It really is a distinctive little course. Over the last few years it’s grown into that tough little half that starts at the finish of the Hill to Harbour Fun Run – runs out to the Fun Runners start – and then traces back to the finish. What does that give you?
A mighty tough course.
The course is unquestionably very scenic. Starting as it does in the park across from Horseshoe Beach. Then there’s the run out along Nobby’s Breakwall…so far… so flat.
Then it gets nasty.
The savage little climb to the top of Fort Scratchley, followed by the rolling hills past Newcastle Hospital. If you don’t want to make a right turn into the emergency ward… you soon will.
Next comes the relentless climb of King Edward Park. Way longer and harder than Sydney’s famous Heartbreak Hill. You then plummet ( that’s the only word for it ) down toward the beach and the assembled mass of 10k runners waiting for their race. Plummeting is all well and good but in a few minutes you’re going to be climbing back up it as you retrace your steps back to the start.
Just remember to look occasionally at the sun shining on the ocean as you run home. There’s got to be worse places to run than this on a Sunday morning.
This year’s run was very slow. 1 hour 49 minutes 41 sec…( about 8 minutes slower than last years ) But as I say… There’s got to be worse places to run than this on a Sunday morning.
PS… While quite disappointed in this year’s time, I did run a 35km long session a week later at a faster pace than the race pace for 21.1 kms in the Hill to Harbour. So go figure.
A mighty tough course.
The course is unquestionably very scenic. Starting as it does in the park across from Horseshoe Beach. Then there’s the run out along Nobby’s Breakwall…so far… so flat.
Then it gets nasty.
The savage little climb to the top of Fort Scratchley, followed by the rolling hills past Newcastle Hospital. If you don’t want to make a right turn into the emergency ward… you soon will.
Next comes the relentless climb of King Edward Park. Way longer and harder than Sydney’s famous Heartbreak Hill. You then plummet ( that’s the only word for it ) down toward the beach and the assembled mass of 10k runners waiting for their race. Plummeting is all well and good but in a few minutes you’re going to be climbing back up it as you retrace your steps back to the start.
Just remember to look occasionally at the sun shining on the ocean as you run home. There’s got to be worse places to run than this on a Sunday morning.
This year’s run was very slow. 1 hour 49 minutes 41 sec…( about 8 minutes slower than last years ) But as I say… There’s got to be worse places to run than this on a Sunday morning.
PS… While quite disappointed in this year’s time, I did run a 35km long session a week later at a faster pace than the race pace for 21.1 kms in the Hill to Harbour. So go figure.
2011 Time: 1 hr 49 min 41 sec
