The preparation for this race was less than ideal for both Jess and I. Inconsistent and a few niggles here and there. Plus, the motivation (as mentioned in previous entries) has been less than inspiring. Nonetheless, we were looking forward to a competitive run, or at least a run where we would be chip timed and with other runners. We rocked up to Princes Park at about 7:30 on a Sunday, which was an effort to begin with, and as usual measured up our competition. This wasn't such a good idea as it didn't take long for us to realise that our company were considerably fitter looking than us. While the aim for this race was never about time or where we placed, it's still bit of a psych out before the starters gun knowing there is every chance you will be at the tail end of the field.
A modified course of 16K was always going to be a challenging distance as both of us haven't run that far since the Marathon a year ago, so we planned to adopt a run/walk strategy to ensure we didn't collapse in a heap at the end of the run. 5 Laps of the 3km and a bit course and a pancake breakfast as an incentive to finish were the order of the day and it began, at 8:00am on the money.
Starting 3/4 of the way down the pack and no sooner did we set off, we were promptly overtaken by the majority of the field. Still, we started at a nice pace and weren't in any hurry, so we were happy. Lap 1 of 5 was not bad and we moved through the starting gate and on to the first 5km in 30:58. Jess was starting to get a little uncomfortable with lethargic legs and it was about time to walk for a bit. The run/walk approach was helping us to cope with the distance and because Jess' frame of mind was a little impaired by her discomfort, it made for a more pleasant experience - and I didn't even get shitty because we were walking!
1:05:17 for the 10K mark and the sunny morning was making it a nice return to running in a competition. The other runners were getting fewer and further between and our pace was slowing slightly. The two supporters/ course marshals were still standing there clapping away. One of the ladies had a particularly high pitched clap, which was marginally annoying, but she was there where no one else was, so good on her.
The finish line was nearly in sight and one the last lap we certainly felt as though we were the last runners from the race on the course. There were families out and about and personal trainers running through their exercises in the park and with each passing of the race registration area, the crowd was getting thinner and thinner. They had obviously had their pancakes and pissed off home. We eventually completed the course of 15.93km in 1:46:33, grabbed our half cooked pancake and banana and drove back home. The race was run well before we trotted across the line, but our run was satisfying and we had accomplished what we set out to do. Run a long run with the incentive of a race atmosphere. I think we'll do that again, but with a field that is perhaps more suited to our ability.
B
