Date: Friday, 5 August 2016

From: heff

Globe Trotting with Heff

Postcard from Europe
Recently I was fortunate enough to visit the magnificent architecture and see breathtaking scenery around Europe, and while running in Venice, Lucerne, Paris and London was enjoyable ... give me a jog around Scenic Hill with a Feral Mate any day?
Regards, HEFF

Date: Monday, 13 June 2016

From: Tarek

Wilsons Prom 100 ultramarathon

Greetings,

Just got back this week after running the Wilsons Prom 100 ultramarathon.

What had promised to be a mild, balmy run around the Prom, for many, became a battle to survive the elements in what many runners called atrocious running conditions, lashing horizontal rain, winds gusting over 50kmph and leeches by the dozen which assaulted the unsuspecting runners. Add to that the raid on race HQ by frenzied, lamington starved, giant wombats and it had just a bit of everything for everyone.

Somehow I missed all that, and ended up having a very enjoyable 100km. Yes I have leech bites, but more importantly I had zero feet issues despite them being soaked all day and even more importantly having finally sorted out my nutrition woes, didn't have to crawl myself out of any slumps. I took nearly an hour of my previous time, and it would have been more except for the fact that seeing past fern fronds in torchlight in pouring rain is not that easy and you have to slow down heaps.

I always love this run. It is a real privilege to run around on sublime single trail and gorgeous beaches on such a beautiful bit of our coastline. Even in these conditions.

This time they threw in history as well with the Australian Commando Association getting involved with the event including manning checkpoint and providing trophies. The Prom used to be the commando training area in WW2 and being regaled by a 92 yr old coast watcher from WW2 at the conclusion of the event was a rare honour.

For those aspiring long distance runners (and walkers) who love good scenery you need to get your butts down to an event like this. PS...you can walk the 44km and 60km events within the cut-offs. Next years event is May  6. They also have some shorter runs at Darby river on the Sunday.

Attached are some photos. Me, a Lamington starved wombat,  a group of various runners, ACA members and crew in front of memorial (I'm in there somewhere), and tidal river from the campsite (the track in the background is in the event)

Regards

Tarek

Date: Friday, 6 May 2016

From: Brendon

The Horror, The Pain ... what pain?

 Scientists say the brain doesn’t remember pain and that theory is well and truly reinforced at Albury’s 11.3km Nail Can Hill Run.  You remember you’ve run it several times before but when you’re heading up that hill you just don’t remember it hurting as bad as that.

 2016 saw the 40^th running of the event which continues to grow and with 929 finishers this year it made for a great atmosphere at the start and finish lines.  Heff, Mrs Heff (Leanne), Jeremy and Brendon commuted together, Janet took the “scenic” route courtesy of her Sat Nav and we met an eager Lena at the start.   Conditions were cool with the strong gusting winds at times threatening to tear off your race bib. Thankfully the predicted four-to-six inches of rain were replaced by a few heavy showers in the 48 hours leading into the race leaving the track in reasonable shape.

 Brendon was, unusually, the first Feral across the line in 53.38 with Heff only 25 seconds behind him. Lena (58.52) was more than two minutes faster than her 2015 race time and Janet was eighth in her category with her time of 63.07. “Mr Consistent” Jeremy posted 61.46, an almost identical time to 2015 proving that one training run per week is definitely enough.

 Paddy’s Irish Pub was our lunch destination this trip and the parmies were up there with the best (and biggest) and as usual the beers were hard to beat too.

 What happened to Leanne I hear you ask? After enjoying breakfast with her daughter from Melbourne she met us at the finish line, and no she wasn’t the designated driver, well at least not until we got back to Leeton where Heff enjoyed a “couple” of well-earned cold ones!

 We’ll be back next year, some for the fun, others to settle unfinished business and… I’ve already forgotten how much it hurt!

 David, Leanne, Jeremy, Janet, Lena and Brendon

Date: Tuesday, 3 May 2016

From: Di

Speedy Ferals

Catholic Diocesan Carnival held last Friday at Holbrook included all Catholic schools from Albury, Wagga, Griffith and surrounds.

Our young Ferals gave it an rhg and the following have qualified for the NSW Catholic Cross Country at Eastern Creek in June.

 3km Runners

Breanna Restagno (1st)

Ava Kelly (7th)

Taine Moraschi (5th)

2km Runners

Ella Savage (3rd)

Jordan Piva (6th)

 Reserve runners are

Milla Vecchio (10th)

Luca Piva (10th)

Date: Monday, 25 April 2016

From: Neil

Blayney Blues

Elio & myself, a few other Ferals, and a heap of Cycle Club members endured the bastardry of the Blayney to Bathurst.  That's Elio in the photo staging an incident to avoid the pain of the Rockley Hill.  It would have been a pleasant 100km without the Rockley Hill which is plainly inserted for the gonzo element on two wheels and not us normal people.  Beside the ride, the highlight of the weekend was the best Lebanese food I've had for decades at Malouf's in Bathurst ... if you are passing that way, Malouf's Bathurst!

Neil 4:24:40    Elio 4:48:30    Don't ask for age placing ... 50-64 years is a ridiculously unfair age spread!!