As I noted in my last post, I've been taking it easy and enjoying the down time after YUM. However, by putting it out there, I also realised I need to start pulling my finger out and logging some miles - and in my mind more importantly, some vert - so that I can continue to enjoy running. I don't like planning an interesting run, only to get out there and find I'm not fit enough to do anything other than suffer through it!
I'd had my eye on a particular loop option, but after quickly punching it in to Strava Routes, it came out at about 20km. And over 400m of up. Not a massive run in and of itself, but given that the longest I've run since YUM was not even 7km, I figured that might be a push. Plus the forecast was for more crappy weather (which as I type is blowing in rapidly), which I didn't fancy getting caught in.
So what else? I figured about half that run would be good to ease back in, and local given the forecast was for wind, rain, thunder and hailstones. As I scrolled through my other routes, I spotted Mt Beevor; I'd had it down to do as part of YUM training on an easy week, but never actually done it. Also happens to be part of the Lavender Federation trail, so an easy decision to make.
Mt Beevor sit just outside of Harrogate. Nearby, the Torrens River starts its journey through the Adelaide Hills to the sea. But the hills themselves are windswept and with little tree cover, with random rock outcrops and so they form part of a sheep and cattle grazing station. Up on the summit is a phone and radio mast. Not prettiest, but gives you something to get bearings on. It's probably the closest we have to the open moors and fells of Northern England that currently seem to attract a fair bit of attention from the off-road running community. Though smaller. And, today at least, drier.
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| Looking across towards Mt Beevor - the phone mast gives it away. |
I headed up the spur trail from Digger's Rest, following the firetrail up to the summit, before following the Lavender Federation trail down the other side, towards Murray Bridge, albeit only for a short distance. The wind along the top of the ridge was next level - I was literally leaning into it to stay upright! - but at least the sun was still out, rather than rain.
The ridge top service trail leading to the phone mast.
Dropping down of the summit, past some of the numerous rocky outcrops, the wind was rippling the grass in the ungrazed paddocks, and bringing more and darker clouds towards me. I soon turned around and headed back so as not to get caught in the weather. The trail is easy enough to the summit from the road (allowing service vehicles to the mast) but the other side is a 'choose your adventure' deal, as you follow a fence line to a dirt service road. This allows for that fell running type experience.
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| The service road below the summit. Another time. |
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| Looking back up to the summit; follow the fence line, pick your own line |
The run down to the car was more effort than it should have been, the wind was that strong! However, passed the sheep and down the hill, I easily made the road and then the car, ticking the run into double digits as I did. I also gained about 200m vert to get the legs back into action on that front, too. I beat the weather, enjoyed the sun, ticked off some trail. Could've been worse...
Todays LAV distance: 5km
Total LAV distance: 5km
Strava
Labels: adelaide hills, adelhills, LAV, lavender fedeartion, lavender federation trail, mt beevor, running
