Cherrybrook STaR

Another early morning and even more frost on the windscreen this morning as winter finally decides to show up, just before spring. Up to Cherrybrook for what is traditionally a tough STaR. The 6:10 group was pretty big today. With quite a few refugees from the 6:20 group also joining in it was no surprise to see some of the other regular 6:20'ers earlier as it would have been a pretty small bunch.

In the group were Spud, Langswm and co (Langswd??) and Kev Tiller. Sawdust caught up pretty shortly and we had a good group going up through Cumberland Forrest and then out along through Cherrybrook. The RH achilles was twinging a bit right from the start, something I just put down to the cold and the hard workout from yesterday. A pretty good pace along here and then down into the bush to Berowra Creek and then up the brutal hill to the pony club. Through here the rh achilles really started to complain and so I eased up headed up the hill. Once we reached level ground it was obvious that I was still going to struggle a little, but I pressed on hoping it would clear up.

By the next set of hills it was very obvious that it was not going to clear up so discretion instead of valour was adopted and I took all available shortcuts to get back to the start. Each upslope meant a quick shuffle or walking and when I got back I tried stretching which was not good. Had a quick chat and headed home for ice and voltaren.

Still did around 22km (still to download from Garmin) and even ended up averaging 5:30 pace which is more a testament to the faster pace at the start rather than me keeping going coming home.

Got home and iced up but also noticed I seemed quite crappy generally, dropping into a snooze on the lounge. Even had an afternoon sleep as well but feel better for it now. It seems the 10km maybe took a bit more out yesterday than I though, even though I was feeling and running good for the first 15 or so km.

Rest day tomorrow will see how the heel pulls up before jumping to any conclusions. What a contrast in 2 days, the highs and lows of running....