I do a new
#parkrun once a month, using walk/run/cycle/train/bus to get there. Sunshine Coast Birtinya Island course began early this year & Id done previous train/cycle trips to Baringa and Harmony Bvd parkruns this way. Now the bonus was that the entire trip would cost me just $1. I did the tried & trusted method of previous Sunny Coast runs by getting FRI morning train from Brisbane to Landsborough in 90 mins then an hr long cycle to Caloundra. The road is wide so safe in shoulder lane though cars whizz past at 80 or 100kph. Theres a big uphill before Caloundra but that means a lovely downhill into town.Enjoyed ocean swim at Dicky Beach and learned the beach got its name from the SS Dicky which sank there in 1893. I decided I needed more ocean therapy and walked the lovely 10km beach trail between Caloundra and Currimundi Lake. That took two hours and another hour of walking back via the inland shortcut. After an early night I was up at 5:45 SAT to get my make-up on for parkrun. By 6.15 I was on the bike and got to Birtinya Island a half hr later. It was overcast but fine.
The island is fed by water from Currimundi Lake and Birtinya is a Sunshine Coast development hub. Cranes everywhere. Council wants to amend planning framework for Birtinya to provide additional housing and the huge new SC Hospital is nearby. I arrived early, so I cycled some of the course. I smiled as I saw chalk marking what seemed like a very gentle hill named “Heartbreak Hill” with picture of a broken heart. Then to the start where the vollies did the brief with expertise as if they’ve been doing it for years when it’s been going only 3 mths. Then off we went. The first 800m went anti-clockwise and I smiled again when we passed “Heartbreak Hill” at the 1.5km mark. We passed the start line again and kept clockwise. I lost track of where we were and believed there was a 2nd turnaround point forcing us to finish the run in a clockwise direction. I got worried around 3.2km when the expected run leaders did not show heading the other way. Long past the point of no return, I finally realised that there was no second turnaround (a fact made clear by the course map and the first timer’s brief, so I really have no excuse). I was no longer smiling when I hit the heartbreak hill chalk again at the 4.9km mark. Its five seconds of pain seemed to go for ages. But as ever, I crossed the finish line as did 194 others. It was my 111th course, my 275th run in time of 24.31 my fastest in 2025. I raised another smile as I took a selfie as I was about to cycle back. The gods did not look kindly. The heavens opened and it rained the entire way to Landsborough. I was soaked by the time I got to the station. There was a train arriving as I got there but I passed on it. I needed an urgent change of clothes and almost-as-urgent coffee & brekkie roll. I took train home an hour later, packed with people heading to BNE. Thanks Birtinya for having me, you were much fun. Now to plot May’s adventure.
Jan-Willem Bult
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