Run to the G

I woke up at 5.40am yesterday morning to get ready for Run to the G. I was ready by 6am and had to wait till Karen picked me up at quarter past. We drove into the city and picked up Ally at the St Kilda Rd Police Station. Ally took ages to come out and I was getting really nervous. Fortunately they went away when Ally came out. We parked near the Shrine and walked to Fed Square. I had to pick up my number as they didn't send it out. But my name wasn't on the list. Luckily I printed out and brought with me my confirmed entry form. I picked up my bib, went for a quick whizz and found a pole to tie my jumper to. I lined up at the start between the 1.45 pace balloon and the under 1.50 sign. That was my realistic goal time - between 1.45 and 1.50. It took ages to start and I was reading the 7 news headlines (including Adelaide defeated Kangaroos!) above the Young and Jackson hotel. We finally started and it was a slow start for about 200m. I ran along the footpath which was pretty clear. I got into my rhythm easily and early. I didn't see a 1km split sign which really annoyed me as I like to know what time I do my first km in to know what pace I'm going at! I was very daunted by the long distance but I felt fine for most of the way. I thought doing two laps would kill me but when you know you have to do two laps it's not so bad. The 1.45 pacer was about 200-300m behind me for the first lap. There wasn't a drinks station until the 6km mark which surprised me. At the 8km mark my hips started to get sore which was slightly worrying. Although they were sore, they didn't get any worse. My km splits (the ones I saw) were about 1-1.30 minutes off 5km pace (eg the 8km would have been about 38.30) and I was hoping I could maintain that. If I couldn't maintain it then at least I had room to move with my times. When we passed by Fed Square for the 2nd lap I saw my mum and chucked my gloves at her which I had taken off at the 3km mark. I was still cruising comfortably for most of the second lap. I noticed that for the whole second lap I rarely saw any women, I was surrounded by men. By the 16km mark I was tiring and I could hear the 1.45 pacer behind me. I really didn't want him to overtake me because by that stage I was really hoping for sub 1.45. He overtook me at the 19km mark and that killed me. But I didn't try and keep up, I just stayed at my own pace (mostly coz I was getting very tired). The 1.45 pacer stopped at about the 20km mark because he must have been too far ahead. The last km killed me, especially when they had signs saying 500, then 400, then 300, 200, 100 metres to go. I managed a little sprint at the end but I was really buggered. Of course, I was overjoyed to see my time - 1.43.31. I had broken my PB by over 9 minutes!!! I managed to find Mum who had also found Ally and Mum took a photo of us together. Ally had done around 1.44 - I had beaten her!!!!!!!! Although she had run straight off a night shift. I was hoping to see Karen but I didn't - she came in at 1.54. I got my showbag and tried to find my Dad (Mum was doing the 10km walk). I was hoping to see a few people I knew doing the 10km but I didn't. I did see Christie Malthouse though (one of my heroes). I had to work at 12pm and that killed me.

I looked at the results today and I CAME FIRST IN MY AGE GROUP! And I was the 72nd woman! I thought I'd be about 200-300th in the women. Woohoo!