Sydney Marathon race report

Pretty much mission accomplished....

Three different prioritised goals going into the race
A- break PB (3:22:08)
B- break 3:30
C-Finish

The start process was a bit of a shambles for some reason and after the gun for the elites (about 20 metres in front of group A) went off we all looked at each other and then also started running. I started the Garmin about4-5 seconds up the road before I went over the timing mats and then about another 50 metres I heard another gun, so who knows what was supposed to happen the officials near us certainly had no idea....

Anyway, I also broke the first rule of marathon racing, no new gear on the day. I got a race belt and loaded it up with gels, but as we headed up the laneway it was obvious the elastic holding the gels was not tight enough and so I started stuffing around trying to take out and reload the gels so they were tighter, while also still running, managed to lose one and then just ended up stuffing them in my cap so I would not lose them.

With "stretch" goal A in mind I aimed for km reps of around 4:45 and given the shambles at the start I was actually in front of the 3:15 group for some time, they finally hauled me in around Centennial Park, was tempted to tag on the back but was close to my zone already and so I stuck to my guns as they slowly drew away. I did like the extension of the course through Centennial and hit the halfway mark just over 1:39 so slower than last year, which is actually good. The long drag back up Anzac Parade needed some focus and I passed a few people through here looking forward to the downhill of Oxford St and then continuing down to Circular Quay. Saw the family here giving me a cheer and then likewise the CR cheersquad as I hit Hickson Road. Caught fellow Strider Alex here who was struggling and I also started to feel some twinges, warning of cramps. I got a salt tablet ready but had to wait until the end of Hickson Rd before the next aid station where I downed the tablet with some extra water and also said hi to Springer who was marshalling.

From here I hit my lowest mental point on the flyovers and resorted to some power walking as the lead 3:30 pacer caught me on the last steep pinch in this loop. Downed my last Gel at the aid station before returning on the flyover and was relieved to start headed downhill back towards Hickson. As soon as I hit Hickson and had a quick drink at the aid station I perked up again and immediately hit a good tempo again. I did however bleed about 3-4 minutes on this 4-5km previous stretch.

The run to home was actually not at all bad, I was close to the rivet (cyclists will know what I mean) but was hauling in quite a few people. By about the Hyatt I was really starting to motor and really enjoyed the CR cheer squad again and also the large sized contingent of people cheering along near the toaster, still passing people!

I knew I had 3:30 in the bag but ran it hard all the way to the end and ended up with a gun time of 3:28:40 which in checking the records is an equal all time 3rd best marathon time. Given that back at the end of June when I had my back problem and I struggled to stay with the 6am group with a 20km run at avg pace of 5:43 and I really did not start training properly until the start of August I am as an understatement very happy with how things turned out in being able to run a marathon at sub 5min/km pace!

In Melbourne for work and went out for a tentative recovery run tonight. The legs felt remarkably fresh and I knocked out just over 11km at 4:57 pace and an average HR of 154 over a flatish course.

So back to building for GNW, some sekrit training coming up that I'll report when I am able to :) October needs to be a big month and another few Kg's off the waist will be a bonus for some of those climbs at GNW, like Heaton Gap and Dora Creek....

Also getting ready for Summer Series, last year in this age bracket but I'd like to give it a bit of a shake

Progress and now to the Sydney Marathon

A little bit of swings and roundabouts since the end of August. Notable points in the last 2 weeks
- Raced the Striders 10km at North Head. Truly the most attrocious weather conditions I have raced at a Striders 10km, a howling Nor-Easter with driving rain. Tried to help Paul out with the setup of the timing system but the rain managed to penetrate the electronics and so it was kaput... I lined up and charged off, after our second loop of the end of North Head I noticed my right shoe lace had come undone so waited to the top of the hill to stop, retie and double knot. Of course a slew of people went past and I set out right into the wind and rain to try and regain my position. It seemed that no matter where I was, it was either a head wind or climb or both! Started to fade on the second lap but did manage to catch Seagull and hold off Horrie, although Horrie was backing up from Trailwalker the week before so I should have stayed ahead of him! Ended up with 43.51, not what I was hoping for but lots of upside!

Backed up for Middle Harbour Picnic, another tough run and struggled at the back for the long climbs but actually ran home quite strongly after the long climbs were done.

Then the start of an enforced taper with a work trip to Mumbai. Had a few good treadmill sessions on the treadmill and also did a full work through of the weights program set up for me which really smashed me. As it happened the enforced taper was extended as I had to stay over the weekend and fly to Delhi for a last minute presentation. So I shifted hotels in Mumbai (at my bosses advice) to one on the beach and went for one run along the beach. As it happened this was the day after the weights session I did and my legs were absolute toast, the high temperature and humidity did not help and I was glad to get back to the hotel for a swim in the pool. No way in the world would I have swum at the beach, a tanker had dropped a load in the Arabian Sea and the water was not nice...

Some more treadnill sessions before finally getting back to Oz and headed out for a last had hit out on my home base tempo course for a loosener. Was happy and surprised to significantly reduce my most recent times so headed in the right direction!

The sugar free diet regime has continued, a real test when I travel and today when I hopped on the scales I was a little surprised to see 80kg neat. So over 5kg lost since I started back. Other good news is that the dodgy back is getting less dodgy.

So Sydney Marathon beckons on Sunday with what seems a faster and less exposed course. I really am underdone but as usual will give it a red hot go, we'll see what happens.