Trail Running

Oct

2021

One Thirty Seven Point Nine

I got chatting to Dan one day as he was de-kinking my body. During the Sydney lockdown I somehow managed to tweak my shoulder and Dan, my chiropractor, was straightening it back out. I knew him to be a runner. We’d discuss races and racing each time I paid him a visit. He told me how he planned to run three 100km races this year but being in lockdown and unable to leave the Local Government Area (LGA) meant that was no longer possible since races were now canceled. Instead, he had come up with a novel idea to keep his goals alive. When he told me I knew I had to document it.

Over the last couple of lockdowns, I have been slowly getting my head around video and video editing, online tutorials, and shooting little bits here and there. I hadn’t shot much though as I wasn’t quite sure what to shoot. I have always preferred videos that have a story rather than a selection of clips thrown together and wanted to shoot something along those lines. Having planned to shoot stills for Dan I realized that his story would benefit much more from being a short video instead.

The Shoot

I spent a couple of days out shooting with him on training runs in the lead-up to the day. We would just visit some scenic local areas and shoot for a couple of hours. The original plan had been just to show his training leading up to the actual run and finish on the scene of him running out the door. But when we were recording the voice-over and I heard the full story I knew I would have to include footage from the run. It went from a 2 minute short to over 5 minutes.

I didn’t get all the shots I would have liked to over the run though. The tracker I was following him on played up and only relayed his position periodically. I knew the course he was taking so I could jump ahead but I couldn’t be sure if he had come through already or was still due so just had to jump far enough ahead to be sure. Still, I think I got plenty of shots but there were a few scenic locations that I missed that I would have liked to have shot.

Moving On

For me, it was a great introduction to short storytelling. I have made a few videos before but they’re more like snippets than short stories with a maximum length of under 1 minute. Throwing myself into the deep end like this has taught me quite a few things about video editing. You can read and watch so many online tutorials but until you go out and shoot there will always be a hole in your knowledge. There is still so much to learn about video creation and short storytelling and I am excited to be undertaking a new journey. I think it might be a long one though. Like shooting still photography there will always be some new direction to head or a rabbit-hole to lose myself in periodically.

I shall keep learning and in the meantime be keeping my ears open for over great adventures and challenges of which I might be able to tell the story. If anyone has any exciting plans that they think may transfer across to a great short story feel free to contact me and let’s work on something together. In the meantime….Enjoy!!!

Sep

2017

Coastal Classic Trail Run

Once again it was time for one of the trail runners favourite races, the Coastal Classic. It’s one of Sydney’s highest rated trail runs, taking runners along a beautiful stretch of coastline going through the Royal National Park. Being in a national park though the organisers, Maximum Adventure, cap the number of competitors and so it can be hard to get an entry as they sell out so quickly. The Coastal Classic completes the Thermatech Triple Challenge series which included the Jabulani in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Raffertys Coastal Run at Lake Macquarie on the NSW Central Coast.

Although the Coastal Classic may not be the longest of races it certainly presents a good challenge to those who take it on. The trail takes runners up and down the park’s headlands and onto the numerous sandy beaches along the coast of the Royal National Park . Unlike last year at this time, when there was torrential rain forcing the postponement of the race, we had a beautiful spring day, chilly in the morning but warming up nicely as the day progressed. Out on course I set 5 photographers, myself included, positioned to capture the beautiful coastal scenics and the runners enjoying the trails. There was around 1000 runners on course from all different skill levels, some there to run fast and put in the best time they can while others were taking their time and enjoy the day out.

The Triple Challenge has been a great series to cover. Next up for us in the trail running category will be the Bouddi challenge in October. A new race on the running circuit running through the Bouddi National Park on the Central Coast.

You can find the full gallery of Coastal Classic images here If you want to see the images from the other races of the triple challenge you can find the Jabulani images here and Raffertys Coastal Run images here

: Stacks of numbers

: Plating up for the Coastal Classic

: All smiles and readiness

: A few last tips from the organisers

: Maximum Adventure’s Coastal Classic trail run in the Royal National Park, Sydney, 2017

: Maximum Adventure’s Coastal Classic trail run in the Royal National Park, Sydney, 2017

: Maximum Adventure’s Coastal Classic trail run in the Royal National Park, Sydney, 2017

: Maximum Adventure’s Coastal Classic trail run in the Royal National Park, Sydney, 2017

Nov

2016

Pace Athletics Run Club

I’m always up for a quick shoot somewhere. It gives me the chance to play around with my lights and get some practice in. Each Tuesday evening the Pace Athletics Run Club meets at Manly.

I have managed to get down for a couple of visits now and have been shooting them on what is known as Snake Hill. I went down for a quick visit again last night. There is quite a few familiar faces in the group that I have seen from shooting races like the Coastal Classic and Rafferty’s Run with Outer Image. The group is led by Matty Abel, the owner and head coach of DBA Runners. So if you are looking to getting a bit more active or polish up a bit on your running fitness be sure and get down there and join in the fun. You never know I might see you there next Tuesday.

You can check the full gallery from the afternoon here but for now here’s a couple of shots to whet the appetite.

: Pace Athletics run club going through the paces on Snake Hill at Manly

: Pace Athletics run club going through the paces on Snake Hill at Manly

: Pace Athletics run club going through the paces on Snake Hill at Manly

: Pace Athletics run club going through the paces on Snake Hill at Manly

: Pace Athletics run club going through the paces on Snake Hill at Manly

Oct

2016

Coastal Classic Trail Run

A couple of weekends ago, after a previous delay due to heavy rain, the trails of the Royal National Park played host to Maximum Adventure’s Coastal Classic trail run. Around 750 people strode out from Otford under the blue skies and set off for Bundeena. The event is quite big on the Sydney trail running calendar. It draws in everyone from the serious racer who covers the 29km course in just under 2.5hrs to social striders taking their time and making a day of it.

Being such a big event and a Point A to Point B style event rather than a continuous loop we decided to field a team of photographers to make sure we caught all the action. In total, there was 6 of us spread out along the course. Gil and I had scouted the course previously wanting to get something different from the previous years but still get a good variety of shots. We selected our locations carefully placed our team at some of the most idyllic and different settings we could find.

Although not one of the longest courses, the Coastal Classic trail run does provide a great challenge. You are constantly going up and over the headlands, along challenging singletrack and running through soft s

and. What makes it really special though is its stunning views along the coast with its steep dramatic headlands and beautiful beaches and its all just a stones throw (granted a particularily big throw) from the city. From afternoon location that I shot I had the pleasure of watching pod after pod of whales frolicking in the ocean on their way heading south again.

A big congratulations to all who competed on the day. If you haven’t seen your results yet you can find them over on the Maximum Adventure website here. Here’s a couple of my shots from the day.

: Maximum Adventure’s trail run through the Royal National Park, the Coastal Classic

: Maximum Adventure’s trail run through the Royal National Park, the Coastal Classic

: Maximum Adventure’s trail run through the Royal National Park, the Coastal Classic

: Maximum Adventure’s trail run through the Royal National Park, the Coastal Classic

: Maximum Adventure’s trail run through the Royal National Park, the Coastal Classic

: Maximum Adventure’s trail run through the Royal National Park, the Coastal Classic

Aug

2014

Kathmandu Adventure Race: Glenbrook

The Kathmandu Adventure series is a multi-sports race that takes place in some of the most picturesque spots around Sydney and beyond. This year I was there to cover the event in the Blue Mountains National Park near Sydney as it took place in the Glenbrook section of the park. The event included rogaining, mountain biking, kayaking and trail running.

Jul

2014

Sydney Trail Series, Manly Dam

Had a bit of a fun play around yesterday shooting trail running at Manly Dam, a small dam nearby here. I wasn’t there on any official capacity more just to practice my trail running photography. It’s nice being able to shoot for myself sometimes. and not having to worry if I am getting all the necessary shots or shots of all the competitors. It let’s me try out a few ideas that have been running around my head and things that I normally don’t get to do if I am working a job.

The Sydney Trail Series is a great short to medium distance runs through some wonderful bush and scenery around Sydney. Gil and I shot the Kamay race for them previously which was held along the stunning coastline of Kamay National Park. Well worth checking out if you are into running. You can visit the Sydney Trail Series website here