16, 2010
End of 2010 Walking Season
9 October was the closing day for the Caversham Harrier's Club meeting at 3pm. The walking group did a similar walk to the previous week except we went along Riselaw Road and back down Waimea Street.We merged onto Sidey Street, then Cole Street until we reached Caversham. We strolled through the Caversham suburb and along David Street onto Forbury Road. We climbed the steps up to Francis Hodgkins Retirement Village. From here it was a quick walk along Easther Crescent onto Middleton Road, back to the clubrooms.We got back at 4.15pm and waited around for a club barbeque just after 5pm. An hour later was the prize giving ceremony and I was fortunate to win the Walkers Aggregate Cup over three events - 1500m (2nd), 5km handicap (3rd), Brighton- Green Island 9.6km (10th). A pleasant surprise was to be given a $150 voucher for running shoes as well.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Marathon Walk
23 September
I reached Marathonas at 6.45am by bus from Athens. It was too dark to read my map so I backtracked the route the bus did until I reached south of Marathonas. I started the walk at 7.20am averaging 5km per hour for the first half marathon.
I reached Marathonas at 6.45am by bus from Athens. It was too dark to read my map so I backtracked the route the bus did until I reached south of Marathonas. I started the walk at 7.20am averaging 5km per hour for the first half marathon.
I had
to detour from the Marathonas Avenue to walk around the "Tomb of the Marathon Warrior" which was the 5km mark. At 10km it was through Nea Makri and at 15km I hit the first hill near the Rafina Junction. There were a number of hill climbs, some quite long.
When I reached half way at Pikermi I stopped at Baronburger for an orange and water. I was feeling great, fitness wise but my feet were beginning to become sore especially the heel of my left foot.
It was quite a boring course with few interestung features. There were
an abundant number of car sales. I decided to drink lots of water because I did not want to become dehydrated or suffer heat stroke. I was walking by myself although there were lots of people around once I reached halfway. I had to be innovative in finding appropriate toilet stops.
My first challenge came at 30kms when the two laned highway became four lanes. The two inside lanes went to Athens while the two outside lanes beside the footpath I was walking on detoured to the left onto a major highway "642". I had to cross the busy road onto the Athens lanes and then walk along a concrete lip about a metre wide. I was not sure if I was breaking the law or not. It was a relief to see the street sign Mesogeoin Avenue. As I neared Athens I had to do a similar thing again.
to detour from the Marathonas Avenue to walk around the "Tomb of the Marathon Warrior" which was the 5km mark. At 10km it was through Nea Makri and at 15km I hit the first hill near the Rafina Junction. There were a number of hill climbs, some quite long.When I reached half way at Pikermi I stopped at Baronburger for an orange and water. I was feeling great, fitness wise but my feet were beginning to become sore especially the heel of my left foot.
It was quite a boring course with few interestung features. There were
an abundant number of car sales. I decided to drink lots of water because I did not want to become dehydrated or suffer heat stroke. I was walking by myself although there were lots of people around once I reached halfway. I had to be innovative in finding appropriate toilet stops.My first challenge came at 30kms when the two laned highway became four lanes. The two inside lanes went to Athens while the two outside lanes beside the footpath I was walking on detoured to the left onto a major highway "642". I had to cross the busy road onto the Athens lanes and then walk along a concrete lip about a metre wide. I was not sure if I was breaking the law or not. It was a relief to see the street sign Mesogeoin Avenue. As I neared Athens I had to do a similar thing again.
At the 30km mark my feet were very sore and I lacked enthusiasm to take photos or stop. All I wanted to do was finish. I should point out the temperature was the coolest we had struck over our three week stay in Greece. It was around 23 degrees and it became hotter once in the main part of Athens (27 degrees).
As I walked through the suburbs of Chalandri and Chalargos the intensity of the traffic was noticeable. At the 39- 40km mark Mesogeoin become Vas. Sofia Ave. After 41.5km you turn into Irodou Attikou which is a narrow street behind the Greek Parliament an
d where the Greek President resides. The street was blocked off to traffic and there was a high police and military presence. This may be due to recent civil unrest regarding the new austerity measures put in place by the government.
d where the Greek President resides. The street was blocked off to traffic and there was a high police and military presence. This may be due to recent civil unrest regarding the new austerity measures put in place by the government.At the bottom of this street Denise was waiting for me. We walked together through the Panathenaic Stadium and on the track to the end. It was a great feeling to have completed my first marathon and in particular the original marathon course. I finished the walk at 5.10pm
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