Run for the Kids 07

Last Sunday was Run for the Kids. I was a bit worried I would struggle, as I haven't been training as much lately coz I have a niggly hip. Unfortunately, some idiot had given me a cold and I didn't go to school on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. So when Sunday came around I was still pretty sick. And coz we only had 6 players at netball, I had to play and I played 3 quarters of centre. I was worried my legs would be tired from that (netball makes my legs sore in weird ways). I persisted and did the run anyway, with the plan just to cruise. My original goal was 70-75 minutes for the 15.2km, but I changed that to 80 minutes (85 at the very, very slowest).

I travelled to Alexandra Gardens with Karen, and her friends Jeff and Julia. We caught the earliest train 7.41 at Camberwell. Unfortunately, everyone else had that idea. We squished into the carriage and it was more packed that I've probably ever seen. I was almost sufficating in there. I was hoping some people would get out at Richmond but everyone got out at Flinder's St. I have to say, I enjoyed flaunting my blue race number. I really needed to go to the toilet (as usual) and I was worried I would have to queue for ages and maybe go twice. Luckily, the queue at Flinder's St wasn't too long and Karen and Julia were happy to go too. However, by the time we found where we were supposed to start, it was 8.21. Karen still had to drop off her bag and the race was due to start at 8.30! I had put my jumper in Karen's bag. I decided to get into the queue to start and I left Karen to put her bag away. I waited, and waited for them to start the race. For some strange reason, I wasn't too nervous! Probably because I had tried to forget I had Run for the Kids in the lead up to the race. Anyway it was probably almost 9am before I got over the line. I was glad to start. I can't say much for the race except it was hard. I felt really gross coz I was still sick. I also had a major stitch (like my whole stomach!) and my hip was a bit sore. I thought I'd struggle to make it under 80 minutes. I met Karen inside the very hot Domain Tunnel (about the 2km mark) but pushed on ahead of her. I thought she must have snuck past me again as she was hoping to get under 75 minutes. Anyway, I finished in a time of 1.16.41 (by my watch)!! I was very happy with that. What I thought was about 500m after the 14km mark, a marshall encouraging us said "only 100m to go!". I thought bullshit! But it really was only 100m to go! I think the course was actually around 14.9km not 15.2. At the end, we had to wait more than 20 minutes in the queue for a crappy showbag and we (the 15km runners) desperately needed water. We were in with the slower 3.4km participants and once again, I felt proud to wear a blue bib. I really needed a tissue because my two tissues had disintigrated. I finally got my showbag and found Dad and headed home.

I checked out the results in Tuesday's paper and online and Karen came in behind me! She did it in just under 80 minutes. Unfortunately, I think she had a bit of a bad day like me in the Melbourne Marathon. Anna Thompson (woohoo!) and Lee Troop won.

I came 850th in a time of 1.16.41.