I went into this run not expecting much and planning to treat it more as a training run than anything else. Having done hardly any proper training over the last month I was just keeping my fingers crossed that i'd finish. Of course as often happens with me I got to the start and decided a sub 2hr was in my reach.
The race started at 6:15am and so my alarm was set for a punishing 4:00am. Michael Clease and I collected another sleepy runner on the way and we headed off to the start.
The pre race email recommends getting to the start an hour before the gun goes off. Being seasoned runners and not wanting to get up at 3:10am we decided to give ourselves about 15mins till start time!
The toilet queue was huge! There was no way we were going to get through it in 15mins. Luckily (and because we were late signing up) we were in group C and that started about 10mins after group A.
We were a trusty bunch of four, as another one of Michael Cleases friends joined us. I always love the start, up and over the harbour bridge, its a real buzz, although one that would probably be more beneficial at the end rather than 2km in, We stuck together for around 6km but some were a little quicker than others and pushed on ahead. As usually happens Michael Clease cannot help himself from striding off into the lead, and I suspect could actually go even quicker!
It was quite an uneventful run, I felt better than I probably should have but at around the 13km mark it headed out towards Pyrmont. I knew from doing the marathon the year before that this gets pretty boring, you can see people coming the other way which adds a bit of interest but makes you realise that you've still got a long way to go!
I'm pleased to say I didn't need to walk at all, except for a few steps during the drinks stations and crossed the line in 2:04. Its not the target I was aiming for but giving my preparation in the lead up I am happy! Michael Clease finished in 2:01, i'm sure he could have got under 2 if he'd tried.
No photos yet I'm afraid, they're out on Wednesday.
Chubby Katie.x
