Run Distance: Sat 94:01
Average Pace: N/A
Weekly Total: 129:65
Monthly Total: 318:05
Yearly Total: 2897:03
Running Calendar: The Tan 100, Centennial Park 100
The Sri Chinmoy 12hr is done. Here are a few thoughts on the race.
I got to Sydney early on Saturday so I could watch the start (first 12 hrs) of the 24 hr run. This part was educational as a 24 hr is very much on the cards and I wanted to see how things went - pacing, food, metal attitude. I set up my table and chair and as luck would have it I was next door to Sharon and Justin Scholtz. Justin was running the 24 and Sharon was crewing. During the course of the next 12 hrs we had some good chats on ultra's in general.
It was a very nice sunny day and I enjoyed watching the race unfold.
When the sun set and it became cold. Just waiting for my 10PM start was the coldest I have ever been. Painfully frozen feet and hands.
Then it was start time. My plan was to run 5km and then have a drink and eating break. Something I had practiced at Calwell oval. It worked very well. I was running nicely at the beginning and was as warm as toast. The mondo surface was good to run on but as Martin F said it did get hard when it got cold. I had a slow patch in the early hours when it was minus 2 and I started to get cold and I felt like I was getting a blister on my ankle. So I stopped for a break to put plaster on my foot, retie the laces, have a drink and a caffinated gu and a couple of panadol osteo. In no time I was back to running about 20km of really good running. I stopped for another break and both quads instantly said no more. I thought I could walk it out but once you get cold it's hard to start things up again.
With 2.5 - 3 hours left the only thing to do was walk. And that is what I did - 7.30-8.00k pace lap after lap until the final whistle.
I knew I wasn't going to get the 100k but I was determined to do as much as I possibly could.
My final result - 90.01km (94.01 on the Garmin). Seventh overall, second in my age group. It was a good result but not what I had hoped for. Many many positives to take out of this race and lots of learning on the job for my planned 24hr debut.
Would I do it again, yep in the blink of an eye because next time I would be prepared for the cold and I would pace a bit better and I have a whole lot more knowledge of how things work.
Now it's time to plan for the Tan (oops sorry for the rhyme).
2 comments:
Great to get some inside knowledge from Sharon. She is one of the best going around. Justin is not too bad either. That's where you learn, watching & asking a few questions. Yep, Tan should be much better.
You did well considering those issues. Sounds like it would have been a better event if the 12 and 24 started together. It'll be much warmer at the Tan (even if it's raining!).
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