Its been a couple of weeks since this years edition.
It's been a little strange since - spectacularly crappy weather meant less than ideal or inspiring running conditions. Going away to see rellies as there was no team sports or events on, for any of the family, equally didn't lend to getting in miles, although an easy beach run, on an empty beach (thanks AFL Grand Final!), in the sun (out for a whole day before the return to rain and flooding...) with #TheDingo, was great.
And no need to train, the opportunity to have slow and easy, or off days, has meant that I have taken the opportunity. After 15 months - that's how far in advance I decided to do YUM! - of having that feeling in the back of my mind that I should be doing something, it's been great, but odd, to not have to run beyond just wanting to.
And this is a large part of what the #IconicTrailProject is about. Not having to run to a schedule, but for the fun; as much or little as desired or appropriate at the time. To have big, clear goals to motivate, but no particular time frame to 'have' to work to.
Looking back, I have to say I really enjoyed YUM. It would've been easy to stress about all the changes and how that would affect how I went and the like. But instead, we lucked out hugely with the weather, scoring a cracker day, and I managed to (warning: "inspirational/motivational" type talk coming... apologies!) stay in the moment and enjoy it for what it was, as it happened. I reckon that sort of shows in the pics below, various shots I found of me during the event. Thanks to all the photogs who took time to snap pics - if you want/need credit, please let me know, I've lost track of who took what I'm afraid.
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| Crossing the Finish line - done! |
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Finally getting to the top of the KOM section.
Over 200m of ascent in 1.3km - from about 50-51km mark! |
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| Somewhere after the marathon mark... Blackhill summit area I think. |
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| Through Morialta - thanks for the pic Sputnik! |
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| Early drizzle through the flowers of Waite |
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| Cleland's Wine Shanty track - thanks for the pic Sputnik! |
So now YUM is done, it's time to look at the other goals. More Heysen will be a fair part in the coming months. No doubt we will get over to Yorkes to see the rellies again over summer, so parts of Walk the Yorke will be done, too. There is half a plan to do the length of Pioneer Womens Trail reasonably soon too - ending in beers and/or ice-creams at Hahndorf. That sounds good...
Away from those trails, there are a few things too. I'm going to try and get to as many of the other SA parkruns as possible. Clare, Renmark and Mt Gambier will take some planning, but most of the others are easy enough to get to. I've only run Mt Barker as it is closest, but also, my 6 year old has voiced a renewed interest in going again. Hopefully we can get her her Junior 10 status. That'd be cool as well.
I'll try to get out and run the bits of Yurrebilla that were diverted for YUM too, once they dry out and get re-opened. I should add them in here!
In terms of 'racing'... I'll try to get to the local TRSA Kuitpo race as a number of friends are due to go, including a few first timers on the trails. Further ahead, the next ultra may well be the Yumigo! SA Coastal Challenge. Bit longer, but way less elevation. If it's a hot summer, logging distance maybe easier than vert, and Walk the Yorke would be good training, so it lends to a few goals, but who really knows?
As for YUM, well it's time to put it to bed for now. Though a few friends seemed to have been inspired by my participation this year... so who knows. If it's back to the 'traditional' course next year, there is that, too...
Labels: running, trailrunning, ultramarathon, ultrarunning, Y56k, YUM, YUR, yurrebilla, yurrebilla trail
