Sandringham Line (Part 2) Elsternwick to Sandringham
ELSTERNWICK. 12/3/2019. 210th and last Run.
Home base - so I actually ran this a few times over the course of the challenge. But for most runs it was starting from home and running to Elsternwick to catch a train to start the day. The opposite of the rest of the runs. So finally I made it a separate run and ran it as the last run overall. After doing Pakenham (The longest run of the challenge at 53 km) it seemed like a relaxing way to finish. I enjoyed it far more than some of the others.
4302 km and 210 stations. Earliest start at 4:30 am and latest finish I remember around 9:45 pm. Trains, Buses, Trams, Punts and Ubers - all necessary to get to the start of the runs. Coldest morning around 3 degrees and hottest day about 35 degrees. Saw friends, enemies, idiots and celebrities. Oldest station Flinders St was first built in 1854 and I ran Southland the day after it opened.
GARDENVALE. 31/1/2017. 12th Run.
Gardenvale was run in conjunction with Ripponlea to make the day worthwhile. I ran to Gardenvale first and then after a quick stop at home - headed off to Ripponlea. Even doing and out and back for both stations on the same morning, it was still an easy day. But with just under two hundred stations to go, I knew the runs would eventually get tougher. So I just enjoyed it while I could.
NORTH BRIGHTON. 12/9/2017. 84th Run.
Woke up to a cold and dreary day so decided to pick off one of the shorter runs that was left. North Brighton as an out and back would be quick. The threat of rain never resulted in anything and after taking a direct path to get there, I detoured a bit to get back and enjoyed a run along the Elwood canal. Very easy run and home earlier than planned which was a bonus.
MIDDLE BRIGHTON. 4/7/2017. 68th Run
Set up as a cold and wet morning so I made the decision to wear a rain jacket that my wife had bought for me a few weeks earlier. I normally don’t run with a long sleeve jacket but if it’s cold it would certainly be necessary. All good until about 200 meters into the run when it was apparent that it wasn’t going to rain and was already over 10 degrees. Gave up on the jacket after a couple of kms and tied around my waste. Nice old style station and home early.
BRIGHTON BEACH. 8/2/2017. 16th Run.
Still within range to do the out and back and avoid the train rides a bit longer. Made my way down New St until I got to the Dendy St / New St round-about. Made an effort to follow the walking track along the train line from there, but got a bit lost so decided to stick to the roads after that and finally got to the station. Ran home along the bay trail back to Elwood beach. Was only 17 degrees but with humidity at 96% it felt very muggy.
HAMPTON. 31/12/2016. 1st Run.
Officially the first run of the 210 stations that I ended up doing. And the only station that was done before the start of 2017. New Years Eve and I decided to run to Hampton and back. Hot day and I took the opportunity to have a break in Hampton St near the station. This is the station that I caught the train from each morning to Uni in my first year of Chemical Engineering - many memories. Back to the station for the run home and ran back along the beach at a leisurely pace. Good preparation for a drink to welcome 2017.
SANDRINGHAM. 2/8/2017. 76th Run.
Still feeling soreness in my back after running the “Run Melbourne” half marathon last Sunday. Maybe I made it worse? Caught the 5:59 am train to Sandringham but didn’t seem to help my back as felt the pain as soon as I started running. Cold and foggy morning probably didn’t help me warm up properly. Felt uncomfortable for most of the run so off to the physio for treatment. Still believe I can run this out.