Woodstock Handicap Series 2009: Run 2

After a night of split dinner and drinks for Woodstock Runners who attended the Birthday of a Woodstock speedy mate Bronwyn at Town Hall in Balmain while the others joined the Awards night of the Sydney Striders at Star City, the Woodstockers on May 30 at 730am had to wake up on a very chilly autumn morning to do the Handicap Run #2 at the Bay Run.

As the usual rules, we nominate an estimated time to finish the 7 KMs around the bay when you are to finish.  I was not sure what to nominate because of the dinner/night event the night before, and i know performance always is effected when you drink too much and lack of sleep.  However I do not want to miss the handicap, since I havent been running Saturdays and it is a good way to see Woodstock mates who run at Saturdays.

Last handicap I nominated a time of 35 and I won that Handicap for beating closest to the nominated time by 59 seconds!

I am a bit nervous putting 34 seeing Mark O’Donell nominated that time, I know he is faster than me, and i am bad pacing with someone who is faster than me as I get pushed in running faster in the first bit ending puffed and buggerred in the second half not wanting to run and finish the race!

Terry wanted to run as he did not go to work as it was raining, he said he will be running at 33-34 minutes, so that is good.

I started 30 seconds after Jeff and Rick who nominated 35 mins.  I caught up with them at around 1 Km it is hard though! I was working hard I know it.  I do not see any Woodstocks after Jeff and Rick not until when I reached the Leichardt Pool area where I caught with a few runners.  But before that even, I was being followed by a footstep behind me which kept pushing me to run faster.  I did not want to look back as I get intimidated, I just wanted to say “whoever you are following me, identify yourself!” not until before the Sailing Club, this footstep passed me! Surprised to see it was Rick! He was speeding in his usual relax running form.  He breezed and I was wanting o keep up to make sure I am just 30 seconds behind him.  I lost him! I couldn’t find him after the KG park.

Then I wanted to overtake Max as I already saw him, and I did catch him at the small hill towards the path under the Iron cove bridge.  Traffic under the bridge was hectic.  It was hard climbing the stairs and still running on a fast pace after.

Finishing behind Tami and Tristan at 32:xx (be updating when results are out).  I am 1:xx minutes off my nomination but I am happy for another PB.  We finished off by a good sausage sizzle, cakes and awarding of prizes.  Thanks Colin for organizing the run and Deirdre, Lesley and David for the barbi!

Event: Woodstock Handicap 2, 2009
Distance: 7 KM
Location: Bay Run
Time: 32:51 – PB

Results

Bondi Barefoot Soft sand drama is over

After my race last Sunday and some confusion on my distance and time yesterday, finally I am surprised to see the online results has been fixed so I am glad!

Apparently the timing was done by Multisports Australia.  I havent heard any response or reply from them or the Bondi Surfclub officers, but I just accidentally found out.  Here is the revised results.  I dont think its cheating, since I did more distance, it could be told cheating if I have done shorter distance .

Another lesson learned anyway, I should ask question if in doubt and never assume!

My revised 4 KM Results

Bondi resolved Results

And I wanted to thank  the officers at the club and the organizers for fixing this.  Below is the correspondence of the drama.  And a thank you letter will be sent to them today.

39th Sun Herald’s City2Surf: Registration now open

Registration now open

Note: It is a bit tricky registering and creating teams, but I managed to create all te Woodstock teams!

Bondi Barefoot Softsand: more than just Conquering my DNF

Last year I swore I will never run in the sand again because I realized I am not made to run in the sand.  I registered a 10KMs and did a DNF.

This year, weeks before the run, with a better attitude I thought of conquering the sands again, and run a route that thought it won its victory over me.  I did register to do this run but of the shorter distance, 4KM over a choice with the Sydney Marathon Clinic at Smithfield.  Thinking I shoudl go back and beat that DNF, and at least try, quitters are never winner you see.  And I am not a quitter, be it in running or in real life.  It is not kind of perfectly battling my DNF since I am doing a shorter distance, at least I’d still go and finish a race on the same course.

Start

This race too, I went alone.  No Woodies as everyone decided to run in Smithfield, and no supporters.   Its is like going to a battle alone, braving something that beat me before! ok stop, its getting too cheesy.  After 3 transfers of public transpo, I arrived early at 815 at the registration.  I got my singlet, white and blue different from the red and black for the 10KM runners, got marked just how they do it with triathletes, however just on the arm instead of bibs and I was 107.

I did my stretching, and warm up jog on the promenade. 10 minutes before the gunshot, i walked to the start as we were starting ahead of the 10KM runners.  As usual, I positioned myself at the end bit of the pack.  I just came here to finish a race and not win it isnt it?

Towards the turn-around

Gunshot.

Mental note: Run on youor own pace, run on the footprints of the runner ahead of you to make it easier.

I am running on barefoot this time.  Last year I did run with my Nike Free part of the distance and on barefoot.  Running with shoes is harder and damages your foot with blisters from sand rubbing against your feet.

5 minutes later or so, I found myself puffed already.  Like running on a hill continously.  Some think that running on sand at the beach is easy.  Nope, not this one.  Its not where the water meets the sand part.  Its the sand closest to the promenade.  The soft powdery, cold, uncompacted sand.  Where your steps sink to the sand.  It has been raining the past week but i am surprised to see that the sand is still dry and uneroded.  I did pass number of runners ahead of me at least.   I was feeling tired and sweaty already from running it seem foever reaching each end point of the the track.

Female Bolters

Then I stuffed.  4 Kms says 4 laps.  So I was on my 2.5rd lap, 27.14 minutes later, lap in terms of how I understand road running.  there’d always be a turnaround point which is not a lap but a lap is when you come back from the start and do another loop. I realized they mean lap in different terms here in the beach.  I saw myself who is only running in white and blue singlet and another one, amongst the red and black.  I looked from my shoulder back, and saw all of the white and blue singlet runners are already done and finished in the race! *swear, beep, beep, &^*@!*

Now I did not want to embarass myself, confuse the offiating volunteers by running against the flow of teh runners, so i told myself run the whole lot and deal with it later.  I was already frustrated and mentally disappointed with myself for having a different thinking of “lap” I could already have finished the race, I’m tired.  To cut the epic short, I crossed the finish line after 6 KMs at 40:59 minutes.  Gawd! because of that it made me look like I am the second slowest runner for a 4 KMs! I did more than what the race is, and I wasn’t willing to do the 10 Kms.

After all the 10Km runners were done running the bolt was held.  This is 70m sprints on the same soft sand course.  I entered myself. Never have done this before.  Well nothing is lost when i loose as there is no extra fee to join.  Its not even humiliating myself, well at least I tried!  So there were 24 female runners on the sprints.  We were divided 12 per go. I was eliminated on the first amongst other 5 runners.  It was fun.  I finished the female’s bolt and went back to the city.

By the way, the money raised in this event is for the use of the Bondi Life saver’s.  Where Bondi is one of the beaches where big number of people get drowned every year in NSW.

Monday, I emailed the secretariat and the organizer on stuffing up my times for my confusion.  I knew, they would know the splits since they had the timing mats whenever we do cross the mats, so it could not even be called cheating.  Plus as a well versed runner will say, in running the only competitor you have is yourself.  I knew it was my mistake for running more but i also know that they could have been a record. (Yes I sound desperate for wanting to have my 4KM time recorded on their sheets! not my 6KM which makes me look bloody sloooow).

However, I am not sure why, but none of them replied to my email. Not even a courtesy email of confirmation reply or a reply of negativity to say it is not possible that they do not know how to fiddle with IT and data so they’ll leave the results as it is and leave my time slow as it remains.   I called the secretariat’s number, no answer so i emailed the event’s organizer of the North Bondi Surf Club today hoping at least he replies.  I’ll give up if he doesn’t.  I’ll take that as No they do not know how to make that happen.  Its a first time to get such reaction to a organized running event.  Compared to a big marathon event like Canberra which I emailed a few times on my registration who emailed me back in hours time, to a Sri Chinmoy Event for not able to run because of an injury and they did refund/carry my payment over the next race, which I think are more bigger events, and last week a mate, Brendan, emailing the SMH organizers for stuffing up the mixed team winners which put Woodstock mix in 4th instead of 2nd instead.

Pros: Difficulty-8, scenery-9, enough water, enough medical standby, lots of free fitness magazines
Cons: No baggage area, Not enough instructions/volunteers, expensive

Anyway, I am done with my ranting, Life is not always a PB , but then at least I am not scared of the sand anymore.  I probably do one again, i doubt doing a Bondi again since I am disapointed with how the organizers react to my email, (I’ll edit this comment not until they email me back!! – okey they emailed me a day after explaining that they are doing their work as voluntary so the are using their spare time to reply).  Maybe I’ll do the Manly instead.  Manly Soft sand will be on June 7, wich is a 1.6, 9 and a half marathon event.  I swear the half marathon would feel like a full marathon! But not this year, as a group of Woodstock will be driving up South West Rocks on that weekend for the River Mcleay Marathon running festival.  Its the Queen’s birthday, and its a long weekend.  I hope it not flooded anymore after two weeks.

Event: Bondi Barefoot Soft sand
Distance: 4Km
Time: 27.11 (5th age category), 40.59 6KM time
Resolved 4KM results
Location: North Bondi, NSW, Australia

Winners
10 KM Results
4 KM Results
Bolt Results

Profile 8 Being fit and weight loss: Bards Bathan

Bernadette is a fellow runner-blogger.  While I was “stalking” her by going through her blog (j/k!), I learned that she was overweight before, and couldn’t believe how much weight she lost when she decided doing more exercise.

I was amazed and got the opportunity to get away from being shy and “virtually approach” her as she dropped me a message in my blog.  She did 2 marathons already!

This was the interview with Bernadette,  more known or called as Bards.

What was your heaviest weight: 156 lbs but i think i went beyond that. Just a little shy of 160 but i reached a point that i stopped weighing myself because it was depressing
What is your current weight : 125 lbs ( running coach said i need to drop a few more to reach my goal race pace. so im back on weight loss mode.)
What is your lightest weight: 116 lbs (this was in the lead up to my first half marathon. pero i didnt like na how i looked at 116)
What made you realize you need to get back on track and being fit and healthy? hmm. it all started with vanity. i was working out hard and i was not seeing changes. so you can say im an accidental health buff who now has a running problem. i can’t stop!
Do you have a special diet? What is it? - no naman. basta i try to avoid fried food, remove visible fat and skin when i eat meat. tapos, i carbo load 3 meals before a long run or a race – so thats Friday dinner, saturday lunch and dinner.
Current sports you do. – Running lang. but sometimes its more of an addition than a sport. haha. but i have started to crosstrain again — weight training, group dance class and hot flow yoga (luv luv luv it).

Salamat Bards! I’ll watch out for your next marathon!

From unfit to sexy!	Bards is that you?!

SMH Half Marathon Part 2: Around 8398 Finishers

Lap two timer

Lap 2.  Then off to our 2nd lap, crossing the start mat, I was happy to see my first 10 KMs at 47.16  I am just a bit worried if I would be able to keep up the next 10.5 Kilometers.

I was doing fine, not until down Kent Street, I can feel my Glutes’ pain, and quad’s burning already it was the same time Martin from Coolrunning passed me and said Hi.  I slowed down conserving energy as I knew the hill is yet to come and I wouldn’t want to walk that.  At the Hill, I was overtaken by the 1:45 pacers.  I am surprised I was actually doing the 1:45.  I was happy and wanting to be running with their pace however the pacers left me, then came next the 1:50 pacers whom I thought are way too fast for the other runners following them.  I knew it wasn’t 1:50 as they left me again! That was disappointing for runners who were looking forward to be paced.

Aside from that my watch went haywire.  It must have picked up someone’s foot pod signal that it reset its timing I thought, but now I realized, it went minutes back as It did not show how much hours I was already running as I reached the 60th minute.  I turned it off to watch mode instead and I knew If I was nearing to 930am that means 2 hours for me.

The leader

Female Winner, Vernon

I am so done with the 2nd lap on Hunter’s hill and I an relieved, and tried to sped up again, and seeing at the domain a east asian female, who I thought I should be running better than her I tried to catch up with her but she was strong, I tried harder after the drink station I though I lost her But I did not, Not until up back the incline in Domain I think she dropped off, so I was happy, 20th KM a male runner cheers we are almost there, I answered back 1.5 kilometer to go and we are finished, then past him.

Fastest Woodstock

2nd fastest Woodstocker

Bronwyn's 2nd Half Marathon and a PB

Fastest Woodtstock Runners on Team 1

I can see the start mats now, and runners on the turn around to the finish at Hyde Park, It felt forever reaching the finish line.  I did not know how many runners passed me and how many runner I passed.  At Hyde park there we so much cheeres and it was tough dawdling with other runners sprinting to the finish.  The banners too were confusing me which were was the finish line as I felt It was forever.  I stepped on the first mat around 1:47ish hour but that wasn’t the finish yet I thought I finished at 1:48:01.  I was happy hearing the announcer saying “Welcome back home!”

Meters to the finish, Was following 9726 althroughout the 2nd half

Got my finisher’s medal, then walk towards fresh air trying to find where the rest of the Woodstock are.  I was able to see Thalia, and water station! We went to collect our freebie papers, fruits and GUs.  We saw Lee chatting to another runner.  She was going to Woodstock’s breakfast at Pyrmont, And I was looking for Tezza for my bag.  While I was doing that I saw Steve Laws whom pulled out from the race as he pulled a calf muscle.  Then left and saw Peter who was also looking for the rest of the Woodstocks.  We walked to the side of the Finish not finding them had few minutes under the sun stretching while looking and we headed back to the finish to find them.  Then we saw Belinda, Michelle and Paul.  Then we were found by Brendan who regrouped us to the Woodtock team.

Had our group picture and we headed to Orient Hotel for well deserved alcoholic fuel.  And a fourth away from the pub, someone tapped me by the shoulder and it was hard to recognize this tall cheerful bloke beside us, then I recognized, without his suit, It was Clark kent, err I mean the Marathon Man whi was chatting to us telling me to do the Gold Coast Marathon on July and would see him there again.  He had so much black toe nails I ever have seen in runners! Anyway …

Not so complete Woodstock runners team

It was reported that there were 10, 000 registrants, more than 8500 made it to the start and around 8398 finished the race to this 18th year the event was ran.

Olympic Champion runner,Reuben Kosgei, of Kenya who clocked64:18s and a talented female who was bound for deaflympics,Melinda Vernon, timing a 75:26s.  This event is to honor 4 time winner the late cancer victim Kerryn McCann.  Pink Bandanas were also worn to show support the Breast Cancer Council.

One of my inspiration, Audrey Hall, 16, who won last Sunday’s 16KM at Sri Chinmoy won the Under 19th Category place for female.

Consuming a can of V and two GUs along the way, and looking at the results, I am slower than my watch probably because of too much runners you need to fight the space for, and I remember I almost felt the wall 3 Kms away the finish, but looking at the results, I thought I was faster at first lap, it seem like I was faster the 2nd lap.  Speaking from experience, the Marathon last month was a good mental motivation when It was getting a bit physically sore, to have pushed and continued running as I told myself that the marathon was double the pain which I was able to overcomee, so why would I give up on this half pain?

Event: Sydney Morning Herald’s Half Marathon
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Distance: 21.1 KM (Although because you have to go around slower runners than you are, you end up doing at least 21.4-5 KMs!)
Gun Time: 1:48:05 – PB
Net Time: 1:47:12

SPLIT TIMES	split time	s/rank	race time	r/rank	activity	distance	pace	speed
10km	00:48:57		00:49:50		RUN	10.00	04:53	12.26
20km	00:52:40		01:42:31		RUN	10.00	05:16	11.39
Finish	00:05:34		01:48:05		RUN	1.10	05:03	11.85

Team results Woodstock: all Male : 14th; All Female: 4th; Mix: 4th; Veterans: 5th.  Too bad we were aiming at least to be on Top 3, maybe next year!

Results
Photos

SMH Half Marathon Part 1: Left my Bib and chip!!!

I registered in this race even before I registered my full Marathon.  The Full wasn’t really planned, this was.  However after registering in Canberra Marathon, I was worried about SMH Half Marathon, would have I been well recovered by then?

I wasn’t able to do any longer distance training aftar the marathon, I still feel tired and a persistent knee niggle i am ignoring.  The longest run I had after Canberra Marathon was last Sunday’s Sri Chinmoy at the bay, which I am surprised to have had a PB.  I haven’t done this race before, as I heard a lot are commenting about a dreaded Hunter’s Hill.

Brendan's map of the Event

In Woodstock, aside from entering the teams officially in the race, we had an internal team competition.  Whoever has the least difference from the absolute total of the team wins.  I was teamed with Kim, Dierdre and Fumi.

I got up 20 past 5 in the morning, suppose to be at 5, but I was too sleepy from the cold weather and sent sms to John if he wanted to share a cab instead to the city since the bus schedules are not in synch to the time we wanted to be at the start.  Before he arrived the driveway we were already waiting, as I made sure not to make him wait as I always do.  Carrying my shoes and watch with me and put on my shoes at the cab.  We arrived just past 630 at the start and I realized I forgot my bib and my timing chip at home!!  I realized when I saw runners passing us and their chips on their laces!  I was so disappointed with myself for doing that!

Very bad way to start a race! I was quiet not until we reached the deserted starting line I admitted I left my bib and chip I needed to get back home! And I was suggested to find the event expo and look for a chip and bib replacement.  I had to pay 20 dollars more! Because of my forgetfullness, its a first time for this to to happen to me! It was more expensive as I calculated in the back of my head if I would have raced back home and took another taxi it is more expensive than paying the 20 dollars and plus would leave me no time to prepare, stretch and psyche myself.  I hated my self for a second for that but lessons are learned. (No I can donate two of my chips to sydney marathon clinic as the organizers were not collecting the chips and the SMC can use them for the series).  So don’t go looking for my old bib number online if you are trying to stalk me :p.

My Replacement Bib #

Anyway at the start, we saw Dot.  Then Brendan and Bronwyn, then Kim at the dunny queues.  Drank my can of V and walked Terry to the Woodstock cheering corner and had my stretches and from there I did my warm up jog back to the start line.  I positioned myself at around 5 meters away from the start line. At 730 am, the gun start was shot.  I was walking around 4 seconds before I am able to at least jog to cross the start mat.

It was a very crowded, start.  I tried to find my way through and weave amongst the crowd, and seed myself to the proper space and pace.  Past 5 minutes was the only time I am able to at least get the running space I was looking for.  I saw a fellow Woodstock, Stephen Brown’s back, then passed him and saw Dierdre next, it was hard as she was running ahead of me, I was wanting to run with her and say hi.  That was the hill at the Rocks.  Said my Hi’s and How are you and I left her.  Before the turn to the Harbor/Circulat Quay, I was elbowed by someone, and I am surprised that “Superman/Marathon Man” still remembers me from the Canberra Marathon.  We exchanged pleasantries and he shook my hand. Then I went ahead of him.

Marathon Man

Just after the curve, i suddenly heard a senior male runner running behind me, asking if I was at the Canberra Marathon.  Surprised again for someone to have recognized me amidst crowds and I am a bit embarassed not to know them even by their face!  Again we exchanged pleasantries asking how he went in the marathon etc.  This time he left and sped off, soon after a Sydney Strider’s lady was cheering “Go Woodstock!”, whom I cheered back Go Striders! I was running just at her tail for the first 7 Kms and I realized she was running in speed I shouldn’t be running with as I can feel my legs overheating.  So I slowed down a bit.  I was also kind of disappointed that the Kilometer markers were not clear, some were at the event banners, but it is not runner friendly! When you are running you are not looking at up but on the road or eye level.  So my Pace tape was not put into use.

Then we were back to the CBD roads now I finally met Hunters Hill.  It was hard running in the speed I was going, I knew I was still running faster than I planned.  I was puffed at the top of this hill, I was so wanting to walk but I did not because I did not want to.  Just before going back to the start loop, I saw Brendan going back for his second lap and I was back to Prince Albert cor Macquarie Street, I heard Tezza and Anthony cheering, then we are headed to Domain, I was surprised and cheered by another expectating Woodie, Andrea.  Seeing other runners on the other side of the road I felt motivated, how could they be faster than me?! I asked myself! I was not looking forward to that incline on that street however.

Then back we go, I saw Tristan’s side but he was running puffed as well so I though I’d let him concentrate, It was a bit too far to cheer for him anyway.  I am almost half way there …

Make your own pace bands online for free!

How do you create your own pace bands?

On my first Marathon, from a help from a running friend, a tape given at the expo and my own research did the trick.

On the reasearch part, I found out that you can make your own pace bands online.  Input your target time, the distance you are running and voila! ready to print, cut and wear.  You can laminate it or put transparent tape around it to prevent sweat or water tearing it to pieces before you can even finish your race.

Now the wonders of internet, and laziness to write, you can skip pressing those calculator keys and writing your pace on a hospital tape or masking tape or writing dircrecylu around your wrist.

Here are some useful websites you can use:

Runner’s World

Marathon Guide
Runner’s World Pace calculator
Competetive Running

Here’s a sample I might use for Sunday’s Sydney Morning Herald’s Half Marathon:

Most Searched Keyword and Stats: April

flexor hallicus longus* Mothers day* Extensor
Hallucis* Canberra*fun run inferior extensor retinaculum* Extensor digitorum* superior extensor retinaculum injury Sydney
Marathon* tendinitis tenosynovitis* woodstock runners* 2009 most searched keywords 4 km fun run times ginisang repolyo recipe injury extensor digitorum longus tenosyn m. extensor digitorum longus tendinitis stretched extensor retinaculum tchcat de polan tiffin parco solis www.tchcat.com 10 may sydney marathon cancer 30 kms? balmain fun run body mustle extensor digitorum longus calories of ponkan cancer marathon classic gold coast chaia witchkitty cycling injuries inferior extensor retin extensor and flexor hallucis longus fenway park mothers day 2009 gold coast classic fun run breastcancer hallucis how to run 30km race? injury to digitorum kitty iron on patches marathon on mothers day in Australia mark mercieca
paracemtamol for hangover photovendo manilaretinaculum ron cunanan runners leg running injury inferior extensor retinac sissi and martin smc smithfieldst. mary’s fun run sydney bridge
marathon sydney morning herald city to surf fun r sydney running events maroubra fun run sydney twilight fun runs tchcat thalia anthony“”" training for a 14km marathon twighlight series what day does mothers day fall on witchkitty

Top keywords is still related to injury
flexor hallicus longus*    18
Mothers day*    13
Extensor Hallucis    10

April I believe is a year anniversary of this blog and interesting to see how people actually read my blog! Thanks!

Sri Chinmoy Series, Race 2′09:Iron Cove

There were 3 races on this Sunday in NSW.  It is because its mother’s day and the Mother’s day Classic run is on, which I ran last year on the 4KM distance., 1 in Parramata and 1 in the City but I did ran the Sri Chinmoy Series which I already had registered myself last year for the long distance races.

I did want to jojin the Mother’s day classic to guage should have I improved on that course, although from experience last year, there is too much people running the event.  So I did the Sri Chinmoy aside from it being cheaper you get your fruits and pancakes in the end.

I am not sure how I was going to perform in this race as I was feeling niggles in my right knee lately which I iced teh night before and did benorubbed before leaving the house.  10 meters away from our main entrance I just remembered that I forgot to take in pain killer for the knees! Yet I did not go back I will be fine I told myself.  Plus this is the longest race I have done after the marathon so I do not know if I would be okey speed wise.

Woke up 15 past 6 and got ready before 7am, we were already walking to the race start area near the Leichardt Swimming pool and took us just 10 minutes walk.  Arriving at the race area, there is so little runners converging and not seeing a single Woodstock soul around! So I thought some people would have joined either of the other two races.  20 minutes before teh scheduled start at 8am, the crowd started arriving, so with the woodies.  Lee Baker, Brendan, John Dawlings(who is not racing because of a flu), Tomi(not racing because of an injury but brought her camera and became the official woodie photographer), Linda, Michelle, Martin, Peter, Thalia, Mark O’Donnell, Mark Mericieca, Kerry Bray and Peta and Martin of cool running.

The race started 10 minutes late because of the queue in the dunnies.  The 16KMs went ahead, then 8 and 4.  I stayed at the back of the pack as I do not like being rushed during the start, however there was a bit of build up as soon as we reached the path way of the La Montague and I did have to speed a little to find my space which was a bit challenging.

@8km, 38minxx lap 1

The crowd started to spread out, I am constantly being passed by a guy in red shirt, and I was overtaken by at least2 ladies.  I can see Lee around 100m away from me and I wanted to be at least running at where he was.  So at the the 4Km distance I almost reached him, thinking bout what he told me last monday about everything is mental of passing people.  At 4Km I was timing at 18Mins so I knew I was running under 5min/KM which I am not sure If i could keep up with this distance.  I tried and reaching the 8KM turnaround at lap 1 I can hear the woodies cheering, specially Thalia’s voice!  She was doing the 4KM, and placed 3rd.  I reached the 8KM at 38mins.  On second lap, i saw one of the 8KM lead runner female encouraging me it felt good.  I was getting a bit puffed on the second lap I wanted to slow down but I did not want to!  Then I saw Martin who told me I am almost on the turn around and just relax.  Tried to relax and did longer strides and deepr breaths.  at 12KM I was still doing the same pace and I was tired and almost giving up and thinking of slowing down.  However I saw the last lady whom overtook me who was just 3 meters ahead of me the whole time after she overtook me and the idea that Lee told me kicked in and I tried to over take him relaxed and longer strides which I was able to as soon as I overtook her I sped off making sure she will not catch up.  I overtook the guy in the red shirt as well and sped off after, trying to listen should have they tried to overtook me back but they did not.  I think Lee’s concept was true.  I mentally beat them.

To the Finish chute! (that Quads making me worry, so unfeminine!) - axn pics courtesy of Tomi

2-3 Kms away to finish, 1 strong lady runner came speeding so I thought I was already in the 11th place for the women, then two male runners.  at 14Km I was estimating I could be finishing at 1:18 or 1:17.  Reaching La montague, I was met by the Fullford sisters (Corrine and Victoria) who was doing the shorter distance and was cheering on me and I added few more speed wanting to get to the finish without slowing down.  200M to the finish I sprinted finishing 1:18′44″ in my watch.  I was happy as I beat my last time in November on the same course.  The race was every now and then showered with light rainenough to keep the runners fresh but was challenging for the organizers keeping the pancakes dry :p.

Official results I finished at 1:18′42″ 12th female overall.  I could have ran faster today but I ranked far bit from the 8th last year I could say there were  lot of fast runners that day or runners are just getting faster.  The winner last year for the females got beaten and took the 2nd place instead.

I am happy having another PB from last week’s 10 and this Sunday.  I think the interval speed sessions on my Woodies TNT helps, against a few’s opinion that if you are doing longer distances away from 5 and 10 intervals are irrelevant.  I think that thinking is wrong.

Event: Sri Chinmoy, Iron Cove
Location: Iron Cove, NSW, Australia
Distance:16KM
Time: 1:18:42 – PB

Results