If anyone out there is so foolish as to think that the
Bay Run around Iron Cove is a simple concept, let me set you straight. As I'm sure you'll all know, exercise is as political as New South Wales State Parliament.
Fearlessly however, I go into the breach and bring you this (scientifically proven) guide on how best to survive the experience.
Step 1: Familiarise thyself. If you feel you need a couple of drive-bys in the car to feel comfortable, it is highly recommended. You can run/walk/crawl the whole 7 kilometres or just flirt with a part of the circle. Photographic research is possible
here.
Step 2: Equip thyself. Apparently it is impossible to do the Bay Run without the following: water bottle, intense jogging gear like Skins, headband, dog, pram and personal trainer. If you cannot accomplish all these things (I, for instance, only have a water bottle), you can still participate but prepare to be judged.
Step 3: Consider the politics of which side of the path you will use. I nominate the left, as that is the side of the escalator I stand on. Sometimes there are separate bike tracks, sometimes you're sharing so don't lose concentration and suddenly wander over the path and into the path of an incoming souped-up BMX speed machine.
Step 4; Go! I don't have much to offer at this point as I have sworn off exercise for health reasons.
Instead I often just head down there to look at the water, or catch five minutes of a local soccer match. There is play equipment for the kids and if no one is around I have a go. Sometimes I even wander around the Bay Run and get a 360-degree impression of how beautiful Sydney is.
