A personal best and worst today as I completed the Manly Soft Sand Classic this post introduced. The MSSC is three events run on Manly Beach, the longest, earliest starting and one I entered being the half marathon. An opportunity to see how 21ish km on sand compares to 21ish on tarmac. My 1hr 55ish finish (chip time not published yet) is my slowest half by a long way...but my 1hr 55 half in sand is, well, not bad. For sand. Some numbers. First length was completed in 7.59. The lengths each side of half way were 8:07 and 8:11 and the last length was 7.45 - the quickest. But the best number was '18', my race number. It was written on my arm, triathlete style. I felt very cool. Not as cool, obviously, as the bloke who did the run in just speedos and a heart rate monitor (shudder.) Not a great look, but he spanked my time, so what do I know...
The weather was kind to the runners. It has been pissing down and there was light rain for the race start so the sand was soft, but nowhere near as soft as it would have been had it been dry. There were plenty of well compacted footprints to get some grip in. Early on, when the rain started, the wind picked up from the south. Soft sand, rain and a headwind. Lovely!
I treated the run as more of a workout than a genuine race because of the way my legs had to work. I'm not going to make a career out of sand running, so this was a bit of challenging fun. Still, I tried to maintain a good pace. The course is 14 lengths (or 7 laps) of the beach, each one around 1.6km, starting at the south end. I was "lapped" as I approached the end of lap 8, so about 12km in. By the end I'd been lapped by (I think) four runners. Very impressive pace. I lapped a few towards the end.
I am proud to say I do not run like a girl! At the penultimate turn I heard the MC say that the runner around 100m in front of me was the first woman. That was enough encouragement for me to keep and increase my pace; the opportunity to complete a race without being beaten by a girl (hahaha!) I overtook her just before the turn for home and maintained that position. Hence the fasted length being the last, and I am fairly sure the lap before that, had I clicked it, woud have been quick too.
On length 12 I took a tumble as I rammed my foot into a mostly-hidden rock. I think I caught it with my big toe and was fortunate not to ram the toe into it. My toes straightened but I rammed the sole of my foot into it and went down. I bounced straight back to my feet, assuring a concerned fellow runner that I was OK and thanking him for asking. I flexed and wiggled my toes a bit as I restarted running. An ache, but no more, and by the time I finished the foot felt fine.
When I finished I was somewhat knackered and wandered off to stand in the ocean and cool my legs. Water still felt warm and big toes felt somewhat blistered - which they were. That was the worst of it. Overall pretty pleased...but unsure I'll do it again.
Actually, nearly did not do it this year...good job I checked the website last night; I'd thought the run was (Queen's Birthday) Monday. By the time I realised my mistake I'd had no pasta for dinner...and went to bed later than I should have, so woke up late...blah blah blah.
Addendum...I came 24th of 71 finishers in 1:54:27. Twelfth in my category.
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