I knew this day would come. My brain fought it as much as it could. I postponed the inevitable as long as possible. But today, I succumbed. So, I had fair warning that a chunk of the bike path would be closed to pedestrians for a while, as it is to be upgraded (a good thing) and then, this week, cleaned up after the flood. When this is happening, they direct us to the path by the road. This is less than ideal - this path is only wide enough for one person, and is right next to a major road. Scary, especially when you have all the inconsiderate pedestrians from the bike path all jammed onto that skinny strip. I hadn't run all week (except at the gym), and this morning, rather desperate for a run, I worked out how I would do it. Instead of crossing to my normal side at Toowong, I stayed on the same side and ran along the footpath. At the Go Between Bridge, I crossed and continued along the bike path.
Some benefits and some drawbacks of this. I don't have to deal with inconsiderate pedestrians, except for a smattering of people crawling between pubs. I do have multiple side streets to cross - the risk of traffic makes me run faster though, so I consider this a plus. The lights at the GBB take forever, and they're not the sort you can ignore. I really missed the view - but I still had a visually satisfying section between the GBB and my end point. This was rather unusual as far as my runs go. The river was flowing faster than I've ever seen in person, yet looked glassier than it usually does, too. It was evident that the river had recently flooded, as the path was dirty from the silt, but you could also see how high it had come - at some places the debris line was higher than my head.
I feel so much better now - not only has the run done its usual Good Things for my brain and body and mood, but I know this is a viable option for river runs. Phew. Incidentally, I knew it had a been a while since a running post - but today there were several views of a running post from April. Weird.
Showing posts with label go between bridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label go between bridge. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Sunday, 21 October 2012
Running Over Bridges
It's been a while since I've changed my running route. Last term was not my greatest for fitness, and I generally kept to my river runs. I have a new running route in mind - but, with the heat, and my parents staying, today was not the day for this new route. Instead, I added some bridges. Brisbane is not short on bridges.
My plan was to run to the Go Between, cross the Go Between, run along to the Kurilpa Bridge, cross the Kurilpa, and come back along the bike path. All was going well, until I realised (about halfway across the Kurilpa) that I couldn't envisage how to get from the end of that bridge back down to the bike path. Instead, I retraced my steps, making the whole run a little longer (about 10.5km).
Leaving as the sun was nearing the horizon, a blazing ball of fire in a smoky sky, the jacarandas bright in the fading light, the river smooth; seeing the river from above, stretching out in both directions; returning as the sky is nearing indigo and the air cooling - I love running.
Also, as I haven't been able to do longer runs recently, I have been trying to run faster. I'm not sure it's actually been faster running, but I feel like I'm doing more work. And it's still having the mental health benefits, so that's a plus. On my way back (not great signage around that part between GBB and Kurilpa), I also realised that bridges are great for incorporating a bit more inclined running. Short of running up a mountain (which I intend to do quite a few more times), bridges have that extra bit of upward-ness that make your legs work a bit harder (with a great view to boot), and break up the monotony. And as my next running goal is rather hilly, this is a good start.
Today's photo:
The gig today was in the Roma St Parklands. It took forever to find the Sunset Glade (no maps handy - thanks, Roma St). In the process of wandering the gardens, I came across a Star Wars party. My first thought was that this was a wedding party gone to extremes. Then I found a whole lawn full of costumed people. If it was a wedding, it wasn't the wedding at which I was playing!
My plan was to run to the Go Between, cross the Go Between, run along to the Kurilpa Bridge, cross the Kurilpa, and come back along the bike path. All was going well, until I realised (about halfway across the Kurilpa) that I couldn't envisage how to get from the end of that bridge back down to the bike path. Instead, I retraced my steps, making the whole run a little longer (about 10.5km).
Leaving as the sun was nearing the horizon, a blazing ball of fire in a smoky sky, the jacarandas bright in the fading light, the river smooth; seeing the river from above, stretching out in both directions; returning as the sky is nearing indigo and the air cooling - I love running.
Also, as I haven't been able to do longer runs recently, I have been trying to run faster. I'm not sure it's actually been faster running, but I feel like I'm doing more work. And it's still having the mental health benefits, so that's a plus. On my way back (not great signage around that part between GBB and Kurilpa), I also realised that bridges are great for incorporating a bit more inclined running. Short of running up a mountain (which I intend to do quite a few more times), bridges have that extra bit of upward-ness that make your legs work a bit harder (with a great view to boot), and break up the monotony. And as my next running goal is rather hilly, this is a good start.
Today's photo:
Sunday, 15 July 2012
Just Go - Bridges
Plan A for today I thought maybe not such a good idea due to ears. Plan B would have been amazing - except I had the world's longest sleep... Well, admittedly I didn't get to sleep until about 1:30am, but still - it was super late when I woke. Plan C - just go. Unlike last time, I remembered my ear phones this time. I left in the afternoon (2:48pm, to be precise) intending to hang out in Paddington for a bit. Approaching the city though, the bridges looked so inviting, and a new plan began formulating in my head - walk across all the bridges in the CBD.
So: bus to Roma St, train to Fortitude Valley. Walk up Brunswick and Ann Streets, cross the Story Bridge. Since the last time I walked across, there are now Lifeline signs in the approach and at intervals across the bridge, which I found disconcerting. I resisted the urge to climb the railings as I didn't want to start a police incident just from my climbing instincts.
I walked down to the Thornton Street Ferry and waited for about 5 minutes for the City Hopper, which is free. Bargain. Straight across to Eagle St, then I walked along Riverside and through the Botanic Gardens. Quite a few photos later - none of which actually turned out all that well thanks to the sun position - and I got to the Goodwill Bridge. After crossing this one, I walked through South Bank. Mostly sticking to the arbour, I did stray a bit in search of a coffee, or a smoothie, or something. I eventually found Boost and had a poorly mixed banana buzz (chunks of banana, anyone?).
The Victoria Bridge had a beautiful sunset happening around it. I suspect, though, that most sunsets look attractive from this vantage point. I felt like such a tourist.
I am glad, though, for the function on the iPhone that allows selfies without arousing much suspicion.
The next part was the most boring, having to walk along George St. It's so City (and Boring City, at that). Crossing the Kurilpa Bridge at sunset was pretty spectacular (for a bridge, that is). I do like this bridge. And I was not the only photographer here! Ooh, look - it's another bridge. Yes, my face was a bit over it by now.
Although it begins the same as the Goodwill Bridge, I do like the paddlepop stick/pirate ship effect.
At sunset you have the bonus of reddening sky and that indigo that comes at dusk. Mwah.
And its curvy access from the West End side is far more interesting than most other bridges.
A short walk past GOMA, and some lengthy waits at traffic lights, brought me to the William Jolly Bridge - such a contrast from the newer bridges! I chose to walk the western side (not the city side) to make it easier to get to the next bridge. Maybe not the best choice, but as it was fairly dark by now it didn't make too much difference. For as long as I can remember, I've liked seeing the light streams from cars passing and slow shutter speeds.
From William Jolly to the Go Between was not as far as I thought - and the Go Between is far less attractive than some of its counterparts. Still, it has great views.
I then walked to the Cultural Centre bus station, narrowly missed a bus (in my own little world), chilled out for a bit and was then home at 6:55. The shower was very welcome.
It was really nice to do some things I often think I should do as a resident. Walking for the better part of 4 hours was great - and my boots did a great job! I admit, I thought about stopping after Kurilpa, but that made my back itch so I carried on. Now I need a new plan for a day's outing.
So: bus to Roma St, train to Fortitude Valley. Walk up Brunswick and Ann Streets, cross the Story Bridge. Since the last time I walked across, there are now Lifeline signs in the approach and at intervals across the bridge, which I found disconcerting. I resisted the urge to climb the railings as I didn't want to start a police incident just from my climbing instincts.
I walked down to the Thornton Street Ferry and waited for about 5 minutes for the City Hopper, which is free. Bargain. Straight across to Eagle St, then I walked along Riverside and through the Botanic Gardens. Quite a few photos later - none of which actually turned out all that well thanks to the sun position - and I got to the Goodwill Bridge. After crossing this one, I walked through South Bank. Mostly sticking to the arbour, I did stray a bit in search of a coffee, or a smoothie, or something. I eventually found Boost and had a poorly mixed banana buzz (chunks of banana, anyone?).
The Victoria Bridge had a beautiful sunset happening around it. I suspect, though, that most sunsets look attractive from this vantage point. I felt like such a tourist.
I am glad, though, for the function on the iPhone that allows selfies without arousing much suspicion.
Although it begins the same as the Goodwill Bridge, I do like the paddlepop stick/pirate ship effect.
At sunset you have the bonus of reddening sky and that indigo that comes at dusk. Mwah.
And its curvy access from the West End side is far more interesting than most other bridges.
A short walk past GOMA, and some lengthy waits at traffic lights, brought me to the William Jolly Bridge - such a contrast from the newer bridges! I chose to walk the western side (not the city side) to make it easier to get to the next bridge. Maybe not the best choice, but as it was fairly dark by now it didn't make too much difference. For as long as I can remember, I've liked seeing the light streams from cars passing and slow shutter speeds.
From William Jolly to the Go Between was not as far as I thought - and the Go Between is far less attractive than some of its counterparts. Still, it has great views.
I then walked to the Cultural Centre bus station, narrowly missed a bus (in my own little world), chilled out for a bit and was then home at 6:55. The shower was very welcome.
It was really nice to do some things I often think I should do as a resident. Walking for the better part of 4 hours was great - and my boots did a great job! I admit, I thought about stopping after Kurilpa, but that made my back itch so I carried on. Now I need a new plan for a day's outing.
Monday, 9 April 2012
The Go Between Bridge
And here we have another post on running. I do love running.
For the last couple of months, my standard run has been to the Go Between bridge - an 8 km return run. In the last couple of weeks, I've made myself run up the last hill leading to the bridge, which makes the descent feel wonderful. After the legwork required to get up to the top, stretching out the legs and sprinting down to the bridge is such a wonderful feeling. I probably have an insane grin on my face at the time.
Even though the Go Between has been up for about 2 years, I've never walked or run across it. Today was the day. It only adds about 500m to the length of the run, but I figure now I've done this I can run more along the other side of the river.
The best bit about tonight was, as soon as I had run up the stairs to the bridge, there was lightning over Mt Coot-tha, and this continued for all the return run. Now, I was pretty sure my brother had said there was a great water fountain on the other side. There wasn't - it was just a dribble. The great water fountain is on this side.
My actual run was not amazing - it felt like hard work, probably from the large number of alcohol units consumed over the last 2 days. Now I can't wait though to run more around West End and South Bank.
For the last couple of months, my standard run has been to the Go Between bridge - an 8 km return run. In the last couple of weeks, I've made myself run up the last hill leading to the bridge, which makes the descent feel wonderful. After the legwork required to get up to the top, stretching out the legs and sprinting down to the bridge is such a wonderful feeling. I probably have an insane grin on my face at the time.
Even though the Go Between has been up for about 2 years, I've never walked or run across it. Today was the day. It only adds about 500m to the length of the run, but I figure now I've done this I can run more along the other side of the river.
The best bit about tonight was, as soon as I had run up the stairs to the bridge, there was lightning over Mt Coot-tha, and this continued for all the return run. Now, I was pretty sure my brother had said there was a great water fountain on the other side. There wasn't - it was just a dribble. The great water fountain is on this side.
My actual run was not amazing - it felt like hard work, probably from the large number of alcohol units consumed over the last 2 days. Now I can't wait though to run more around West End and South Bank.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)