2008 Canberra Marathon

After having more than a week off running due to illness, I got back into it on the Tuesday before Canberra. 7k in 41 mins @ 5:27 and the lungs/head were not happy. I gave it another couple of days before trying again with 8k in 43 mins - a little better but still far from 100%. I decided that I would still go down to Canberra and if I wasn't feeling any good I would just take on cheering duties. With no refund on entry fees, what did I have to lose? Even if I just did 15-20k and then pull out?

I had organised to share transport and accommodation with Rodthehornet, Spud, B+ and Aunty K. On the way out to Rod's my head was throbbing so I popped a couple of panadol - I had all but given away hope of getting through he run the next day. Maybe it was the company on the way down or the great food at the CR get together, but I started to perk up. I had a great sleep and woke up feeling great.

I lined up at the start line with the aim of going out at 5 min pace and see what it felt like. After 2k I knew I couldn't keep it up. I backed off a little and tried to get the HR back down - heaps of people passed me and things were not looking good. I was also really feeling the cold and my hands started to swell up. I was a little grumpy and even considered pulling the pin at the turnaround. Then things started to pick up. I think it was as I started to get warm. The HR settled right down and I was ticking off the k's at 5:10 pace. This continued and continued and continued. Nice. Really nice. I was starting to enjoying myself. It was great to see people coming in the opposite direction and cheer them on. I went through half way in 1:49 and soon after Rod and the 3:45 bus came past. This gave me a kick long and I picked the pace up (or so I thought). The last 10k was comfortably hard and I now started to set my mind on the 50k. Went through the marathon finish in 3:41:23 for a 1:49/1:52 breakdown.

After getting some good cheers in the final k or so of the marathon, it was weird to continue on the other side of the finish line where there was no one. It felt kind of good actually - I was feeling strong a ready to battle away for a bit longer. It was quite easy to break it down as it was only 4k out and 4k back. I was slowing, but I was determined not to slow down too much more than 5:30 pace. Eventually made it back in 4:24:26.

10k splits were:

51:38
52:04
51:35
52:23
54:43

Had a shower and caught up with some CR's and Striders. It was great to cheer in luckylegs and I finally even got to meet Wombatface! We then headed back to Sydney with the gang. By the time we got back to Rod's my legs were toast. I argued on the way down with Spud that trail and road runs effected me the same way, but I proved myself wrong. I was really sore for days and much more so than sixfoot.

I did a slow 4k on Tuesday, but my knee and top of my right foot were quite sore. I ran again on Thursday, but after 5k, both my knee and right foot were still really sore - I limped home and decided to have a rest for a few days.

As I couldn't run, I got my bike out of hibernation on Sat and went for a ride. Headed out to the West Head turn off and back for 50k in just less than 2 hours at 25.2 (152). It had been 3 months since I had ridden the bike and whilst I was quite surprised with my bike fitness, I was exhausted when I got home and needed a nanna nap.

Headed out tonight for an easy 10k. All was going well until the top of my right foot began to hurt again. Bit of a worry really.

Anyway, couldn't be happier with Canberra, especially because I really thought that I wouldn't even run or finish. A great weekend, with some great people.