Sunday diversion

Terrigal Trotters, as one way of keeping members active and connected during this time of social-distancing, has been setting weekly challenges for its members.  This week's challenge was to create a piece of Strava art.  For those unfamilar with Strava, it is database to which runners, cyclists, etc., load details of their exploits as recorded on their smartphones or smartwatches.  The course travelled is shown on a map, and if you want, you can cover a course that creates an image or message.

Julie has been right into this, and composed a number of different artworks over the past few days -- snail, shoe, COVID-19 sign -- even travelling to a mall parking lot in the early hours so that she had sufficient creative space.  Meanwhile, I have only been able to summon the energy for one effort, a running stick figure, and we got up early this morning to run my planned course.

Looking from Wamberal towards Terrigal this morning

The reason for the early rising was that one part of the course passed near (or, perhaps, through) the private property of a notoriously zealous owner high on a forested ridge.  However, when we got there, we found the owner's fortifications had been improved since my last visit and, despite the early hour, it did not seem worth the risk of provoking him, or possibly, his guard dog, by climbing the formidable gate or fence.  I chickened out and so one of my running figure's arms is a little shorter than planned.

Looking north over Wamberal Lagoon this morning

It was a bit of a stop-and-start run 11km run, marred by a face-plant on a concrete footpath in the dark first kilometre, which shook me up and took a little bark off one hand and one elbow.  But no real harm done, and we completed the planned run on another beautiful cool crisp and clear morning.  Back and hips still a little stiff and sore, but I'm on the right track.