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Post by bernadette on Oct 4, 2009 1:40:11 GMT -5
Hello GP. Nice to have you on the "dirt side!" Kings Park has some nice tracks in the middle with the sand that helps train footing, ankle stability, and such.
Otherwise, nearby you have only Bold Park with hills and trail. There's a main limestone track called Zamia that's 5k around, but tons of little unpaved trails going off of there. It's fantastic and if you checked out the weekday running thread, you'd see that Rob and I are regulars there on Wed nights. Last summer and autumn we alternated with Bold Park (or Lesmurdie Falls area) and a 12-13k barefoot beach run. We expect to go back to that now that the evenings are warming up a bit.
The Herdsman Lake circuit is 8k and it's 1/2 bitumen 1/2 trail. But all flat. I use it for tempo/speed work. Lesmurdie Falls provides some awesome trail/hill running and it quite fast to get to.
I think last year we had about 20 runners start Six Inch. I have a feeling this year we could see 30+. It'll be an awesome thing, no matter how many come out! The first of the recon runs will start happening in about 3-4 weeks time (last I heard from Dave K). That would give you a chance to see the actual course over various weekends, should you have time.
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Post by dave on Oct 5, 2009 1:11:18 GMT -5
Hi Guys I know it would be great to get out on the actual course for the people who don't know it but before then I'm proposing a training camp down at the Stirling Ranges one weekend in November perhaps (6-8th). This is a draft schedule:
Friday- Travel from metro area to Williams where my parents have a farm.
7pm- 30min run
Saturday- travel to Stirlings arriving about 8.30am- ~2hour run Chester pass rd- bluff knoll carpark & return
11pm- Short hike either Ridge-top walk, toolbrunup peak or mt Trio ~3-4 hours including picnic lunch
2pm-Check into accomodation either stirling range retreat, toobrunup campground or mt trio caravan park
5pm- Travel to Bluff knoll carpark for handicap race to summit (3.1k 20min +) jog down
R&R
Sunday- 2-3hours Firebreak track + side track up towards mountains or open to better suggestions for any of the runs.
10am-Checkout head back to Perth
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Post by Suzy on Oct 5, 2009 3:17:20 GMT -5
11pm short hike 3-4hrs with picnic lunch sounds interesting...
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Post by groundpounder on Oct 6, 2009 4:23:06 GMT -5
Hey All. Recon sounds good, I'll try to make it if i can. Found a great local trail on the weekend, Thomson lake Reserve in Success(20 min. SOP). beautiful trail, about a 7k loop and good for everyday training. (although i recommend staying on the path, as i twice wondered off, and both times a Dugite ended up under my feet ). Bernadette you mentioned Bold Park, i'll be sure to give that a go too. good to see a healthy interest in off road-GP.
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Post by bernadette on Oct 8, 2009 7:53:14 GMT -5
Dave, I'm very interested in getting to the Stirling Range, but I'm on post-surgery rest for 6 weeks (trying to make sure the inflammation doesn't come back). If I want to play it safe, I shouldn't run til weekend of Nov 20th. However, I won't be starting with much, anyway. So whatever weekend people pick - I may join you just for the camaraderie and to hike a bit. Maybe that 11 PM one GP - I have been staring at that Thomson Reserve on the map for nearly a year now, wondering what was there. Glad you checked it out. Sounds a lot like Herdsman Lake - flat 8k and full of tiger snakes ;D Another one I checked out one is Whiteman Park. A fair amount of track to run around there, but all flat. And there's no reprieve from the sun in terms of trees. And don't believe all the maps - some are out of date, signs point the wrong way, and paths have overgrown. But if you like to explore, it's worth it! Also, don't forget the beach running - excellent work for the legs and ankle stability!
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Post by trailblazer777 on Oct 8, 2009 22:50:24 GMT -5
Thomsons Lake hey, thats extremely close to where I am at right now, I ran alongside that lake onetime I think, not surprised re snakes...plenty of tiger snakes round here, its coastal... reckon this area is more suited to cycling to be honest, although there is good bitumen paths as far as you want to go, I did some 20k runs earlier in the year on part of the Freeway cycle path
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Post by groundpounder on Oct 9, 2009 6:54:21 GMT -5
Hey all, re: Thomson lake. yeah it's too bad about the snakes, after checking pics on internet they are tiger snakes . other than that awesome trail, plenty of shade, and a true trail (no paving. just ruts, rocks, and tree roots ). Just need to run with a anti-venom kit Did the Zamia trail (Bold Park) for the first time today. thats a bit of a winner. great for hill work. good tip Bernadette. i'll try to get a bit of beach work in when i can. i'm not far from Coogee beach. Might start using Bold Park as a training ground for offroad events.
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Post by trailblazer777 on Oct 16, 2009 10:13:42 GMT -5
just over 2 months til 6 inch now and easier access with the new forrest highway too
snakes and swooping magpies a big issue this time of year...
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Post by robd2 on Oct 16, 2009 17:07:29 GMT -5
About time for your "who's running" post TB
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Post by trailblazer777 on Oct 16, 2009 17:48:32 GMT -5
sure it is, but anyone can do it, plus i think the Cool running thread is a better location, with the reduction in cyber traffic here now...will try and do an event invitation on facebook too...
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Post by bernadette on Oct 19, 2009 19:12:18 GMT -5
I'm now the Munda Biddi trail maintenance volunteer for Torrens Road to Scarp Road. So if you get lost or fall over a log during Six Inch, you now have someone to blame I tried to get Oakley Dam area, as I thought it was in worse shape for signage and such, but it was taken. So it's good to know someone else wants to look after that trail, too.
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Post by dave on Oct 20, 2009 18:56:53 GMT -5
New directions with the Freeway extension will be turn left at Lakes rd and follow the signs to Nth Dandalup. This will probably save 5-10 minutes over going through Mundijong.
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Post by dave on Oct 20, 2009 18:57:41 GMT -5
Bernadette I volunteered for a section of Six Inch 2 years ago and never heard back from them.
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Post by dave on Oct 20, 2009 19:06:40 GMT -5
I was planning our first recon run for Saturday 6th November. Perhaps 6.30am from cnr Scarp and Nth Spur rds same as last year will be ~30K out and back.
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Post by trailblazer777 on Oct 20, 2009 22:26:22 GMT -5
Ok so when i go to run the 10k track at AK reserve 6pm on Friday ***6th*** November, I can try recruit a few of the runners there to back up for the recon run the next day on Saturday ***7th*** November are we locking that in Dave, 0630 cnr Scarp and North Spur rds... if so then we can post those details on Cool Running,Facebook, and Robs email list, that should cover most of the bases... Hopefully a stack of new faces again this year, Its becoming very well known around Perth running circles now, and I talked about it to some of the eastern staters I met at melbourne Marathon too, and a lot of people have expressed interest in running it over the last 12-18 months...so the potential for some big leaps in momentum and building on last years raging success is there... agree re the the new highway making it easier to get there...will try and update/overhaul my 6 inch faq page as it badly needs some work...thats if anyone still visits it, which i suspect they will... Well done Bernadette on getting that MB trail maintenance gig! very cool...!!!
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