TOP TO BOTTOM: A runner enjoying a track all to himself, time of peaceful
contemplation; sundown or early morning are fine times to run in any area, but
especiallysointheOutback;dirt,beautifuldirt.(Allpiccredits:GettyImages)vast empty space, remember, which
means that if you need assistance when
out of water, take an unfortunate
tumble or cop a snake bite, unless
you've properly prepared for these
unique hazards, you're all out of luck.
When I say empty space, I mean
opposed to the metropolis, but even the
National Parks these days seem to be
full of weekend adventurists, heck,
even mid-week, within work hours,
somebody, somewhere, is out enjoying
the abundant outdoor National Park
gems of our country. But, it’s a very lack
of people where the appeal of running
trails in the Outback really lies; it truly
is one of the final solitary places left on
earth. And in its stillness, there's a
beat, our Indigenous ancestors say the
heartbeat of our nation, perhaps even
the very pulse of existence. Much
mystique and powerful opportunities
for self-rumination can be found in its
vast openness. Almost an opportunity to
find yourself in a place where you can, in
a physical sense, easily lose yourself. It's
easy to understand our native
inhabitant's connection to the land, but
those first few running steps for the
novice in this environment are a moment
of detachment from self, replaced by
attachment to the landscape.
It's a mental overload running into
such an expanse because there seems to
be no juncture between red earth and
blue sky; visually, you see nothing more
than emptiness.
An encapsulating heat suffocates the
senses; breathing is the only sound in the
solitude as the palate becomes drier with
each breath. As before, not an inspiring
commercial to head to the red centre and
knock off a few kilometres. But wait,
after the initial few strides, that back-of-
beyond is transformed into an
enchanting experience of body, mind and
spirit.
You start to notice an abundance of
vegetation, shrubs and small trees.
Insects and birds dart about furtively.
The white beach-y clouds that pepper the
sky cast shaped shadows as they pass
overhead, offering sporadic respite from
the roiling sun, its rays intense and
direct. Conversely, grey storm clouds can
be seen rolling in from miles away.
Oftentimes cracks of lightning
illuminate their dark hearts, striking
down upon the earth. Hues of red and
the texture of individual sand grains
become apparent. Bird song can be
heard, and if you're lucky you will spot
large mobs of kangaroos and emus. A
race with any of these will have you
eating their dust, a knowing smile upon
your face. You might even stumble upon
all manner of strange, twisted heaps of
metal remnants of a past gone wrong.
Gorgeous outcrop formations pop upabruptly from the f lat landscape, some
more famous than others, but all have a
unique story about their creation. As you
run by, your mind drifts to what these
creation myths may be and how they
came about.
It's all a far cry from the formulated
asphalt arteries, parallel paved
pavements and proportionally spaced
power lines of typical urban training
runs. There’s no corresponding street
lamps, all lining the boulevards of
concrete-blocked dwellings; where a
3x2-metre stretch of grass is called a
nature strip. But, this great southern
land is a land of nature, with the Outback
at its centre.
It's hard to summarise precisely what
the Outback is all about; wild roaming
animals, desolate open space, a place of
harsh and hostile landscapes. It could
easily pass as another planet altogether.
However, this is what makes it all the
more intriguing. Its rugged charm and
desolate beauty are captivating; we are so
lucky for its uniqueness.
Go run, all of it!Outdoor \ 33