killer City to Surf

Wow. Did not expect someone to die on the run. Very sad news, kinda makes my run seem irrelevant. However, my blog...

Happy with my performance in today's Sydney City to Surf, the city's biggest fun run, a 14km belt from Hyde Park to Bondi. Martin Dent won in just under 41mins, the first Aussie to win in 11years and a nice follow up from his win in the Half Marathon earlier this year. I was not exactly nipping at his heals and finished in an unofficial 56:28. I had been hoping to finish in around (read "under") 60mins, hence my happiness. I could maybe have done a little better. Wee tactics were not spot on.

With 70,000 entrants the field can get somewhat congested. Even though I was in the first wave of 8000 there were a heap of folks who looked slower than me in that group, some with no chip on their shoe (chancers, no idea how they got into the enclosure) that represented the potentila to keep me from getting a good start. Niall, who was to run the race, had only managed to get a spot in the group called "back of the pack". He declined, knowing just what a pain in the arse tha is for a proper runner.

So, my usual pre-race routine is a wee as close to the gun as possible. But that could have put me behind a bunch of chancers. So today I decided to get my spot a little over an hour before the gun and therefore, by the start, I was in need of a slash. Not desperate need, but need nonetheless. I made it to Rose Bay before taking my comfort break. It seemed like I was draining the backup tank as the seconds ticked away, probably because I was aware of dropping places. What I don't know is if, over the course of the race, I dropped, picked up or maintained my time. My better start position may have picked up the time I dropped in the loo? Dunno. Anyway, unusual for me I had a slash stop that I've dwelt on for far too long.

I don't remember a great deal about the race. I was fairly focussed and not paying muh atention to anything other than moving. At half way, with most of the biggest and nastiest hill behind me I was almost spot on 30mins. With the second half having more downhill I knew I was in with a good shot of sub 60. The 10km mark came at a shade under 42mins, still on track. From there I paid little attention to the km markers and just kept going. I think I lost a fair few places on the gently slope of the final km. It's a bit of a bastard. I was well knackered as I came over the line and decided I'd not run home.

However, my recovery time is quite good now, so after only a couple of minutes I decided I would plod home and headed south to the bastard hill that is Bondi Road. That was a bit of a slog, bu from the top o the hill at Bondi Junction the way home has a nice long downhill stretch back into the City. I didn't mess about with any extra bits and took the direct route. By the time I got up on the Cahill Expressway over Circular Quay I was seriously considering bailing. My left leg was shot; glute, through ITB and down to calf all unhappy.

So close the Bridge I could not resist trotting over it, which I did sowly. By the time I got to North Sydney I decided I would bail; bus stop nearby at the foot of the Pacific Highway hill that I was in no mood for. As it happened I walked the hill instead of waiting for the bus. At Naremburn I got a large cappucino, beef and curry pie and an apple pie. Perfect energy food. Then I collected a six pack of German carbohydrates and went home to get attacked by the now-sleeping dogs.

Not a bad start to the day.