| Sydney Marathon. Started really slowly, basically walking across the start line, then managed to roll my ankle in a pothole in the first 200m, just turning onto the bridge. Still cant believe it. Luckily it was only a '20 second special' and ran it out over the next few minutes. The crowd spread out over the bridge, it was so great to run across the middle of the harbour bridge on such a morning, real magic, especially still feeling that fresh.
Kept looking at the Garmin about 3 times a minute to make sure of my pace, kept it between 4:30 and 5's most of the time. Was wanting to go under 3:30 and was pretty confident of doing so.
Out to Centenary park, past quite a few perplexed drunks along Oxford St, things were nice and steady. Through 10, 15, 20km. Started to get quite fatigued legs as we crossed halfway (1:42 ish) and changed my loping high impact running style to a long slung high rotation shuffle, that was actually faster but less stressful, could tell I was burning more energy though. Still kept building up a nice little 'time bank' to a target of about 3:23. The 3:30 pacer was still ahead though.
Through 25, 30km things were ok if getting slightly more difficult. Then at about 32km - up what I consider must be harder than Everest - the City West Link up to Norton St. It just killed me, but I got through it better than most around me I think. I'm glad I wasnt the only one, it was a scene of devastation. Running back towards the harbour bridge and the finish at the opera house was all pain. Managed to grind out the last bit in a daze.
Unfortunately the last 10km took huge gouges out of my time bank and then some, but I didnt and still dont care, just glad to have a road marathon.
Box ticked. |
