Feral Postcards

Ferals take on Tarawera ultra trail in beautiful Rotorua NZ

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:32:20 GMT

We didn't let the pouring rain, wet and very muddy conditions dampen our spirits! What a gorgeous place to run! Beautiful lakes and forest and lush tropical foliage. Highly recommend this one! Who's coming next year? Sharon Careri took on the 52km while myself, Tony Rokov and Graig Violi ran the 23km course!

UTMB Slip & Slide Rotorua

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:35:49 GMT

150mm on the track on Friday makes it nice and sloppy

Sunshine and Roses in NZ

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 03:54:27 GMT

Hayley McLoud and I completed the Queenstown Marathon in New Zealand on 16.11.24. The Scenery was beyond spectacular. This is one to definitely stop and smell the roses! Well, there were no roses but snow capped mountains, running streams, beautiful lakes and lush green fields!

Coast to Coast on KI

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:15:09 GMT

The Hydro Tasmania King Island Imperial 20 is a 32km handicapped run from one side of the island to the other. The only coast to coast race in Australia, it can be run solo or as a 2 to 4 person team relay. This event now in its 31^st year. The race record is held by Steve Moneghetti who ran in 2002. Vanessa Wilson ran the fastest female time in 2020 – just over 2 hours.

The Feral Jogger contingent was 4 members plus an invitee so that I didn’t have to run so far. Janelle and Anna tackled the 32 kilometres after weeks of dedicated training. My son Julian and I (not so dedicated) ran the course as a team so 16km each – me first then Julz. Louanne entered the 8km walk. The finish line was placed so that entrants had to run past it down to Currie Harbour and back up Wharf Hill before the home straight. This last 1500 metres was tough.

Unseasonably warm weather on the Saturday and locals were saying how dry the island was – brown not green. Thankfully the temperature dropped overnight and Sunday was mild with a breeze at the start. Drink stops every 4km and lots of friendly volunteers. 156 entrants for the various categories including 2 pram pushers and three 70+ Active ageing participants in the 4 and 8 km walking events. 39 runners signed up for the 32km. So not a mainland size event but it had a nice community feel and it was fun exploring the island before and after the run. Fairy Penguins sighted one evening at Grassy Harbour. Local beer from the brewery and the famous King Island cheese tasted. Another fantastic away event.

International Debut

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:37:47 GMT

Edinburgh Half Marathon

So much anticipation and trepidation leading up to this run. Then the excitement of getting to Edinburgh to visit my daughter and run my first overseas event. 10,000 competitors for the half marathon lined up at the start at 8am in the old part of the city. The weather was perfect. With a downhill run to the coast and then out to Musselborough this was a fast course (for some); the winning female ran the course in 1:14:48.

I was more than happy to run the course at a comfortable pace taking a few photos here and there. A 10 minute wait for a portaloo half way was a bummer. Thank you Anna and Janelle for letting me join your morning runs; training was so much easier with company. This was my 13^th half marathon and after a couple of covid years I thought it might be my last. Training runs on my own were slow and hard but it's amazing what can happen on the day; I think an away event for me is the key from now on.

Another Thousand Steps

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 02:33:47 GMT

You may know the Thousand Steps in the Dandenongs (actually 780). There is a brand new Thousand Steps in Bacchus Marsh which is a touch over the thousand so you won't feel ripped off. Newly completed, then renovated after a massive storm, it will be developed further with a sculpture park at the top to add to the massive view back to the city and Geelong.

1014 steps I'm told. 150 metres vertical. Current Strava records for the Up are 6:43 for men and 9:52 for women. 17:48 for me. Very popular morning walk for locals.

The start of the Thousand Steps at Bacchus Marsh (Darley) is just one minute north of the Western Freeway from Melbourne to Ballarat. A recommended detour for any Feral on the road, or as a day trip from Melbourne.

Japan was a Blast

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 05:24:25 GMT

We are managing the train system very well, so many friendly helpful people. Crossed the famous Scramble Square at Shibuya! Marathon tomorrow!

I finished! Great day, doesn’t get any easier these days! Happy with 4:10 and a qualifier for Boston in my age group by 10mins! Fingers crossed I get in next year and then that completes my 6 Abbott World Marathon Majors!

Waiting at Haneda airport for our flight home, have had a fabulous holiday. Really enjoyed Japan, the marathon, the places and the people. Would totally recommend it as a place to visit!

Running Route 66

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 05:05:48 GMT

Hi Fellow Ferals,

Whilst on our road trip along Route 66 we swung by Springfield, for a bit of Yankee history, and then onto St. Louis where I caught up with ‘The Runner’! The locals were very impressed with both my style and speed.

Regards Bob

PS. My Blinky knee is recovering well, though as I explained to the locals, was having a bit of a negative impact on my speed.

I Performed for Trump ... no, Deek

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 01:00:22 GMT

New York Marathon was 4th November, Kim and another 2 friends from Griffith came to cheer me on!

New York starts on Staten Island on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and finishes in Central Park Manhattan. Running through the five Burroughs of New York : Staten Island, The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan.

A very early start, left the hotel by 6am and my wave didn’t start until 10:40am, so lots of waiting around at the start. [Like the good old days of C2S : ed] Very well catered for with coffee, bagels etc to help yourself too. We were very lucky with the weather it was a perfect day with a high of 13 and a sunny sky.

The highlight of New York Marathon was meeting Robert DeCastella and his Indigenous Marathon Project runners, they were also in our Travelling Fit group. A fabulous group of very inspiring young people and supporters with individual stories to tell about their journey to make it to the start line of the 2018 New York Marathon.

At the moment the try outs for this years New York Marathon are on with trials happening in various places around Australia. All information can be found on their website: Indigenous Marathon Foundation www.imf.org.au

Three Abbott World Majors completed, three to go. Will be off to Chicago this year in October, then only Tokyo and Boston to go!

I Performed for the Queen

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 00:51:11 GMT

London Marathon 2018!

I have been lucky enough to participate in two Abbott World Major Marathons last year, April 24th in the London Marathon and have New York November 4th.

Both marathons were fabulous with different highlights in each. Both have massive crowd support for the entire 42.295km and loads of bands playing fabulous music.

London runs from Greenwich with wave starts and staggered starting times. Wave groups run separately until 5kms.

It was an early start, leaving the hotel by bus at 7am to get to the start, considering I didn’t cross the start line until 10.30am. This year it was the hottest day in the history of the London Marathon. I was hoping for cooler conditions!

The finish is on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. I wasn’t as prepared for London as New York as I was just coming back from a knee and Achilles injury which impeded me being able to train adequately. I was determined to finish as I wasn’t going all that way not to do it! Also had Kim and my three daughters there to cheer me on. We had a fabulous holiday, visiting London, Ireland, Wales, Bath, Germany and Switzerland with a one night stopover in Bangkok on the way home.

Thanks & au revoir

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 03:04:48 GMT

17 Nov 2018 Hi Neil & Joggers

I just enjoyed my last run with the Feral Joggers (and what a track to finish on!). I'm completing my studies in Griffith this week and will be heading back to Sydney for further study next year.

Just wanted to say thanks for having me in the Ferals over the last 9 months. Each week I'm thoroughly impressed at how well organised each run is, and the number of people who turn up to run each week. Moreover, everyone has always been very friendly and welcoming towards me. I've really enjoyed running with your group, and I'll take with me fun memories of my time with the Ferals (though I'm trying hard to forget all my disqualifications and times when I got lost!).

Thanks again, and if I'm ever in Griffith on a Saturday afternoon, I'll certainly pop by for another run.

All the best.

Can't Say I Enjoyed This One

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 10:37:33 GMT

See the sunny blues skies and the long views of snow capped mountains? I didn't! All I saw was low cloud, rain, mist, rain, cloud and more rain.

It was wet and cold at the start line and rained most of the way around. Temperature around 13°C. 100km of nasty hills before we got some flat land. Hmm! Not so good for a boy from the flatlands. I got dropped on every uphill and fanged every downhill.

Luckily my rental had a hot bath to warm up in.

Simon Succumbs to the Delights of Smoko

Thu, 25 Oct 2018 10:26:28 GMT

The reason this postcard has been so long in coming is not because of the Swiss postal service because as we all know the Swiss are efficient in all things (some say they are Germans with obsessive, compulsive disorder), but because I have witnessed the upset that a sudden drop in a jogger's performance can have on his family. So after much consideration, and hence the delay, I believe it is in the best interests of furthering the Feral Jogging Movement that this story must be told.

Recently Jan and I were on a European River Cruise with a group from Griffith. Simon Fattore's parents, Sergio and Angelina, were in the group, so I thought they would enjoy hearing how Simon and Fiona were running on the hill. So every Sunday morning I would go to our website, download their performances and report to Serg' and Angelina. This was something of a mixed blessing for them.

While they were very pleased with Fiona's performance (she was consistently in the top 10, frequently in the first three placings), Simon's performance (usually languishing at the tail of the field, and being beaten by Fiona not only on handicap but also her net times) was a great disappointment to them both. While Angelina struggled to explain away Simon's sudden slump in performance, Serg' said he knew what was causing it and why it was happening now.

Apparently, Simon has a fondness for all things on offer on the Smoko Van, and with Sergio not at home to curtail him, he believed Simon was having extended Smokos and sampling everything the van had to offer. Serg' believed there could be no other plausible explanation for such a sudden and dramatic slump in form! Simply put, while Sergio was away Simon was immersing himself in a Smoko binge. He also recalled how overly enthusiastic Simon was to see them go on this trip!!

So while Jan and I continued our trip into Switzerland and northern Italy, Sergio and Angelina made a hasty return to Griffith to rescue Simon from the temptations of the dreaded Smoko van.

I'm glad to report that since Sergio and Angelina's return, Simon's performance on the hill (and I believe his efficiency in the workshop) have returned to something he, and his parents can be proud of.

FERAL RULE 106b: Good jogging requires self-discipline and good, sensible diet. This is a rule I have endeavored to strictly adhere to over many years of slogging it out on the hill.

Regards Bob Barker.

PS. Have included 2 photos, the first is me with Simon's parents who put on a brave face for the photo, the second of me after a brisk run around the foreshore of Lake Como.

John eats, walks ... no running on a full stomach

Sat, 13 Oct 2018 09:27:28 GMT

Hi all, currently spending time in a little town called Possagno in northern Italy. It is home to the famous sculptor Antonio Canova with approximately 2,000 people and is not far from Venice. The area is hilly and makes for great walking (I have eaten too much here to run). The weather is unusually warm which is a bonus also although I just wish I didn't pack so many winter clothes. I have made many trips to Venice. I trust all is well back home.

Melburn Roobaix delivers

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 10:37:33 GMT

Melburn Roobaix 2018 ... done! Officially 48km, I did closer to 90km with getting to the start, and back from the finish. This year's distractions included : serious bicycle traffic jam along the Yarra Trail, coffee at Coffee Supreme sponsor, beer and food at Temple Brewing sponsor, climbing ridiculously steep steps with bike, free mulled wine by sponsor, cupcake and cowbell giveaway, several navigation errors, filling out competition entry forms, laughing at weirdly dressed riders on crazy bikes, cobbles, gravel and back street graffiti and scenery.

I'll take that as a Postcard Tom

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 07:28:45 GMT

Missed Ferals yesterday. Here’s why. Completed the Nail Can Hill Run. They weren’t kidding when they said some serious uphill sections! Everyone walked the hill around the 3km mark as you can tell from the times. After that it was all downhill, followed by more uphill, then repeat a few more times.

Really happy with that time and results. I think Monaghetti retains his record of just under 35 minutes. Goes to show how good he was.

Round Two with Trumpie

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 07:57:38 GMT

        Trip 2: How to Beat Trumpies Censorship Squad - The Postcard was posted at Sydney Airport
        Just returned from the United States of Trumpia where we celebrated Thanksgiving with our Trumpian family who live in Fort Wayne (F troop country, and yes, Fort Wayne does have a replica of its fort). As it was early Autumn there were a number of runs organised before their snow season begins, and we had been entered into two of them, Fort4Fitness (10k and 5k runs. As I was on holidays I entered the 5k run) and the 'Fort Wayne Thanksgiving Turkey Trot'. The Fort4Fitness run was a twilight run which runs through the riverside parks. As the lead runners (not me, maybe I was slowed by jet lag) pass different points the town's Christmas lights are turned on for the first time, very impressive. The Turkey Trot is run early on Thanksgiving Day and is very social with lucky draws,etc..
        The Griffith Feral Joggers shirt was a bit of a conversation starter with the locals, some thought I came from Griffith, Illinois (south east of Chicago).
        All in all two very interesting trips to a country that is truly blessed with natural beauty and wealth, and many, many of their people are also very welcoming and pleasant ... it's just the others that are a worry!

Battle with Trumpie

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 07:48:55 GMT

Trip 1 : The "Lost" Postcard:
My last postcard from the United States of Trumpia seems to have been lost in the post, perhaps it was deemed to have contained only fake news and Donald's media police intercepted it. Anyway on that trip we decided to run around a couple of National Parks in an attempt to spread the philosophy of and demonstrate what it is to be truly Feral. So collected our family in Fort Wayne before flying to Las Vagas, no doubt the ultimate example of what Trumpia is striving to become, and what all its excess is all about. As they say 'God blessed Trumpia' but its good citizens are doing their darndest to overdevelop it into 'the Trumpian Dream' by digging up, shooting up and generally stuffing up, and burying all its natural beauty under tons of concrete and high rise, and wrapping them in neon lights and other garish excesses, after all this is 'the Trumpian way'. And then there is its people, while many are very nice and even informed about about what's making news in their country (and even some in what's going on in the rest of the world) , all too many are way over weight (seems like a wheel chair for the obese is a fashion item in airports and casinos in LV, and many other parts of the country for that matter), and alarmingly ill informed, truly believing that the solution to every serious, and not so serious, issue is to use deadly force; even being pulled over for speeding, can see you looking down the barrel of a 'politely spoken officer of the law who seems scared s--tless that you too may have a gun', so hands on the steering wheel in clear view of the officer, NOW ! Everyone seems to be mindful that citizens of Trumpia have the right to bear arms and to store an arsenal in their homes, and this has a negative affect on their disposition. No one seems to be totally at ease and it certainly has an impact on their sense of humour! No wonder John Wayne was such a Trumpian hero figure as he seems to have modelled the way Trumpians problem solve. Needless to say this concern about your good neighbour has given rise to the belief that everyone needs to have a house full of guns and 'pack iron' when out and about (we even saw some Trumpians wearing holstered guns as they vacated in LV, I guess that's the Trumpian take on packing for holidays) to protect themselves and their family. On the up-side it does seem to encourage polite conversations and has eradicated anti-social behaviours like road rage. Finally what do Trumpians think of Trump? Answer: While there are those (and there are more then you would expect who think he's the best thing since Hugh Heffner, many, most, express their dismay that out of 280 million people, this was the best they could come up with. Even saw a bumper sticker that said 'I'm Republican but I didn't vote for Trump', it appears the majority disliked Hillary and the Clintons even more than Trump and took a punt, and are now seeing themselves as the laughing stock of the world.
So not impressed with Las Vegas and the type of holiday it offers, our decision was to 'head for the hills' or at least the National Parks as quick as we could. And what magnificent places these parks are: first stop stop Paige(Arizona) to raft down the Colorado River in Glen Canyon (including going around Horseshoe Bend) and then to 'track' through Slot Canyon which has been sculptured by rushing water and wind (a real highlight), then it was off to Bryce Canyon (Utah) for a gentle jog to the bottom of the canyon and back up again in the snow, truly beautiful !! Our last port of call was Zion National Park , completely different, where sheer rock faces and rocky tracks (not dissimilar to the Hill tracks) contrasted to the other places we 'jogged' around. Plenty of wildlife and magnificent scenery; a must see and for Ferals, a must jog!

Birdseye of Berlin

Thu, 12 Oct 2017 10:09:01 GMT

The card from Werner on Postcrossing of the Berlin Marathon of 1991. This was Werner's first marathon. It's enough to give a person goosebumps, hey Teresa.

Greetings from Nericon

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 00:06:57 GMT

Wish you were here.