I never thought I would have a chance to race within walking distance of my house (except school cross country). I'd been looking forward to the Richmond club race at Wattle Park for a chance to race on my home turf. However, I've been sick the last few days and woke up this morning thinking no way could I run today. I told my mum I'd make up my mind at the last minute and that's what I did. By the afternoon I was feeling ok and decided I would race. Mum insisted we drive (I thought it'd be kinda cool to walk to a race) and it was nice to only have to travel a couple of minutes. I really wanted to break the 40 minute mark but I thought it might not be my day.
It was a handicap race and we started off our handicap which was something I haven't experienced before. I was 6th to leave and the people ahead of me were two minutes in front so was very afraid I'd get lost. And I did! Well I just got off track and lost about 10 seconds when I didn't know where the path turned in the first 500m. Oops! I enjoyed cruising down the hill and along the trail on which I regularly run. Then it was up the hill and then up another, steeper hill. I thought I'd suck up the hills but I cruised up! I took them in easily and then it was back around for another loop. I was so worried about the corner I went off track on in the first lap that I turned too early and took off about 50m from the course! I was thinking about how I should remedy my error but I came to the conclusion that my lost moment on the first lap plus having to wait to cross the road because of a car would have made up for my short turn. I pushed on and mostly felt pretty good. I had no idea what pace I was running. I looked back occasionally, expecting to see someone coming up to overtake me. However I didn't see anyone apart from when I passed two others. I cruised to the finish in a time of 38.50, a new PB despite the hilly course and being sick. I came 3rd or 4th, easily the first female.
So that's the 6th time I've raced 8km and the first time I've been able to break the 40 minute mark. I have a chance to break my 8km PB again next Saturday at Bundoora. I hope to get 37.xx.
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2 comments:
Congratulations on your PB- hope you are feeling better- especially if you are going to continue on your massive run of PBs next week.
Nice work - great to see this speed just flying through - and you're come across as TB, breaking all those PBs :D
Good to hear what you've been up to as well since R2TG.
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