Early Sunday rise was well worth it and richly rewarded by the Murrumbidgee River Nature Reserve which welcomed us with its stunning flora covered with frost and reflecting sunrise beams in white protective and crispy layers of icy water. The air was filled with tranquillity and local animal habitants such as birds and kangaroos seemed to feel at ease as we started to prepare for our 2km, 8km and 20km race. Birds sensed opportunity for a free buffet which consisted of delicious lentil burgers, watermelon and bananas being prepared for all runners after having accomplished their races. Initially kangaroos were curiously glancing at us but they soon realised that we were too focused on setting up the race so they calmly continued eating their grassy breakfast.

There were hardly any people at this hour of the morning, however, soon the park started to buzz with excitement of arriving race participants and also members of the public. Pine Island offers its beautiful trails to walkers, runners and mountain bikers. The nearby Murrumbidgee River, which runners run along, added even more richness, variety, beauty and harmony into the whole atmosphere. Water cascades and surrounding trees, especially pines, offered their calmness and were emanating peace which we all hugely need.

26 people participated in 2km run. 5 Boys under 13. 5 Males 17 and over. 11 Girls under 13, 2 Girls under 17 and 3 Female 17 and over.

Felix Botticchio won in boys under 13 category in 9:10, followed by Liam Whitehead in 10:01 and Angus Botticchio in 10:02.

Rohan Tankey led in Male 17 and over category in a time of 10:09. Second place was granted to John Astridge in 11:23 and third place went to Allister Botticchio in 13:25.

Saleena Ramboer won in Girls under 13 category in 8:26, followd by Annika Astridge in 09:01 and Samantha Romboer in 09.38.

Tara Holmes ran a superb 08:15 (a new course record) in Girls under 17 and Hannah Nockels finished in 10:01.

Female 17 and Over were led by Laura Ramboer in 08:40 – another course record time for her category. Second place went to Kristina Whitehead in 15:04 and Hannah Fabros took third place in 17:48.

The 8km run gathered 147 runners and out of 147 runners there were 43 Male under 50, 16 Male between 50-59, 3 Male in 60-69 category and 4 in 70 and Over. 63 Females in Under 50 category,  13 Females in 50-59 and 5 in 60-69.

Kodi Clarkson led the Male under 50, breaking his own course record with 28:45. Patrick Clark was right behind in 29:36 and Thomas Naden finished in 32:43.

In 50-59 Male category, Aston Duncan won in 34:36, followed by Ian Naden in 38:32 and Andrew Dempster in 40:16.

Richard Honey won Male 60-69 in 43:50, Graeme Smyth took second place in 47:27 and Chris Mill received third place in 55:36.

Male 70 and Over was led by John Kennedy on 50:35, followed by Rod Harrod in 54:37 and Eric Wainwright in 1:06:44.

Sarah King won Female Under 50 in 36:08 and Prue Davies ran very close behind in 36:30, followed by Lisa Winssinger in 37:45.

Shiree Yap led Female 50-59 category in 42:18. Michele Legge took second place in 46:38 and Natasha Newman took third place in 47:29.

Alice Jones won Female 60-69 in 54:16, Jennifer Rankine received second place in 56:54 and Judith Bibo finished third in 1:05:12.

The most popular run turned out to be 20 km run which welcomed 172 runners at the start line. There were 74 Male under 50, 25 Male in 50-59 category, 5 Male in 60-69 category and 2 in Male 70 and Over.

50 Female under 50 decided to participate in 20km run. 13 Female in 50-59, 2 Female in 60-69 and 1 in 70 and Over category.

Brayden Clews-Proctor achieved an astonishing result of 1:16:44, followed by 1:17:12 which went to Brandon Suter. Daniel Carson ran just behind the two leaders in 1:18:57.

Glen Robinson won in Male 50-59 in 1:28:23. Second place went to Ben Crabb in 1:30:25 and Tony Hrstic tool third place in 1:39:42.

Mark Duncanson ran in fantastic time of 1:43:21 in Male 60-69 category. Ian Prosser closely followed him in 1:44:26 and Stephen Graham finished in 2:01:29.

Peter Clarke came first in Male 70 and Over in a superb new course record time of 1:59:20 and Trevor Jacobs in 2:06:24.

Sarah Parkins won Female Under 50 in fantastic 1:32:15. Grace Crane took second place in 1:38:29 and Keira Germech came third in 1:39:38.

Female 50-59 was led by Natalie Wood in an amazing 1:48:19. Narelle Smyth came second in 1:56:01 and Kim Greaves finished third in 1:56:24.

Pam Muston finished in 2:08:32 winning in Female 60-69 and Kerri Gisik came second in 2:35:56.

Diana Schneider won in 70 and Over in another new record time of 2:39:02.

All runners deserve a big applause and congratulations for their running efforts and running results in such a challenging course which is uneven, hilly, bushy and muddy. To achieve such astonishing results on a difficult trail run is an admirable achievement. Runners celebrated their hard work with nutritious and well deserved veggie burgers and fruits and received their medals at the end of each race category.

We hope to see you at the next race, the “Gungahlin Gallop” in July and we wish you happy running!

Mount Stromlo: Location of the ANU's Observatory, favoured by mountain bikers, and home to countless ducks, cockatoos, and inquisitive kangaroos. Rain was forecast. Lots of it. So when our crew arrived to set up, we were relieved to find it not raining. “Who knows? Perhaps it will be a nice day” we said to ourselves. The ground was sodden from the previous day's rain, with large puddles at the edge of the grassy Robert de Castella Cross Country Running Track which was our start and finish point.

The rain held off, but we faced other difficulties. The megaphone wasn't working! I set it down, it began to make a low, discontented crackling sound. This was the only noise it made all day. So as a result, I had to shout a lot.

Then a stiff, cold breeze picked up. Our finish arch began to wave about in an ungainly manner. Concerned that its flailing about might harm the race clock, or a passerby, we took it down as soon as the races all started.

In the 2km race, Tara Holmes (under 17) took the line honours overall in 7:31, and set a new Girls Under 17 course record in the process. Felix Botticchio (under 13) was fastest boy in 08:42.

Further course records tumbled in the 6.3km race. Kodi Clarkson was the men’s winner, breaking his own course record from last year, with his super-swift 21:40.  Sarah King also lowered the women's record, winning the race in a fine 26:33, while Shiree Yap busted the F50-59 previous best time with her fleet-of-foot 31:26.

The 15.4km race amongst the men was a reprise of the Cooleman Clip, with Bradon Suter (58:44) setting a new men’s best time, and edging out Brayden Clews-Proctor (59:06) for first place – though this time by a slimmer margin than in Race 1 of the Series. Ian Prosser in the M60-69 also bested the age group record for this course with his winning 1:18:13.

Sarah Parkins was the fastest woman in the 15.4km with 1:10:25. Special mention to all our over 70 finishers: Peter Allen and John Harding in the 6.3km race, and Peter Clarke, John Kennedy and Diana Schneider in the 15.4km.

And thanks and congratulations to all the mothers who celebrated Mother's Day with us at the Stromlo Strides.