Fisher’s Ghost did not help me speed

A week after the Auckland Marathon, is the traditional Fisher’s Ghost fun run.  The Woodstock has been actively participating as a team in this event every year.

I know this is a difficult course of hilly route, I still like it and I joined the female team.  This is not a PB course for me.

We were picked up by John at 6:30 since this 2009 the race starts at 8:30 and its a mission going to Campbelltown at the TAFE campus where the fun run is held.  We reached the venue after an hour a lot of time to get our bibs, stretch, visit the loo and warm up.

It is one of the perfect running weather.  A little bit of a mist and cloudy.

We were met by Brendan, Dot, Paul, Emmanuel, Bridgette and Emma at the start.  I positioned myself at the end bit.  As I know I wouldn’t be quicker as last year because I am feeling sore and tired still from last Sunday’s race.  I knew this after a recovery run I did Thursday before Fisher’s ghostt Fun run.

So the gun was fired, It was a slow drag of walk to get past of the start line, dawdling with the walkers and joggers.  Running on the dirt on the curb, trying to overtake walkers.  I knew it was a uphill start and a course that will never get better x 2!

I was fine not until the 2nd water stop I did which agrevated a stitch in my right that it was painful it was taking over a normal breathing to painful breathing, I had to decide continue or walk.  i walked massaging the pain away and getting my breathing  to normal.  I walked twice or thrice where I am trying ot to loose sight of Terry.

1st Turn around

At the 2nd Lap, Brendan was waiting at the hill and came along with me and Terry to push me! The two guys were really nice to have waited and patiently encouraged me to run the hills.  Specially to Brendan who paced me and Terry, who was Injured and suppose to just do a 5KM ended up doing a 10KM distance anyway!  Also to Bob Fickle who picked me up in 2nd walk I did and pushed me.

Woodstock run together, Stays together. Tez, Me and Brendan

Emergency on Bike

5 meters to the finish

The stitch did not go away, my left glutes are so painful, my itbs starting to act up, my hip muscles are really tired.  it was a bad bad day of racing!  I was holding on and trying to just jog and hoping to finish the race.  Seeing the 9KM marker, I was happy.  1 more kilometer I tild myelf and it is over.  Its is beyond 50 minutes I know but I don’t care.  Everything hurts.

While I was running i was conteplating of maybe going back training in the base distance at 5KM.  Recover from my injuries and get better.  Hoping for a good start for next year.  We left after catching up with the Woodies.  It was a tiring race, a run where Fisher’s ghost did not make me run quicker.

The event is very well organized from Marshalls directing  partisipants to the new registration and start Venue, Early bird entry shirts, goodie bags, enough water stations, enough pylons and traffic free!

Event: Fisher’s Ghost Fun Run 2009
Location: TAFE, Campbeltown Campus, NSW
Distance: 10 KM
Time: 53:58

Results
Complete Results

Photos are borrowed from Campbelltown Joggers

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Auckland Marathon 2009: The Marathon that was not meant to be

I was thinking since last year I wanted to visit New Zealand that year but It just did not materialize to some reason. And I thought maybe this year 2009 I can wing it if I plan early. I wanted to go beacuse it is just near Australia and i have relatives their and cousins staying there. Until a good opportunity came when fares to NZ came half the price so I thought maybe I should go. I looked at the running calendar and thought maybe I can run the Auckland Marathon at the same time and schedule my flights at that time. Checked my work schedule and I did not have any concrete assignment on the week of the Marathon weekend. Yet when I went to the Auckland Marathon’s website entries for Marathon and Half Marathon is already closed. But then in Coolrunning website, I saw Lee Baker, a runner mate saying entries are still open for international runners. So I emailed the event organizer if I can register for the Marathon on November 2, 2009 as an International runner. Immediately I was replied by them saying It is still open but fast closing. This is less than 5 months before November. I registered and I applied for a Visa. An which I was required to already book my tickets, which I did and went back on my Visa application. Came back 2 days after to receive multiple entries to New Zealand for a year. Which I am glad. It has been a month after the 2nd marathon I have done, and I thought November is just enough for me to recover and train for the next Marathon. I was excited. In June, two consecutive weekends after each other in Dolls Point and Hunter Valley Half Marathon I got ITBS. I was still having high hopes of recovering before November. I slowed down my training and picked up again starting on the week of City to Surf. I wasn’t quite recovered, ButI was still running races but just for fun. My original injury of ITBS in my right leg was recovered totally yet my left leg came next. It was frustrating. a months and a Half very frustratingly I know I will not be able to catch up on training in a month and a half for a marathon. I did have to pull out, and decided to downgrade to half marathon. It was already too late to back out I paid my tickets and registration so I might as well just go. Terry who was keen in doing his first half marathon said he will run and come with me to NZ. I know I would be able to run a half marathon. I emailed the organizer again telling them I got injured and I would like to request to downgrade to half marathon. Rules was clearly stated Marathon Runners can not downgrade to half marathon but Half Marathon registrants can upgrade to full marathon. Yet they were so accomodating and excused me sinec I was an international runner, not even have to tell them I already booked my flights, that they would arrange my registration to half marathon. From that time on, revolting but I had to move on and train for a half marathon distance. It was not easy as the ITBS was still there, work schedule was getting out of hand that the week I was suppose to do my long runs I wasn’t able to due to working day and nights. It was frustrating and I was wisihing I would be able to get a finish time of 1:50.

Event expo

Arrived in Auckland on the 30th of October and Picked our bibs on the 1st. Instead of getting finisher medals we get adidas, who is the major sponsor of the event, shirts. It is a little bit big for me but it was ok. Had a little lookaround of the city that day and went back to the hotel for an early rest.

Woke up at 400 as we need to walk to the Ferry terminals that will take us to the start in Devonport which is 15 minutes ferry ride from the city. Also an unexpected thing happened but which usually does whenever I have big race, the red flag came up! bugger and it was cold and I was having cramps which is not really great.

Got in Devornport at 530. We start at 6:45. While i was on queue to the dunnies, I saw a runner with a Philippine flag sticker stuck on his shirt and I said Hi. His name is Leo Vidallon I did not get his last name and he was running the alf marathon.

At Devonport, Auckland city in the backdrop

It is my first time to visit New Zealand, we read that weather before heading to the country and prepared for long sleeved shirts. It was a winter weather when we arrived there. I wanted still to wear my bra top and my shorts in the race. Yet I did have to wear my leggings and long sleeved shirt. Until 40 minutes before the start we decided to shed off our clothing. Toilet queues were long that we needed to find and be resourceful and take a leak somewhere!

We dropped our bags in the cages, which the NZ post does take the bags to the finish line, we proceeded to the start line and huddled amongst the people which is helpful and kept as warmer. And at 6:45 we were off. almost 3 minutes we were just standing there after the gunstart before the crowd really started to move and run.

We ran amongst the residential area of Devonport and the roads were partially closed. I had 4 GUs in my pocket and took a V shot before the race.

Wow the route was hilly. Undulating small hills after another. We were told by Michelle Warren, a fellow Woodstock, that the course is hilly when you reach the climb to the harbor bridge. It wasn’t. Even before the bridge, there were already hills!

I was running okey not until we reached the bridge where I had to walk and run twice and Terry decided to take off ahead of me. It caught up with the few runners who overtook me when I did my walks and just kept on running. At the turn around underthe bridge, I saw a runner with a YMCA singlet and I paced with him and he was being a good motivator to the runners, encouraging the walkers to run and finish the run. He went ahead by 18th Kilometer. I started encouarging walkers too and at the 19th kilometer I can feel my quads cramping. I wanted to walk and I thought it is embarassing to do so after having encouraging runners to run!

I kept on running carrying my legs, i mean dragging maybe. We saw the markers the day before wehn we picked the race pack and I know the finish was almost here but the route just kept on going! I was buggered and tired. I know i am already beyond 1:50.

Finally I can see the Finish line I tried to run quickly looking at the clock 1:55:30 … crossed the mat at 1:55:35. taking 3 minutes out, more or less I would have made it at 1:52 minutes.

I was very frustrated at my run being it slow. Then at the end of the day I am happy, It was faster than my first half marathon time and far faster than my worst half marathon in hunter valley.

Warming down at the Recovery area

I was glad I wasn’t running the marathon as it was hilly. I do not know if I would run the full Marathon here one day, who knows.

Event: Adidas Auckland Marathon 2009
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Distance: 21.1 Km
Time: 1:52:17

Results

Interested bout the travel to NZ? read here:
Part 1
Part 2

Maroubra Fun Run 09: Spose to be a rainy day

I knew the Maroubra fun run is one hard course in running.  It is just 8KM but thinking bout it, the effort you would have exerted will be of the same in a 10KM flat.

I ran this last year and it was a hilly course.  Not bad as it has a good downhill at the end, which comes in two laps if you are doing the 8KM.

Checked the weather forecast and it says scattered showers so I am thinking this would be a better running weather than yesterday from the Handicap which is humid.  So we were picked up by John and reached the race venue 1 hour ahead.  A lot of the booths and jumping castles and trampolines were already set up.  The event was also in conjunction withe the Octoberfest by the Rotary Club of Maroubra.

There was a good German beer tent that serves sausage sanwiches and beer which is a good reward when you finish the race.  The day was very fine not until when the sun started to show up and it was a little bit warm and people were getting concerned about getting dehydrated.  It is a good thing the 4Km turn around point is where the water stop is and where the start line is so we got a few cups of water into us.

I estimated 41 minutes in my time as I feel just going easy on this run.  I do not want to blow the next run away knowing I am still injured.  As expected it is a hard run with lots of uphill, and its not a course PB.

As a tradition the bagpipe band marched us to around 5 meters or so to the timing mat and the whistle was blown and off we go.

I have been noticing lately that i get too puffed easily that i hear myself wheezing.  That it was too embarassing that in the 2nd lap I did have to walk to ease down my heart rate.  There is no point running hard if the body says it can’t and feel sorry at the end right?

I was running along with a older age category lady who i think is annoyed being beside me thinking i was going to beat her, i have no intention of  competing with anyone at that day.  Then another female runner of my age category was the same when i caught up to her, she tried to pulled away from me and run quicker. I did not mind.  After getting few waters into me after jogging to the last water stop, i decided to run as i know that it is already almost downhill and about 2 KM to finish.

Picked my pace up and caught up with the people who did not stop and overtook me when i did stop at the water stations.  It was just the female runner of older age than me and that female runner of same age category in blue singlet were the runners i wasn’t able to catch.  It did not matter really, it was a who-cares-day for me.  after the one big steep hill I was just hanging on to reach the finish, although another female came flying past all other runners aside from that I kept my rank in the last 500 M.  I was pleased.  Although I thought I was quicker than last year, I wasn’t.  I am pleased with the results anyway.  And well our team still made it to 3rd place, having me, John and Terry in the team.  Not bad at all.  It was warm running day that i was so wet from dozing my self literally with water.

After the run, Tezza and Martin decided to go for a dip in the beach while i was just queued up for food and drinks at the booths.  The organizers were lucky to only have the rain during the presentations and really bucketed down after John collected his bling for placing 3rd in his age category and we left.  I’d like to run this again next year.

Event: Rotary Club of Maroubra Fun Run
Location: South Maroubra. NSW
Distance: 8KM
Clock Time: 41.26

Results
Photos

A Dozen Woodstock in World Masters Games 2009

Write up will be updated of results every now and then if possible and availability
Athletics Results found here

Twelve from Woodstock Runners and Walkers will participate and compete at the World Master’s Games 2009 that will be held here in Sydney.  The World Master’s Games is held on October 10-18 that is participated by more than 28, 000 competitors around 95 countries competing in 28 sports events.

The 12 club members are:

Lorraine Spanton – 10k and Half Marathon
One of the Best 2009 performance: 1.43.55 21.1 KM Gold Coast Marathon 2009
Age category: 55-59

Rick Collins -  10k (11/10/2009:46:02) and Half Marathon (18/10/2009 1:48:10)
Latest best performance:  147:27, 21.1 KM Sydney Marathon 2009
Age Category: 60-69
More about Rick

Linda Barwick - 10k (11/10/2009: 52:26 6thW55)
Best latest performance:  Sydney Striders, Lane Cove 10 KM 51:58 5:12
Age category: 55-59
More about Linda

Dot Siepmann – 800m(3:37:38 3rd W65), 5000m (26:14 3rd W65), 8k cross country(44.29 (2nd W65)), 10k (53:01 update 11/10/2009-Silver) and Half Marathon (18/10/2009 2:04:16 2nd W65)
Best latest performance: 10 KM Australian Masters Championships 53:16
Age Category: 60-69
Watch out! She has finished a Marathon at 3:28:17!
Age category: 60-69
More about Dot

Deidre Stewart 10k and Half Marathon
Best latest performance: 21.1 KM Gold Coast Marathon 1:47:13
Age category: 45-54

Jeff Morunga – Half Marathon (18/10/2009 2:13:35)
Latest best performance: Fishers Ghost Fun run 10KM 52:08
Age category: 50-55
Trivia: 51 Marathons

Brian Ogilwy – 10k and Half Marathon
Latest best performance:  48:42 Sydney Striders 10Km series, Homebush
Age Category: 65-69

John Murray – swimming events
Latest best performance: Sydney Corporate Cup, 6Km 26:05
Age Category: 40-49

Kazuaki Takahashi – 10KM (11/10/2009: 37.52 (5th M55)) and Half Marathon (18/10/2009 1:23:51)
Latest Best performance: 14 Km City to Surf 52:57 (best 49:xx!!)
Age Category: 55-59

Kerry Bray – 5000m(26:11 2nd W65), 8k cross country, 10k (11/10/2009: 61.06 (8th W65)) and Half Marathon
Latest best performance: 2:09:21 Sydney Marathon 21.1 Km
Age Category: 65-69

Luana Ferrara 10k (11/10/2009: 59.36)
Latest performance: Great Nosh 15 Km 2:07:21

Susan Murray- 10K (43.45 (5th W45)), 8K Cross Country(34.56 (2nd W45)), Cycling Time Trial
Latest best performance: Bay run 7Km 31:17
Watch out! 14th Age category World Triathlon 2009 Gold coast

The games theme is “fit, fun and forever young”.

Kerry, on our latest Woodstock rundown wrote an article about the World masters 2009, click here for more.

I did try to search for fellow Filipino on the games amongst the 28, 000 list in the 170 pages of competitors, unfortunately I am not able to find one .  Thinking bout it its bit dear 220 plus accomodation and plane ride .

This event is worth watching.  The oldest competitor would be 101 Years old! and master athletes who competed in past olympics re-visting their games.  Note that the games showcase almost all Olympic games!

More information about the 2009 World Master’s games can be found here.

Good luck to the Woodstock and to all the competitors and hoping for good results!

Orange Blossom Festival: Westpac Hills Fun Run

I am half looking foward and excited to see another soft sand race in the running calendar, however after consultation I was suggested to run on even surface rather than soft sand and might make my take my ITB recovery longer.

So I emailed John if he is running the St. Mary’s which they did last year, but he said he will run the Hills Run instead.  Tthe Hills run is one of the events included in the Orange Blossom Festival.  You must be wondering if this is in celebration of the orange and red skies that happened in most region of NSW last Wednesday, but i don’t think its related.

We were just right on time waiting for John at the driveway for a change instaed of him waiting, we arrived and we headed to the hills.  I checked the weather forecast and it is cold 9-16 degrees so i decided to wear my Skins.  When we arrived the race area it was really really windy and cold.  I couldn’t decided should I take my jumper off, we are starting past nine so it would be a lil bit warmer.  The 4 KM and 2 KM run went ahead and next is the 8KM.  I braved the cold wind and decided to run in singlet.

2KM run of the kids, look at the cute lil boy in red at the left

I stayed at the back ofthe pack as I know I am not racing this run.  I paced myself slowly that my knees do not start hurting.  It was a two lap of a fire trail.  Its a mix of grass, firetrail foot paths, a stairs, and its not totally flat when you reach the 3.5Km distance which i decided walk.

Just few meters to the start I saw Terry stopping waving and limping.  He ran too quick and told him to keep a constant pace with me not know he pulled put and started walking and too photos instead.

I knew I will not be in the top 10 females (I know with the new age group I will not win in the next 10 years!) so i was easing the speed and enjoying the run through the woods.  I enjoyed the run and still finished on a modest time.

Event: Westpac Hills Fun Run
Distance: 8KM
Time: 41:52 5thF/Open

results
2 KM
4 KM
8 KM

Blackmore’s Sydney Running Festival ‘09: Cheeky Renegade Runners

Even when the registration opened, I am not sure why I wasn’t too motivated or there was no magic feeling or urge to register in the Sydney Marathon which is yearly held every September.

I wasn’t even injured at that time which would be a good excuse not to do any race, and even received a marketing scheme of the organizers sending the participants last 2008 their certificates and advertising the event.  Maybe I thought it was too expensive and well I had planned for a longish race somewhere else… that woud be revealed soon as it comes.

Anyway the Sydney Running Festival is memorable to me as year 2007 when I first visited Australia, I was so glad that It was of the right timing that my business trip was of the same time with the running event.  I was still new in running in that time and I did the 9Km where I finshed a decent time.  The year after, 2008, I decided to do my half-marathon debut on this event, which was memorable too.

Usually there are no races that goes at the same time with big races like this so I am not racing this Sunday.  Since I am trying to still be fit and have a slow training despite injury, this would be good of not racing and no pressure and thought maybe pace someone from the running club, Woodstock Runners.

So got on the emails and Rick Collins was happy to get paced with.  Terry and I were actually discussing we would be waiting for Dot or Kerry along the course then Rick emailed.  I wasn’t too sure at first about it as the Thursday before this Sunday we had a recovery slowish run where my ITBS on the left leg was really acting up.  Which went on till Saturday that I did not whinge about.  Rick also run just a lil quick than I am on Woodstock handicap so I am not sure about pacing him, yet again when I asked him what time was he hoping to finish, he said around 1:50-1:52 and will be happy if he gets a 1:49:59.  That’s still more than 5 min/KMs so that’s okey I thought.  Was praying hard that the knees won’t act up really bad.  I iced the night before, had my hips on heat pack and applied Dencorub and Voltaren on my knees.

We agreed to meet Rick at Droboyd Rowing Club just after the turn around point.  But we were running late so I decided that the best point is at Norton street at the 12Km point.  We ran up Victoria road to Balmain road towards Norton covering more than 2Kms just 3-5 minutes until we are expecting Rick to be passing soon.  It was different again being on the sidelines on such event like this.  Watching a sea of Runners.  Funny few mates still recognized us standing in the sidelines it was the other way around them calling our names out and we should be us cheering and shouting their names.

Waiting at the sidelines

Half-marathon Runners

By th 10th minute, Terry saw Rick and so we called Rick and started running ahead of him till he caught up and asked how he was and he said he’s doing good.

It might be a lil bit dodgy running with much energy amongst the hald marathoner’s some already puffed and tired and we were still fresh and full of energy.  We tried to stay ahead of Rick for a few meters or just run beside him.   He tries to catch us so that’s good.  He is still looking strong when we reached the 16th Km marker or so.

Then he was picking his pace up by 1.5 KM to finish, amazing after running that distance he still had that energy and we kept psyching him on the way its just a few more kilometers to finish.  I was looking at my watch and thinking approximately 2 minutes past 1:50 he will cross the finish line.  Just before we reach the Opera house and It seem like Rick caught up with Lee Baker another running mate and he was doing well, I thought we’d just pull out at Circular Quay before Marshalls say something.

We tried our best yet we still got naughty looks amongst the marshalls, we did not see who were sitting at one corner.  They made some comment we did not bother as it a half joke for me, so we ignored it and slowly jogged towards the finish cute to watch and maybe see other Woodstock and people we know doing the run finish.  I saw my PT running, I remember her telling me she is doing her first half marathon.

As we thought most of the people we knew who was running the half were all finished and the sun was getting too strong and getting hungry for breaky, we decided to leave and go home.  Too bad we did not see the Marathon winner cross the finish line but who knew just before our ferry home left the harbor, we saw the 1st Marathoner came in, and later learned it was JULIUS SEUREI of Kenya who finished a quick 2:17:07, followed by KOJI TANIGUCHI, and JEREMEY HORNE of Japan and Australia respectively.

I think it was more humid and warmer last year, and the organizers at least improved (at least as it seem like it) on the water stations.  Still we saw a number of runners were picked by the Medical Unit of either heat or cramps or something.  (Hopefully they end up going ok ).

And who knows, by lunch time we got an acknowledgment letter from Rick:

It was a good run for us, even I did feel in some point that the knees was starting to be painful and I ignored it which went away.  I forgot to tell you, It is one of undescribebable fullfilling (feeling) of bringing home someone to finish a PB.  It was like winning someonething.

Its my first renegading in Oz, being naughty for not paying up (although I know number of runners do this too, the only thing you don’t get is the finisher medal and your time being clocked).  I am still hoping by my next long run this ITBS on both legs just goes away soon, and I mean soon!!!

Number of the Woodstock got in Top 10 in the Category placing on different events from Full to 9Km.  This years event had more or less 35000 registrants in all the event.

Results

City 2 Surf 2009: World breaker for most numbered participants @ 75k!

The City 2 Surf is one of the events Sydney celebrates or awaits.  For non runners – some are pissed because the roads are closed and traffic is expected, and for runners and walkers because this is one of the most fun (-not as it is also too crowded) but festive and particpated.  For the record, this foot race has been running for 38 years already!

This year tallied to be the be the biggest run in the world.  This is followed by JP Morgan Corporate Challenge in Frankfurt with 69,042 official entries, the Cursa El Corte Ingles in Barcelona with 57,175 and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree 10k with 55,000, and the inspiration, the San Francisco Bay to Breakersheld in May this year with only 31,626 registered runners, plus an estimated 31,000 unregistered.

With the statistics, the event was able to race money for different charities at more than 2.1 Million AUD.

Last year, I was in the green bib.  Lucky that I am able to enter in the green as I am a first timer and should start at te back of the back or at least in the Blue Bib.  Making use of my Philippine 10KM times they allowed me to join the green bib for runners doing a 75 Min-85Min.  Lucky last year I was able to go under 75 Mins at 71:xx that allowed me to start with the red bib SH1, which is two group behind the elite/initational runner and the preferred/seeded runners.

I got the race packs Friday.  This will be my first run in two weeks of rest after putting myself into injury in the Hunter Valley Half Marathon.  I have not had any long runs since then.  And the last visit I had with my physio told me I can run the event as long as I take it slow.  I was skeptical how I would perform, the best thing i was planning to do anyway is stay safe and avoid getting myself more injured.  Finish the race and if I feel better, speed up and target the time estimate I sent our internal teams in Woodstock as 70 minutes, even hoping for a sub 70!!

Anyway, got up before 7, prepared quickly and dashed to the bus stop.  As usual the participants like us are waiting at the bus stop and there are are no buses since its sunday.  Lucky after 10 minutes of wait two arrived at the same time that brought us to QVB where we walked and had to queue for a loo at McDonalds which took as centuries!

By the time we got to hyde park, we did have to search where the bag drop off is which is 1 block away where we were and so we went dropped the bags and by the time we reached the SH1 group we were at the sidelines at the end part.  This did not worry me, it’s good at least no pressure of needing to go faster with the people in front.  By 9 the gun was Fired by Olympic Swimmer Peter Sullivan.

After 30 or so seconds we started to walk … and jog passing the mats.  it was an okey pace not until we reached the hills where i was puffed.  I blame this for not running much.  It was hard, however we tried to keep with our pace.  I knew I was going over 5min/km pace.

Then when we reached heart break hill, i was puffed and wheezing and I did have to walk around 20 seconds and tried to run again.   Then another stop and walk on top of hear break hill after the water station I knew I was loosing time but I it was hard pushing myself too much i need to walk!  After that I told myself to run and no more walking.  I tried to keep up and most were already downhill with some not so big inclines and hills.  at 10Kms I do now feel my knees hurting.  I knew why.  It was the downhill tha caused it that I did try not to run as quick and pray i get there before 75 minutes.

I already knew I was way off my estimates and wish time.  At least the pain were not as painful as the one in hunter valley.  So 2 more kilometers when you hear the finish line announcements and you can see the beach.  Conserving my energy I was hanging on to finish the race.  I was tired and exhausted.  Hating my injury that caused me to stop training.

We reached the finish line at 73.44 minutes gun time.  And at the end learned to finish at 72:05 which I am glad as there are rumors they might cut the red bib start at 73minutes  I am not so pleased with my run as I am slower than my 1st C2s but still pleased I finished.

The Woodstock Open women team which I am in got into 5th place out of 94 teams.  Our Woodstock teams got 1st in the Women Veterans, 2nd in Men Veterans and 3rd in Mixed team.

It was a fun run.  I am hoping to do better next year.  I am not just sure If i do want to go through all the hassle of queue in bathroom and drinks and food and bus after the race, after 75000++ runners and their supporters …

Some photos are borrowed from Marathonphptos.com.

Results
Photos

Got ITB Syndrome

I have been in denial since March of 2009 shall I say that I have been feeling this “niggle” that was irritating me on my first Marathon training.  It wasn’t too bad by that time, it was just a knee pain.  Which I think is normal from my increased training routine that time.

I have been taking Glucosamine and it just went away.  After the Marathon in April, during the recovery week, It came back, but I know it will go away since it went away last March just by taking the Glucosamine supplements.  June, I ran another Marathon, just 7 weeks after my first one, and that was very evidently sore after that run, including my ankles.  It did not go away just like April and March.  I was taking it slow no long runs, it is winter, not until the last two consecutive half marathons i did in Sri Chinmoy and Hunter Valley, July, I don’t think this is right.  I have been dreaming literally in my sleep about not running the City to Surf so I told myself that morning I woke up I should go to the Physio.

After months of neglecting of what I thought of a runner’s knee, I went to my favorite Physio, Doyle’s at Pyrmont, to confirm and verify what this pain really is.  My Physio confirmed it is ITB after number of twisting and bending and pressing and massaging both legs to check what it is, she said “You have ITB.”

I told her that ITB is only when it runs all through out your leg isn’t it? And she says not necessarily.  SO there you go! and most runners who got ITB would not be allowed to run after some time.  I was lucky she told me she want me and she is positive I still can do the City To Surf on August 9, 2 weeks after the check up.  When I am almost going out of the clinic another runner has the same problem … and he also wants to run City to Surf!

Since the pain was very evident I have been swimming and doing weights/strenthening excercises.  I will try to do some running on Sunday or Monday, a slow and easy one before City to Surf.  I have been doing ice and hot compress and taking glucosamine everyday, and applying Voltaren and Bencorub on the affected area.  I am positive I would run City 2 Surf.

Lawler Partners Winery Running Festival

The Woodstock mates and I arrived at Cessnok Friday evening where we were picked up at Central Coast.  We arrived earlier compared to the road trip we had at Mcleay River.  So we had enough rest before the our respective races on Sunday.

Madison WInery- Settler's cottage, The Woodstock Shack

The Lawler Partners Winery Running Festival running event is organized by H Events and is held at Australia’s famous Wineries in Hunter Valley.  This idea was derived from a similar event in France the organizers read and they thought it is a good idea to have one in Australia.

The group is well spread on the different events of the festival.  We were participating in the 6.25 walk/run event, Sissi, 10KM, Martin and Terry, Half Marathon, Bronwyn, Michelle, and Me and Marathon, Brendan and Anthony.

Event Expo at the Gardens

After a half a day wine tasting on some of the wineries, a cheese stop and a barbi lunch at the cottage we rented, we headed back to the Gardens to collect our race packs.  We saw Michelle, running the half marathon and  Anna, running the marathon and Tom at the event expo.

mm the Vineyards!

Everybody was happy except for a lil glitch in Bronwyn and my race packs.  Since we were running the 2-man Marathon team, we did not have any shirts in our pack so I did have to tell one of the desks about it.  We registered early and I even corrected the race organizer for lacking two fields for the team form online for shirt size for the 2nd memebr of the team.

He acknowledged the correction and phoned me and told me its all sorted out.  Yet when we inquired about it they said we registered late the reason we did not have shirt which is not the case.  It was not big a deal about the event shirt its just they should have been more organized, specially if the organizer has personally phoned me.  A bit irritated the lady at the desk says come back tomorrow as we might have free extra shirts after.  After doing the right instructions I think being treated that way is not fair, its a good thing the organizer Paul was there personally and heard the lil commottion and we explained and remembered the team Woodstock and he easily arranged it.

We had early night dinner of carbs for the race preparation.  Pasta, bread, salad, chips, cheese, wine, beer.  We were joined by Michelle who was staying on a different hotel and Phil and his family.  It was a wonderful dinner, then retired to bed early at 11.  Race starts at 8am for the marathon and we are just 10 minutes drive away from the start.  All were all discplined and made sure that there is no getting drunk on that night before.  And made sure we were all hydrated.

The marathon men, Brendan and Anthony went ahead as we, the shorter distance runners left the cottage later enough time to watch the marathon take off from the start.

Marathon Runners

Bronwyn drove the rest of the team at the start area, and we were already 1/4 away from the cottage i remembered that I forgot my Voltaren and my GUs!!! Of course I did not say this until we got into the race start, not the Voltaren at least.  I kept mum about the GU hoping I will pull through without it.  I did a warm up jog after hitting the portaloos to look for the first aid tent for voltaren, however there is none.  Sweeped the tents too for energy gels however there is none too! just my luck.  I never learn about preparation.

At 800 the Marathon participants started, and at 830 the half marathon started.  I kept reminding myself to run at my won pace and look after myself after that knee pains from last weekend’s race at Sri Chinmoy.  I knew this weekend I wasnt 100 percent in running form.  However I did not want to let my team and my team mate down.  I think I would be able to pull up and finish it, at least a sub 1 hour 50 mins was still ambitiuos.

I was doing well not until a few more meters after the “The Pepper” Winery, where the one big hill is found.  A long hill that makes you thank the marathon gods you are not running the full marathon.  At that last few meters of that hill I started to run, I can feel my calves burning and my knee niggle starting to act up (I drunk 3 tablets of pain reliever before we left the cottage too)! That was just about 5th Km marker of the race.  I felt upset but I know there is no turning back, I made sure my walk should not be longer than a minute.  A walk-run-walk-run routine was done.

Running through the vinyards, on the dirt, on the bitumen on grass, in between vinyards, was enjoyable with nice sunny weather despite my walking.  Not until I felt real pain on my right knees on the 11th KM approximately.  I knew that the pain relievers were wearing off.  I was really going slow, I saw the marathon runners on their way to finish their first lap.  I was waiting for Bronwyn to pass, no sign of Bronwyn.  I was looking and counting bibs that of the same color as mine, there’s not much.

The route

At last the the turn around point going to the last 10++Kms.  It was loose dirt road.  And inclines till the end of the stretch.  The inclines are making me more suffer.  And strong cold head win coming towards the runners.  I did not like it, It is making me more cramp the cold winds, and my knees are now really killing me.  I started to walk longer. And I run when someone passes me trying to at least keep up, but it is too paindful I was grunting and moaning in pain! I know by tha time my team mate have already have finished her run.

My Team mate-Speed Bronbon

I started to feel really bad that this is the slowest run I had when you see unfit participants going past me and I know I can do better than this!! I was passed by Rachel of Coolrunning who uses me as benchmark in some run.  At 7 Km I was thinking 1 more bay run that is not too long to finish.  I decided I will never make it sub 1:50 so I hope to make at least a sub 2 hours or run walk run walk.  At last 4th KM I was walking, then Sydney Strider Joyce Lam, cheered me “Go Woodstock Runner” which I think help me as she “picked me up” along the way.  So I told my self keep up running with them and jog till the finish, still I can not.  This is ridiculous.

And on our way back, we can hear the announcements, up the Broke road with one last bit of a hill to the finish, I was running yet the pain just worsens on climbing and going down hills.  Few more meters of the hill and I was on top, I can see the finish!

downhill really did not help the pain!

Last few hundered meters and take the pain, which I did, tried to speed on the last bit to the finish chute, unluckily I did not make my sub 2 hours, although I am still happy it was over a minute over of two hours and having been in pain and finished the race.

Painful finish! - 2:00:17

I was asked, did I ever thought of pulling out? The option was there but I never thought of doing it.  The only thing in my mind when I wanted to finish the race is not to disappoint my team mate Bronwyn.

After meeting with the gang and few warm-down stretches, we headed back to the chute, greeted Brendan who finished thrid and a PB on a tough course, and went to the 1st aid tent for ice.

Then we were happy to see too for Anna Pilinger, Tristan and Tami’s friend finish 1st on female category on the marathon with a time of 3:24:xx. (I wish I can do a fast time like her!!)

Anna from England

Half of us had a bad run so I am glad I wasn’t being a whimp.  So with my team mate, she did not like the run herself.

Okey, I will stop being hard on myself, not bad time for a knee pain and no GU on a tough course.

I’m such a stubborn runner.  I am committing myself to recovery, this is not ITB I know as it doesn’t hurt anywhere else.  I will recover, pass 2 races, as I wanted to do better times.  Do a faster c2s, 3 weekends to go.

Distance: 21.1 Km
Time: 2:00:17
Location: Cessnock, NSW
Team mate: Bronwyn Hager: 1:38.26
Place: 3:38.40; 1st, Women team, 2 man marathon

Results
42.125 KM
21.1 KM
10 KM
6.25 KM

The group is well spread on the different events of the festival.  We were participating in the 6.25 walk/run event, Sissi, 10KM, Martin and Terry, Half Marathon, Bronwyn, Michelle, and Me and Marathon, Brendan and Anthony.

After a half a day wine tasting on some of the wineries, a cheese stop and a barbi lunch at the cottage we rented, we headed back to the Gardens to collect our race packs.  We saw Michelle, running the half marathon and  Anna, running the marathon and Tom at the event expo.

Shoal Haven King of the Mountain

It’s winter and I feel slack as of the moment for joining races and my recovery from the last marathon was not as fast as summer.

There’s not much races too lately that suits me. The past few sundays are trail runs which I am afraid not yet ready to run.

Brendan sent an email to the Woodstock Runners for those who are wanting lift to the Shoal Haven King of the Mountain race. It is a 32 KM race down the mountains in south coast. Call me soft but i knonw I wasn’t running this event. But then agoan, I have no plans on that weekend so I thought why not go and travel with brendan and Tony and just take pictures of them and cheer for the team. So I sent a reply to Brendan expressing him it would be nince to come with them only if no if no one has expressed their interest to run and ride with him. He said so far no one has emailed him aside from me. I like road trips and being away and seeing other parts of a place so this is also a good opportunity to see the other part of NSW.

Bren suggested that we sleep over at his place on that Saturday so it makes it easier on the travel. So we were picked up by him at home and he set up our bed. Before going to sleep we were looking at the race of the race and it does look like its hard with steep inclines. And we were comparing it to the upcoming Hunter Valley Marthon which also looks like as a very difficult course of andulating and steep hills. Even if I have not seen the course gradient, I know I am not ready to face that Mountain. Anyway, they would not call it King of the Mountain for nothing.

We decided to set off from his place at 6am just enough time toarrve before race start at 9am. I decided to do a 16KM run for C2S training around Kangaroo Valley where the race ends while waiting for them to finish. I have been to this area as far as Kiama before. Its a very nice country side of cows and narrow road beside the coast. On the travel big steep there were two big steep mountains on ecah side and we were making bets which is is the race. No one of the two ran this event before so non one knows! We arrived 40 minutes before the race starts. We stepped out of the car and it was freezing! I was shaking with the cold weather. Well i forgot its the mountains so I should have rugged up. The registratuon area starting to build with mountain runners.

Everyone looks strong. I could not believ that Tony is doing annother moutain running after running a 25 Km trail run in Woodford to Glenbrook a week after. So with Michelle who even had a fall from the last race and is running this race! makes me really S-O-F-T!

This race starts at Cambewarra, 10 minutes drive from Nowra, via a series of bitumen and gravel roads over Mount Scanzi finishing in the historic township of Kangaroo Valley.

So at 9am the partcpants gathered at the race started and the horns was sounded off. Terry and I drove down towards the finish to the town of Kangaroo Valley.

Kangaroo valley is famous for campingn and kayakingn. It was a down windingsteep road to the valley. No way we could have ran this from the Cambewarra where the race started as there is no side walk or cycle paths. It dangerous.

We arrived at the town 20 minutes after and saw witches hat so I figured out to just follow it as this would be few meters to the finish. Parked the car and we set off to ran towardsthe farms, B&Bs and the bridge. I do not know what’s wrong but i wasn’t feeling the best in sy that we had torunning form that we have to stop and walk. I felt low in energy foodwise. Anyway we had good views of the country and wennt under the bridge were one of the kayak tours start. And caught a few kayakers.

Dead poor wombat

Its about 11am and I was estimating that the first runner will be heading to the finish soon. We ran towards the finish chute and a bit stirred the marshalls that they thought we were the first runners to arrive. hah! we don’t even look tired! Just as we arrived the finish the announcer got radioed that the first runner is almost back the finish.

We made around 6.20 KMs from our run. Brendan was telling bout this runner at the start that he came 3rd from the last 6 foot track.  He won the race.

And he few minutes behind we see Tim Cochrane, a fellow Thursday Night training, coming second.

We were estimating Brendan to be at top 10, either 5th or 7th place. Soon enough here he comes 5th to finish!

We went back to where the car is parked and hoping to see Anthony on the way but no. we are gettingn worried as he was compllaining he had bad legs after the last run last week. as we head back to the finish, we heard that the first female runnenrs are arriving, then Tony was behind the 1st and 2nd placer females!

He was okey he said. We waited till Michelle Warren came back and finished.

As when Brendan learned that he woulndt be getting any awards we deicedd to go eat lunch. We headed to a nice pub called. Where we had beers, the guys had burgers and chips and I had my Shcnitzel and chips. Then we head home at 3pm.

Race results