North Head STaR- 30.7km

Turned out it didn't take that long for me to decide whether to run SMC-25km or the North Head STaR, just compare the scenery of both and it's a no-brainer.
Got away with the 6:10 group, running with Mister G, MPHaz and Redback. A good group, we started knocking off 5min kms shortly after the initial few rises to Sydney Harbour National Park. After passing the Manly hospital at North Head the pace picked up again hitting 4:30/km.
Still felt comfortable as we watched the 6am group coming back towards us from the turnaround at the end. We ended up taking a scenic diversion around Shelley Beach before stopping there for a water break. The swell was up and plenty of early morning surfers about. Ran along Manly beach and then swung left to head up by Fairlight golf course. Shortly thereafter Redback and I pulled away from the others and maintained a good pace up to Manly Dam. A short trot through the bush before emerging in North Balgowlah. The final few kms back down through Seaforth and under the Spit were in the low 4:30s/km.
Arrived back at Clontarf Oval in great shape finishing in 2:37:04 which turns out to be a tad over 5min pace.
Given I was seriously reconsidering getting up this morning at 4:30am to cross the city and do this run, I'm glad I did, always feel better for having done it.

Thanks for the company guys!

Total for week=112kms.

Less mileage next week with the focus on sharpening up for Sunday's SMH half.