Another struggle out of bed early, the sound of obviously large winds challenged the motivation just that little bit more. Went through the motions and stumbled out the door for the drive to Dee Why. This run has got the better of me each of the previous times I have run it so I was determined to keep a little in reserve for the final stretch this time.
As I arrived at Dee Why the winds seemed to increase and it started to sprinkle. Lurking in a wind sheltered nook at the start it was obvious with people recovering from Gold Coast, running at NOSH and just avoiding the weather that numbers would be small.
The scheduled time came around and 5 of us headed off into the deteriorating weather, fellow CR's superflake and highwayman amongst us. The first several km were pretty tough, running in the dark, howling cold wind and scudding showers. Accordingly chit chat was light. When we got to the school at Oxford Falls teh vote was to stop for a drink, the MTG were huddled there waiting to regroup before headed out. Superflake had to heed natures call and told us to push on. As we headed back to the road the 6:20 group cruised by and in the confusion of MTG/6:10/6:20 in the end three of us ended up about 10m behind the 6:20ers.
As we hit the climb up to Belrose highway slowly eased away and I swapped back on forwards with another strider who I did not know. On the slight slope down between the 2 climbs I cruised past him and got to the park at the top where the equaliser starts just as the 6:20 group finished watering. I stayed with them all the way through the back of Belrose/Frenchs Forest, just easing off at the overbridge. Keeping them in sight in the run across towards Allambie Heights.
The run down the hill was pretty good and caught quite a few 6:00 people. Towards the bottom Superflake caught me up. Once you get to the golf course this run gets tough, the legs used to a good downhill portion all of a sudden have to deal with level ground again. Got to Kingscliffe (?) popped a gu and followed a bit of a conga line up the coast, last year this stretch was extremely ugly but in running with Superflake we kept a good tempo slowly cruising past a number of runners. The last climb up Dee Why hill was a bash but then rolled down to the finish.
Felt pretty fatigued after the run, had a quick chat and then went back to the car to get something dry and warm on. It was a long day after that but the legs actually seemed to be recovering very well.
The stats, 29.8km in 2:32:58 (avg pace of 5:08, avg HR 155). In checking back this is about 2 minutes faster than the run in January and 11 minutes faster than Jan 2004. The good thing is it was a more even pace that both of those runs and done off the back of a lot more km the week leading into the run than both previous runs.
Overall another one of those runs that are as good to finish for the head as much as the legs. Another hard schedule continues courtesy of Mr Pfitzinger this week. Debating about Shoalhaven KOM race next Sunday.
1 comment:
Getting faster on this course all the time. I like this one as you basically go up hill out to belrose and downhill back. Was certainly hard work the first half an hour. You are looking good for Sydney though. so keep it up.
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