On To The Grass, Through The Line - Running The South Freo Parkrun

Padam Padam, Padam Padam! Hypnotic Kylie intonations a prelude to Parkrun. Turn off Spotify on phone. Earbuds out, beautiful morning! Joggers warming up over there? Kikuyu grass, lurk in the shade for a bit. Favourite shirt on…feeling ready.

Pat pocket -car key and Parkrun barcode there? Yes. Good. Just relax. Rush to find a parking bay – carpark full. Swimmers down here; backpackers too. Made the start though.

Course director calls out the rules. ‘Kids stick with parents’. Mmmm. Ok, time – spring tide of runners slides towards start line. Talking, barking, laughing. Not many listening. Jostling. And ‘go!’…

What’s this? Follow the white cones around the Norfolk pines first? Safer start I suppose…don’t want trips or falls near the outdoor shower…

Back on the path. Still a flood of runners, feet pound on.

Pass ‘tap corner’. Multi-coloured budgie smuggler man laughs, flashing navy tattoo, washing down canoe. Wet dog strays on path – watch him!

Ok. Settling now, Café Bistro 21 a blur on left. Saturday table chatter… Could’ve just done coffee instead… Heartrate rising – no glance at watch needed to know it. Frontrunners stretching long ahead. Pace 4.30 hot – don’t go out too fast…

Runners settling in. Warm morning; watch for dugites. Shoes skid on sand patches drifting over the path. Smell of coastal bushes wafts over. Mum and pram coming up – I need to stick left… Panting behind me – leave room for them to overtake! Dad and double pram race past. Sleepy toddlers; superstar dad.

Is this uphill? Feels it. More of them I’ll bet. Downwards again… good.

Catherine Point. Picnickers on rug. Sweep past the groyne … and down, down … up! Aaahh, the view – Coogee Beach a picture. Bulkies at anchor on the horizon.

Kadak, kadak…kadak, kadak. Container train shuffling south. Very Freo.

Watch vibrates…on pace. Is that a niggle, left ankle? Straight coming up, young bloke passes on right. Well done! Tuck in behind? no…stick to plan. Too old for that.

Hello CY!! Bursting from the waves … there you are! Inspiring work Tony Jones. Noble in the shallows.. Two clicks down; Robbs Jetty on left must explore one day.

Down into the trees now, shade at last. Everyone in rhythm now. Ahead, leader coming back. How can he look that relaxed and smooth? Flashes past. Ground graffiti beneath me – ‘Are you worth it,something something’ couldn’t read it, too fast. Yes, I’m worth it. Press on, hold pace. Close gap to teenage girl ahead. Can see no earbuds, so offer a ‘going well’. Press ahead. Deep shade; casuarina cloisters – peaceful.

Turn coming up. Mumble thanks to volunteer – he smiles back. Girl 10m behind me, hanging in there. Here comes the high trotter, lifting legs up and up. Gloucester Park tonight? Flashy shoes! Twist and duck as foliage scrapes my hat. Back in the sun now. Lycra lady walking south, ahead of me. PARIS, says her red cap. Got to get back to Paris! Run the Seine. Tailwalker coming – share nod and smile.

Breakwater! Left and into the sand. Torture. Out to sea!…rocks….a rod – herring sparkling and twisting as he’s lifted in the air. And … there’s the turn!

Back along the groyne. No, another hat – COUNTRY ROAD. The irony … on a bloody country road right now. Bitumen again … please!

Northwards, apartments like toasters. Snake alert. Café comes in sight. Legs burning, but I’m alright …hang on, hang in…breathing hard. Beach path intersection right ahead. Watch out! Shibuya in South Freo. I’m through, no crash …

Gully, tap corner again ….and left into the shade and on to the beach… Hey, that’s Deepak, hi mate!

Shoes sinking in warm sand. Fifty more feet to the water. Good … on the hard sand. Not far now.

Beach culture on show. Child’s bucket and spade. Pass lady in 70s in sparkling shallows pressing water out of hair. Elegant. Glance up, boys diving from pontoon.

Leaders coming back from groyne…and. now I’m there too……Seriously, do I have to run around that leaning flag? Done.

Home straight, swerve left and right swerve through oncoming traffic. Stay on the hardest sand. Oh, wave. Wet shoe. Jump left! Shipping News Editor wading of all things! Hey there!
Mr Double Pram not so speedy now…..thin wheels stuck in deep sand. Spins pram backwards to tow. Dad of year.

Heart pounding, slog up beach. Last 100m. Red shirt flagging in front. I can beat him! ‘Go’ he urges.

On to the grass, through the line. Fumble for barcode slip in pocket, shaking hands… Heart rate slows. Runners now coming through. Jubilant finishers, everyone a winner. Time for coffee!

By Neil Stanbury

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