Sunday, January 26, 2014

December in the Southern Hemisphere and Running in the Mornington Peninsula (VIC) and Adelaide (SA)

So it's probably about time I showed you some more of the places I have been running since being back in Australia. I gotta say... goshdarnit, everything you hear about Australia being beautiful? ALL TRUE. Not just propaganda from the Australian Tourism Board. They may not tell you about our obnoxious drinking habits, and the absurd number of creatures here that can kill you... but it IS a very pretty place indeed. 'Specially for running.

For Christmas, my husband and I went down to the Mornington Peninsula to my aunty and uncle's place in Sorrento. The row of seaside towns along the Peninsula, offers about 25 miles/40kms of virtually uninterrupted cliff-side/beach trails, 6 of which I used as my first "long"(ish) run since my injury.

 
The trail was mostly gravel and sand (whoa, sand-trail running is haaaaard) and some of these wooden boardwalks that lead down to all the different beaches along the Peninsula. 



This is December in the Southern Hemisphere, y'all....


We then got the ferry across Port Phillip Bay (no screen-shot map...I'll allow you to exercise your Google maps skillz...you're welcome). The Sorrento harbour (where you get the ferry from) is equally gorgeous...





The ferry took us across to Queenscliff, on the other side of the bay, and we drove from there to the Adelaide hills to visit my sister and brother-in-law and then drive back with them to Melbourne. 

Got my runs in there, through some really beautiful country-side...



We stayed at my brother-in-law's parents' farm house. Just down the road (before a very steep  climb to the house) is this row of flowers that attracts a RIDICULOUS number of butterflies.  Its pretty magical running through them (while panting and puffing your way up the hill).


 They also provide an excellent excuse to take a break from the hill to snap a picture or two...

I did all my runs pretty slow, because it was really warm, even quite early in the morning.  I refueled with my favorite new brand of chocolate milk, which is unfortunately only found in the great state of South Australia.  I guzzled several of these before we left Adelaide. They are approx 250 calories, for 100% RDI of calcium.  BOOM.

And finally... the little people who were more fun to hang out with than any butterflies or chocolate milk...

At Adelaide Zoo, checking out the pandas

  Aaaaand.... the funny man/snuggle pot....

Next up.... some New Years beers (coincidence that that rhymes?? I think not...) and a 5K recap. Yes, that's right... I finally ran a 5K. Now I know why I have not run one of those before.

~ Penny

4 comments:

  1. OMG you aren't kidding about the scenery. Just breath-taking: so much variety of color and texture. Very dramatic beaches, as well.
    I don't know how you manage that chocolate milk. I tried, I really did...but boy does it upset my stomach, especially after a long run (hot chocolate makes me ill, too, but every winter I forget this and look forward to a cozy cup - then spend the whole evening wishing I was dead, ha).

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    1. Awww thats so sad! I don't have an ounce of lactose intolerance, but HATED milk for most of my childhood. Kristen got me onto drinking it after a run.... its probably not my absolute favorite thing to drink, but I need the calcium and D!! ~P

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    2. Agree - beautiful coast. A lot like Southern California!! I sometimes get sick off of chocolate milk too - but only when I chug it. If I drink it slowly, I don't have any problems. ~K

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    3. Hmmm, I think the Southern coastline of Victoria is similar to SoCal but much more mountainous. And a lot more actual beach area, or something? Just so much of it. Of course, the NSW beaches are a different thing again, and Queensland different again again! :) ~ P

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