second half of the half

OK, where was I? The run was quick throughout. There are plenty of downhills that allowed me to pick up speed (I try not to apply the brakes on the hills, something I learned from Six Foot training) and I tried to keep that speed on the flat sections between the hills. The result is a gain of at least as much as the loss on the main hills - Hunter and Argyle streets and the road back from Mrs Mac's chair. A couple of times I felt myself slowing a little as I began thinking tactically, caught myself in that and gave a little kick.

There were not many water stations. That too helped with my time. The water stations were on Hickson, at the end of Mrs Macs and...damnit, where was it? Near Hyde Park. I skipped the final one and put my head down for the final three km. At one water station I felt rather lightheaded as I drank - weird - so skipping the last one was no big deal. I'd taken gatorade at the stops, water once, and not a lot in total. But enough to keep me going and at the end I did not feel wasted-dehydrated.

So lets cut to the chase. With a sprint finish that nearly killed me - almost threw up at the end - I came over the line in a chip time of 86:34. I've not checked yet, but I think that shaves around 45seconds from my previous best, and it placed me 256th form over 6000 finishers. Very happy with that. Steve, in his first one, came in at 1:46, Damien (my main threat!) at around 1:30 but probably most impressive of the results I know is Tobes, his 1:32 near enough 6minutes better than his PB from the previous year.

First thing this morning my calves ached, but they are reasonbly good now. Yesterday afternoon my shoulders (front) ached. That was odd. According to the Garmin I averaged 177bpm, so I ran pretty hot. I now, of course, wonder what I could complete a full marathon in...hmmmm...