fuelled by cake

Woke up to a dull damp morning that was probably our fault, fate decreeing that any time we organise a party in a park it pisses down. But it was early, so we got on with the getting on and I went to get coffees. Harrie is a bit over eight months and a fairly solid unit so I put her in the backpack, grabbed an umbrella and set off. She seemed happy enough so I suppose that once we get past Janathon I'll be taking her on the morning dog walk with Rowlf. But not before; balls should remain as unbusted as possible until month end.

It remained dull but the rain stopped as Sal and I headed to Manly Dam to setup for the party. We were expecting about 30 adults and 20 ankle-biters. The party was, thanks to Sal and most people turning up, a huge success. It was AJ's 3rd birthday so the thing was a bit of a blitzkrieg between 10 and 12. We had a spot next to the dam (ducks are a great distraction) the BBQs (I was on sausage burning detail) and a playpark. So the event was pretty easy to run. Adults stand around eating, drinking and chatting and making sure we don't lose any kids, while kids occupy themselves being kids. Balloons and bubbles were blown, faces were painted, candles were lit and extinguished. January kids party 2 from 5 done and dusted and the next one isn't until...tomorrow.

So to the runing. My plan was to get out and do a single run after breaking the back of the tidying back at home and while the kids were sleeping off the party. I'd had a waffle with my morning coffee, a sausage sandwich and enough water, but I felt I may be a little under-fuelled for a longer run. That, right there, is my justification for eating as much cake as I ate. Some of Sal's relatives had come back to our house and I was both surprised and relieved to get a pass to run. I skulled a homebrew gatorade, refilled the bottle with water and hit the road.

I wasn't sure how far I was going to run and figured mid-20kms. I was running "over the top" to Dee Why and then back along the beaches to Queenscliff where I'd pick up the stock loop and do the less appealing clockwise home. I started on the firetrail next to the Wakehurst Parkway but with the weather being a bit ordinary - dull, overcast but still a little humid - there were no cool creature to nearly tread on. It is mostly a gentle rise for the first 7km before heading downhill to the beaches. Unlike last week, where I wimped out on Dee Why, I made my way right to the beach. I needed a pee, and besides, who would not want to run right to the ocean?

From there I headed south, first going over the hill that friend, when training for his first marathon, nicknamed Mount Dee Why. It really is not that bad. Then it is through Curl Curl, which is a bit disappointing as a vegetated dune blocks the ocean. I could have run on the sand, but that would have been cruel and unnecessary punishment I do not need. A small boardwalk takes you close to the ocean at South Curl Curl and then it is around the headland at Harbord and across Freshwater Beach to the steps up and over to Queenscliff. I take this route infrequently so don't beat myself up too much when each and every time I get part of the super-steep climb wrong and end up at the foot of a garden . I doubled back, got it right and dropped down to Queenscliff and then the dead flat 1.6km along the beach to Manly.

Over to Middle Harbour, up the hill and I was home in from my Dee Why Beach Loop in 23km and a bit over 2hrs. It seems that this is my January number. My trip to work and stock loop are both around 11.5km, typically done twice in a day to get a total of 23km. So there you go, averages are being kept up. I wonder if I'll get any good natured ribbing this week for yet again managing to disappoint by not clocking a 100mile week. I might have knocked out the missing 2 or three miles if I had done my sums before having a beer. And then another one.

Happy to keep my midweek averages up on Saturday, happy to see the back of the second week. My dog somewhat less happy to have been deprived of a walk today. Will have to throw that into tomorrow's logistics mix.

Now to go to bed and not sleep for worrying what number Andrew will clock in this year's no-really-it-isn't-a-competition.