Done. Over. Completed.
I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I did it in the grand time of……..
1 hour 59 mins and 32 seconds
So not only am I a half marathoner but I am a sub 2 hour half marathoner!
My actual time is probably around 2 minutes faster than that because that was the gun time I reckon that I didn’t get through the sart line for at least two minutes after the gun.
So i’m assuming that you’ll be wanting a race report……….
after risotto for dinner and an early night last night, at 4:15 am this morning my alarm went off and I woke up pretty much straight away. I had a very good nights sleep and I wasn’t tired at all – I was totally ready to be awake. I got dressed in my running gear – which I had laid out last night (complete with my race number pre pinned) and went and made my porridge for breakfast. The last few weeks on long runs I have been having a half a cup (dry) of oats, 2 chopped dates, 1/2 a banana sliced and 2 teaspoons of golden syrup for breakfast – so that is what i had this morning. At 5:20 I had a powerade pre-sport drink – which is just normal powerade with a bit of caffiene.
we arrived at southbank at around 5:20am and found a car park, I sat in the car for about 20 minutes and watched all of the people going up to the start line. We went up to the start at about 5:40 and I took my long pants and sleeves off and did a short warm up (probably not enough) and some stretching. I relaced my shoes and then I gave my bag to mark and we arranged a meeting spot for afterwards.
The start was a bit of a shambles. It wasn’t very clearly marked and I positioned myself towards the back but I wanted to keep the 2:10hour pacer in my vision. I didn’t actually think I would be able to keep up with him but I thought I would at least keep him in my sights. Before the race start I was zoned out with the inspirational music on my ipod. The gun went off and we didn;t move at all for about 2- 3 minutes but as we got going I put the song on that I always tend to start with and that got me into the correct pace. I was feeling good so I picked up my pace and caught up to the 2:00 hour pacer by about the 4km point. By the 6km point I had passed him and from that point onwards I decided that my goal was to stay in front of the 2 hour pacer.
It felt like it took forever for the 10km point to come but I was still feeling very good at that point, when I got to 11km and there was still one song left on my playlist I felt really good – because I was on track for a sub-2hour half and I really wanted it. I had a Gu Gel at this point and it spurred me on a bit. I was still feeling really good and I kept feeling good for about the next 4 – 5km.
At the 16 – 17 km point I was starting to hurt. the kilometers felt like they were taking ages to go by. As I went up into the gardens the psychological battles bagan. I knew that I was in front of the 2 hour pacer by I didn’t know how far in front I was. As I came out of the Gardens and up onto the bridge I had my second gel and used this energy to pick up the pace again for the last 2 kilometers. There was people that I had been running ‘with’ for the entire way. One guy ran with a cup of water in his hand for about 10km. In the final 2km I picked all of these people off. As I was coming up towards the finish a great song came on the ipod and I knew I was going to come in under 2 hours so I picked up the pace again. Once I saw the finish line ahead of me I did what I always do (ever since I was really little and did little athletics) and found some speed in my legs – I saw the time counter above the finish was on 1 hour 59mins so I kicked it to the end at the 1 hour 59 min and 32 seconds point.
I was SO elated that I came in under 2 hours. Mark was waiting at the finish and I ran over and hugged him.
All the people at the finish line were cheering and clapping for the people coming in sub 2 hours – they even counted down to help get some people across the line before 2 hours. The atmosphere was great (but not as good as a really bg race like Gold coast)
Finishing that run was such an amazing high. finishing in such a great time for me was an even bigger high.
I can not believe I made it in under 2 hours – I have never managed to run those speeds in training – not even on shorter runs.
There were quite a few things I drew on while I was running. Mark’s mum and the breast cancer lady from work I talked about yesterday. I drew a fair bit from doing hard RPM classes during my training – I kept thinking about how Liz’s RPM class was harder than this and that while my heart rate was in a good place – so was I. All of the training hours I put in really paid off. I think that I was really well prepared nutrition wise as well. The littel bit of weight gain I have had this week from Carb loading didn’t matter because my muscles were all full of glycogen and ready to carry me the distance.
SO I need to say thank you to a few people:
Liz – thanks for coaching me through these past couple of months. I know I haven’t always been the best student BUT you kept me focused and helped me back on track when I drifted off.
Mark – my lovely husband. thank you for riding your bike alongside me for all those km’s and getting up with me at 4 am this morning. Thanks also for cooking dinner when I asked you too and letting me get out of painting when I am tired from doing long runs. Ii couldn’t have done it without your support.
Matt and Karen – my cheer squad (who didn’t actually make it in time – but oh well!)
My work mates – who put up with me hobbling and complaining of sore legs
and Shelly! For being my occasional training partner, pushing me along at RPM and being inspirational by sticking to your own goals.
Now – I’m off to have a soak in some epsom salts and perhaps a napp.
