Fakalofa,
Another big week! After the goings on with Channel 10 as below, I raced in the City 2 Surf on Sunday, as you would all be aware. And what a day it was! Leigh and I originally planned to do the race, and after a last minute pull out from another friend Sarah, Neil was able to go in her place. Here's a run-down of the day's events.
Jeremy dropped us all off in the city in the morning, and we went around to join the ‘Blue’ group on the southern side of Cathedral street from William Street. We waited with 75000 others for about 30 mins, then the gun went off for the first & shortly after, the second group followed, coming directly down William St. We were then next, and anxiety peaked as the gun for the blue group went off. Despite the gun, we could not move for a while due to the immense crowds! When we headed off though, after we turned off Cathedral, and down William were able to start running and across the start line we were!
Neil & I ran side-by-side for most of William St, however just before the tunnel he powered ahead and lost me. So it was then up to me to 'just keep swimming'. And I did - but I prob put a little too much in too soon. By the time I was at the top of the Edgecliff hill I needed a little breather and walked for 30 secs. It was quite a shock running with that many people. I was constantly ducking and weaving amongst people, and also quite often getting delayed when 4-5 people were walking abreast.
From the top of Edgecliff though I toned it down a bit, and got into a stride. I think I set a good pace, and I people watched while concentrating on the run. The types around me were amazing - from the ridiculous, dressed in bear suits or painted pink head to toe, to mothers walking with strollers, old Italian gents going for a stroll, weekend runners and serious runners. One thing that I did notice was that there didn't seem to be many people in the same boat as me - i.e. overweight people trying to lose weight. Most seemed to be quite fit - and it felt good to be amongst them.
After drinking a fair bit of water earlier, and with the nerves of the day, heading past the park at Rushcutters Bay I decided that it would be a lot more comfortable to .. you know.. and so with lots of other guys I lost a bit of time to a tree. But then I was able to concentrate on the task of heartbreak hill. Doing it the week before I was prepared for it and this time I wanted to run the whole way. The 6 K marker was at the base of the hill, and so I got into a rhythm and attacked the hill - guess who won? Me! Yep I made it up all the way running - albeit short steps, but I did it, and running past the 7 k sign was great - HALF WAY! I grabbed a drink at that point, and walked for 20 secs or so while I drank the water. While I was drinking I walked past a TV crew filming something, but didn't really pay attention - surely enough though when I watched the Seven news that night - there I was!
The previous week the section from the top of the hill, to the corner of Old South Head Rd seemed like ages, but this time it passed in no time! Then it was on to Old South & Military Rd. Going over Dover Heights at the 10K mark I was starting to tire, but I also knew that meant the downhill section to Bondi was not far away. The previous week after the run I had some strange bruising on just below both knees and on the inside of my legs. My masseur Milan (who knows a lot about the body and is training to be a Dr) and Ben didn't know why they occured, but Ben thought it may have been from the shock of the downhill section. I then concentrated on my steps having less impact in that section (and I had no bruised after - yay!) and the excitement of being near the end was overwhelmed by my trying to beat my time, and my tiredness.
Last week I had done the time in about 85 mins, and when I hit Bondi beach I was at 82 mins - however the previous time we ran straight to the pavillion. In the City 2 Surf though, you have to run all along Campbell Pde almost to the Icebergs, then back down to the Pavillion. SO I knew then that I was not going to beat my previous time, but I could still beat 90 mins. Turning the corner for the final straight I was pretty buggered but I put in my final energy to up the pace to bet 90 mins. I crossed the line with my watch showing 87 mins! Yay! It was a great feeling to complete it, and in a reasonable time. My offical time I found out a couple of days later was 88 mins - and that allows me to qualify in the next group next year! I don't have to be with the rabble!
So that was my race - and, yes, I'm very proud of what I have achieved. I eventually met up -with Neil & Leigh at our pre-arranged meeting place, and then I also bumped in to Jason from work - who told me that he managed it in 59 mins! Wicked! Along the race I was thinking about Ben and hoping that he won - and no-one knew at the finish line, so I headed homewith the crew - including Jason who we dropped off at his place in Randwick - with Jeremy kindly taking time out of his day to pick us up. Leigh and I stopped at Nando's for a feed on the way home - the Portugese Paella was worth waiting for, and then I got home to watch my Tivo'd race - still not knowing if Ben had won or not. Stupidly, before watching the race, I jumped onto Facebook where I saw that Gabe had as his status "well done Ben for coming second" Damn it!! Anyway I sat down to watch the race, and I was so stoked for Ben to smashed his previous time, and ended up only 10 secs behind the winner - Awesome! I then enjoyed chilling for the rest of the day!
Monday was a big day with everyone at work wanting to know my time and giving me their congratulations. I was even in the weekly work news email - when others from all over the business sent me IM's and emails saying well done! How cool! Monday I used to recover - I was a little sore and walking like a robot whenever got up after not doing anything for a bit. But Tuesday I was back into it, running on the treadmill, doing some weights and doing 1 K in the pool. The rest of the week I was back to my normal routine - Wednesday group session led by Ben, and Thursday I did a Yoga class!
Yesterday Neil & I had a pretty big exercise session - leaving home at 8:30 and not getting home until 12! We rode to the gym, going the long way through the Rocks, then 30 mins interval runnning, 2x 1000 metres on the rower, then weights. We then cycled to North Sydney pool where we did 12 laps - the last one a race between us - and Neil won!! He's a good swimmer - but that gives me another good goal to work towards. After the swim we cycled up Miller St to Neutral Bay - then I headed back home.
Today though, glutton for punishment I am, I embarked on my longest run ever! - here's a map.
After riding to work I headed off for the run, and I managed it in 1 hour 55! Not too bad. But i'm feeling a little sore today!
So that's me - if you made it to here - you did awesome too! And if you did make it here, I can give you some exciting news - i'm almost at a 40 kilo weight loss! When I weighed myself after the run it showed 110 kilos exactly - but as I was dehydrated, it was not entirely accurate. I will be posting though as soon as I hit the mark!
Thanks all! Pete
