Hello!
It’s Wednesday and I’ve woken up!
The day doesn’t start much better than that 🙂
Running a Marathon – no not me!
Our Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail had a special event over the weekend – the first marathon was run using the 21km rail trail. It’s now an accredited marathon course too by the way!
The full marathon went out and came back totalling 42km, the half marathon runners were driven out to Rosewood and ran back for 21km, the 10km runners and walkers ran out 5km and turned around. It was a great day!
Now for full disclosure our volunteer rail trail committee wasn’t involved in the organisation of it but we were used as volunteers at one of the drink stations, and our chairperson, none other than the Mathematician himself, was one of the two ‘sweepers’ on bikes coming in behind all the runners and making sure everyone was OK. They had the slowest rides of their lives but enjoyed the social aspects of it all.
Those ‘running’ the event were experienced in this type of thing and did it all smoothly and easily (or so it looked from my vantage point). They usually organise a Hume and Hovell Ultra which is either a 50km or 100km run on the local Hume and Hovell Track. The event had to be cancelled in recent years due to bushfire damage of the track, so the marathon was put on in its place using the rail trail. Many are hoping the marathon becomes an annual event but that will depend on having people to help out, especially those with experience at running this sort of event.
Anyway the purpose of today’s post is to celebrate the event, the dedicated runners, the volunteers, the weather and the local community, for all doing such an amazing job!
I started the day by cycling down to the start of the marathon at 6.30am and got a real thrill to see the big inflatable blue finish line in place. This was exciting!!! I then rode on down to my drinks station to get it set up before the runners started coming through. We had a few helpers from our committee and we made it fun!
The early morning fog was breathtaking and I had to capture some shots before the day got underway. It was a bit chilly at the start I can tell you!
The marathon started at 7am and the first runner came past us within half an hour, which is almost as fast as I can ride it on my bike! As the runners came through they were all grateful and many insisted on thanking us for volunteering, which I hadn’t expected to be honest. I figured they’d be hell bent on getting it done! After a few hours they started coming back for the final lap and we packed up soon afterwards.
I rode my bike up through the 10km walkers and ended up at the finish line – with someone yelling at me to get out of the photo – which I thought was a bit rude, but I complied quickly with their not so polite request!
Our Rotary Club had a sausage sizzle running and all competitors and volunteers were entitled to a free sausage sandwich – yummy!
The weather was perfect, the vibe was amazing and everyone was happy, (except perhaps the guy yelling at me to get out of his photo!). We loved it all!
Huge congratulations to the organisers and helpers – these events take a lot of work and everyone did a great job, whether they were paid or volunteers.
Those who entered are amazing, and there were about 300 entries – for their dedication and fortitude!
Amazing stuff!.
Wednesdays are for sharing some amazing moments – these are mine for the week. #wakeupandbeamazingwednesday
Have an amazing day – you’re amazing too!
Deb 🙂
Thanks to my daughter for allowing me to share these lovely moments.
All my Wordless Wednesday posts can be found by clicking this link
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Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. You can read more of Deb’s story here
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Deb's World 
Looks like a great day, Deb and I would love to try for the event next year. Wouldn’t it be lovely – I can run and also catch up with you xx
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That would be ideal Sue, let’s hope we can do that!
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What an incredible experience, Debbie, and a win-win for everyone involved. Too bad about the yelling cranky pants. Sadly, there’s often one in every crowd.
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Thanks Donna, it was a fun event to help out at and had great feedback from participants.
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Sounds like a wonderful day Deb. It’s great tgst rail trail marathons are becoming a thing. Our marathon event is this weekend. Looks like we will have the wet weather marathon.
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I hope your event was rain free Jen, I’m determined to get down that way to ride the O’Keefe trail one day!
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Good on you for volunteering. When I did triathlons (seems like a lifetime ago but it’s not) I always thanked the volunteers. Without them it can’t run. As to the photo guy I bet he was the skilled volunteer or paid professional who captures the finish line photo for each participant. Just a guess. So if someone was coming across behind you he wouldn’t be able to see them. Your photos show such a gorgeous fall morning. Makes me want to come back to Auz and bike that trail!
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Thanks Bernie for sharing your insights on triathlon running, how cool! Yes I get the photographer’s point of view and felt bad that I may have obscured someone’s finish photo. Come back to Aus and I’ll take you on the trail 🙂
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I am certain that The Mathematican and The Engineer would get along fine. I know we would! So it’s a date. We’d be “in the area” so to speak as we have friends in Bendigo and cousins in Melbourne. Just not sure when that will be that we come back. Bernie
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Woohoo!!!!
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The title certainly caught my attention – I thought you were going to run a marathon! Sounds like a great event. Such a big achievement to finish.
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Haha sorry to disappoint you Gail! I used ‘running’ in the sense of organising it and did fess up that i wasn’t actually running in it.
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Looks like beautiful scenery for not running the marathon!
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It was just perfect Antoinette!
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Thanks Debbie for writing & sharing awesome pics. I run full marathons and the post instantly caught by attention. I couldn’t help but imagine myself running through the beautiful race course, must have been a good race for those who participated 👍🏻. Race volunteering is always special and as a runner I am always grateful for the support extended by these amazing souls, can’t imagine a race without the water station marshals 😊👍🏻, interacting with them are among the best race memories. Thanks again 👍🏻👏🏻.
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Thanks so much for your comment on my post. The rail trail is a perfect place to run, walk or cycle and all seemed to appreciate the beauty of it at last week’s marathon. It’s nice to hear you are grateful for the volunteers helping out too, it was such a nice feeling when they were thanking us, taking precious time to do so.
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How rude..of that person. Yay for community events and your town is the best at these! Great photos.
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Thanks for picking up on the guy telling me to get out of the photos – in my head I was saying, it’s my rail trail and I can be here crossing the finish line if I want to, but in reality I slunk away with my tail between my legs. I’m only assuming he was speaking to me at the time too :). Our town is a beauty that’s for sure!
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Great photos Debbie looks like such a fun day and glorious weather
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The weather was cold to start with Ali but beautiful when the sun warmed up. The sky was brilliantly blue all day, such a great event!
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🙂
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I bet it really makes you appreciate the training and determination it takes to actually run one of these. How fabulous to volunteer like that.
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
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Thanks for your visit and comment Jodie. The runners were amazing! I love, volunteering at these sorts of events and our town does them so well, despite its small size.
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Well done! I did love seeing those morning shots with the fog. Cooler weather is energising. Good timing!
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Yes the cool start made the runners very comfortable and I loved getting the shots of the fog hanging around. I think there was a slight frost too!
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Deb I love your community – for a smallish town there always seems to be some sort of event on. You guys just rock the whole outdoor vibe and this was another perfect example (and good on you for always being so involved!)
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Thanks Leanne, I enjoy the volunteering and feel proud of my little town. The event has had very positive feedback from all involved. So happy to get outside and enjoy these types of events with friends 🙂
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How wonderful!
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Thanks Cindy, we all had an absolute ball helping out!
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