ROBBIE WILLIAMS

I shouldn't really call the 15km back from the mall - I took the scenic route - a lazy day. It makes me sound like a bit of a flash, arrogant prick (which is only half true) and quite frankly, it's not an easy run. It starts out pretty flat, then there is the Sunday obstacle course of dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodging the ambling ocean-front denizens of Manly who, to be fair, seem to do Sunday morning far smarter than I do. To get to my target of 15k I'd decided to do the Manly to The Spit bush track instead of head up the road.

So, I only call it a lazy day so I can drop in some Brit Pop, specifically Robbie Williams from back in his Imperial Era.

The Spit to Manly (or Manly to Spit as it was today) is a lovely route. I've got a set on flickr that contains far fewer pics than I've actually taken on it. I've run the route a lot and get a bit "grumpy old man" at times - that familiarity/contempt thing. I do understand why the council wants to place sandstone steps on all the hills...but it makes the running less fun. And on a lovely day it can get a bit crowded. But I suppose these are minor gripes when you consider how lovely it is and that it's right on my doorstep.

A brief aside, brought to mind by my mention of "on my doorstep." I fell asleep on the sofa this afternoon watching a Travel Oz show on tele. I was tired, but I'm fairly sure the presenter suggested that, while not downplaying overseas wonders, we should visit and enjoy the wonders in "our own backyard." I'd have to agree. And the Mitchell Waterfalls look spectacular. But the Mitchell Waterfalls are 4700ish kilometres from my home. That's about the distance between Edinburgh and Tehran. I think you'd have to agree that's a fucking huge backyard. Yes, Australia is a country, but also a continent. Quite a large place. However, I digress.

I wheezed on the climb up to Tania Park and didn't stop to take the view in that much. I'm getting old and was keen to get home for a nana nap (oh how I wish I was kidding!) The Garmin refused to give me 15km by the base of the steps under the bridge, so I plodded up them to be licked mercilessly by a black labrador at the top. I did my final 100m to the foot of the Galipolli Steps and allowed a wave of "fuck this shit" to crash over me. I stopped the GPS and walked the final km home.

Week 2 of Juneathon out of the way with 147km; near enough a half-a-day. Suspect I'll drop the average back for the next couple of weeks, but to date I'm pretty pleased.