Return to Rottnest Marathon 16min faster

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No signal for 1st K so the 3.44 I did to pace Kevin and Dave is not on the garmin, and had to stop there for a minute or two to get signal, so had to run a bit extra at the end of the marathon to get the 42.2k on the garmin so I could complete the October marathon challenge on strava. Had enough battery life charge to go the distance this time. Weather good, slight headwind early on and a bit warm towards the end in the direct sunlight, but no major crosswinds on the causeway so overall very good weather. Biggest hassle was the midgies/mosquito swarms near Bulldozer swamp on all 4 laps, which we had to run through, that was annoying. Had a bit of a go at chasing the 3.49 PB early on, and got through halfway in about 1.54, but the hills were taking their toll on me each lap, and my last 12k-18k was too slow...and any chance of PB,(3x6 inch runners) sub 4(AB), or SB(RobD) ) slipped away. Managed a Rottnest Marathon CR (course record for me) though, smashing the rather slow 4.32 in much tougher weather I did back in 2004. Had a lot of fun on the first 25km or so, and my 28km split was similar to Melbourne i.e. 2.35... By the end I was snails place, and my body was hurting a lot. Looking back on various points in the race; 1. when Peter and Barbara went past me on the 2nd lap about 17km into it, that was my last chance to PB, I needed to stay with them...2. Likewise Andre passing me at 30km was my last chance to stay on sub 4 hours, and 3. Rob getting past me at 36km was my last chance to improve on this years SB... Sooo that marathon number 22 done, a better Rottnest time on the board and my 4th 6 foot track qualifier for this year. I think that's the first time I've done 2 marathon races in 14 days, so bit of a backup for me... Fantastic to be on the island and be part of the 20th Rottnest Marathon... As far as PB's go its back to the drawing board and try again in 2014 I hope for me. Maybe next year I can lose about 5-10kg of fat and train more consistently, build the momentum, get the work done, and perhaps race a bit smarter. More finances would help a lot too and a slightly less chaotic life. What I will take from my 4 road marathons in 2013, is a big slab of racing experience and training base....(stronger legs)...

Big thanks to Christina for amazing photos!!! that have preserved the memories of a fantastic day of racing by many on a paradise of an island. more photos with Dash Photography also. Thanks God for the chance to catch up with lots of friends and enjoy another marathon...

MM #7 Seasons Best 6th MM finish despite obstacles

MM #7 Seasons Best 6th MM finish despite obstacles!!! A 4.12.55 for me is a small 33 second Seasons Best beating the 4.13.28 from City to Surf in August, and the 4.19 in the JUne Perth Marathon. A SB is a SB, and I'm taking it, it wasn't easy to get this time around... I tried hard, but that was the best I could do that morning... PHOTOS in future weeks to come...Results @ http://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/Home/QuickResults?clientId=1&raceId=931&raceName=Melbourne%20Marathon via http://melbournemarathon.com.au Photos will be at @ http://www.marathon-photos.com/ I am race number 7654. Garmin ran out of charge at 41km, but I kept going onto the MCG...with the trusty $14 big w stopwatch going the distance. Glad I took 2 watches. Need to get a watch with longer battery life, especially for ultras. -------------------------------------------------

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THE FIRST 25KM;Good conditions early, and I started just ahead of the 3 hour pacer but well behind the 2.50 pacer. When we got to Fed square I tried to go with the 3 hour pace group but it felt too fast, so let them go, and soon afterwards Jarrad came past on his way to an eventual 3.08!.. When the 3.10 pace group caught me I tried hard to go with them, but again the legs just felt too tired, and I was making heavy weather of it. Made sure the first 5k was under 23min, and then tried to settle a bit. Gill came past about 6k on her way to a 3.11!!! About here I really started to struggle, but hung in to keep my first 10k under 50min with a surge from 9k. Then the wheels started to fall off big time, tried several times to try and get back to some sub 5's but the legs were not interested and I knew then that a PB today was unlikely, but tried to keep it alive, with a big 3k surge to get from 18k to 21k, and try and keep the half marathon split under 1.50. That took too much out of me, and despite getting my first gatorade at 25k, which gave me a boost as Linda went past on her way to a 3.55, I knew I was struggling to hold onto a sub 4, as we started the first easy climb back to St Kilda Rd. Saw Rick just ahead of the 3.30 pace group as well. Was fantastic to see lots of BTrunclub shirts out there and 7 of us finished, even Julie who had hardly run in the last 3 months! ----------------------------------------------------

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26km to 42.2km; Figured I need to be sub 6min K's to have a chance of going sub 4 hours, so tried for that, but again it was too hard, and the rain and strong windchill started to kick in, and I was digging deep just to keep going. Walk breaks becoming too attractive. Went through 28k in 2.35 after a 14k of about 71min, so fairly solid splits, but really hurting a lot going down St Kilda Rd about 32k into it. Nice to see Fi (BT) and Horrie (6 foot track) about this time, when I was hurting a lot, in a bad patch, trying to find something to keep going. With the downhill under the subway coming, I found some momentum and some spectator yelled out "you will finish 7654" ( I must have looked like a dead duck), so I yelled back "I will"... At 35k the Garmin started saying battery charge low, and I was getting pretty low physically too... The tan hill seemed pretty easy this year (my hills training on the Bibbulumun and for C2S paid off), but I did walk a bit of it, and really needed the Gatorade. Had one more Gu Chomp left (went through a packet of those and it helped a lot, and less messy than gels), which I used at about 39k as we splashed our way through the rain, and the bitterly cold windchill hammered us. When the 4.10 pace group went past me at 38k, I knew that sub 4 hour was gone, and that if I wanted to beat that 4.13 from City to Surf, I was going to have to try and find something. If that failed there was always 4.20 (6 foot qualifier), but I really wanted to try and salvage a Seasons Best. So tried to step it up a notch, and got through the drink station and downed my last Gu chomp quickly, and as we hit Fed Square/Flinders St Station at 40km, was passing a lot of people, with two women one in a light blue top and one in a gold top also doing the same, don't know who they were, but all 3 of us picked it up from there. The 3 of us mowed down a heap of runners and I ignored the drink station at 41km, and wound it up for the final push to the MCG just as I have for many years now. Familiar feeling waiting for the gate to the stadium to arrive, the big crowd of spectators, runners to pass, and the announcer in the stadium, and the rush of excitement and adrenalin as I entered the MCG which never fails to disappoint, guess thats one of the things that has kept me coming back year after year since my MM trips began for me in 2007. Passed about 30+ runners during the lap of the stadium, weaving in and out of them, and I knew from my wristwatch (which I had on gun time 12 seconds ahead of net time,i.e it took me 12 seconds to cross the start line at the start, and the garmin was on net time i.e I started it when I crossed the start line) I had to really finish strong to get under 4.13 and make sure of a SB. Did that and that eased the mental pain/disappointment of going nowhere near a PB a bit. -------------------------------------

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Post-race and Pre-race Down below the MCG free apples, bananas, Powerades and water, a free feast worthy of MM "the runners Mecca" as Radar so aptly described it at the Tan the day before. Saw a lot of people in space blankets, and I think with the extreme wind-chill anyone injured or walking a lot for more than an hour would have been a slight risk of hypothermia today...After a week of very little sleep, the previous day doing too much walking around Melbourne (tired legs in race), and eating very little (low energy during race not a good combo with tired legs), because with $59 spending money (yes I know I was mad to even come on this trip) and $50 going on an unexpected hotel bond pre-charge I incorrectly thought would be $10, the only food I had on Saturday was a little instant mashed potato, toast/mocha and Gnocchi Gorgonzola (only non-tomato based sauce pasta I could find on the menu, should have gone for chips instead!, more carbs...?) the BT Runclub people shouted me. Had to walk about 20km on Saturday with several trips to the MCG first to get racepack and catch up with TRC Frontrunners/ BT Runclub at the Tan, and then to get my Gatorades into the special drinks before 3pm. No money for Taxis or even train fares/ tram fares. The pool at my hotel was nice and I managed to get into that for a short swim/walk about 9pm Saturday night to try and settle my tired legs before race day... FRiday I also had a very intense day at work with 8 hours solid of very intense/attacking driving at work, then the 10pm to 4am flight with 2 hours sleep on that, so this trip was right up there with one of the most exhausting missions I have ever done. So its my slowest ever Melbourne Marathon (previous worst (PW) was a 4.11 in 2009), but managed to salvage a Seasons Best 4.12. Big thanks to all the BT Runclub people for encouragement, shouting me some much needed food, and giving me a lift to Lygon St and back (for the Gnocchi). My first visit to the famous Lygon St (we went for Pasta Rustica), and it was an encouraging pre-race TEAM Dinner, nice to catch up with people beforehand, although going to The Tan beforehand was my favourite pre-race gathering. Hoped to get to The Transport to catch up with any die-hard "Coolrunners", and, and two other gatherings afterwards, but with the wintery weather, all my bags to carry, and only one train fare on my Myki left into the city, I just wanted to jump on the skybus to the airport and get out of Melbourne, before I fell asleep and ran out of energy. -----------------------------------

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At the airport that night; Late on Sunday Evening at the airport I found out I still had $1.30 on another account at the airport, so ordered an apple-pie and a softserve icecream, but their icecream machine was broken so I got a small fries ($1 but I got it for 30 cents) upgrade instead... had a little more instant mashed potato and found myself something to do for 6 hours at the airport, and battled to stay awake. TOUGH trip! ----------------------------

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General evaluation, thoughts, etc Disappointing result, but hopefully my body is up for it again next year, and maybe next year the finances will be in a better state, if they are not, I'd have to consider not going because it was just too hard this weekend. But my 5 year streak (2009-2013) is alive, my 6th Melbourne finish (DNF in 2008) and 21st Marathon is done, I've got a Seasons Best in my slowest Melbourne Marathon, 7 BT runclub people finished the Marathon, the place I stayed in was a good new option, and I have a lot! to be thankful for. No injury issues at all on the day, and the back problem I had for a week seems to have stayed healed. Knee was not a problem at all. Big positives. My training buildup was always going to be iffy for a PB with very little intervals, and only 1 decent medium run with BT people. I think if it had not been such a hard week (averaged less than 5 hours sleep per night this week and had a lot of hassles with juggling work and the kids babysitting this week), and my $$ was better so I could eat more on Saturday and spend less energy walking around I might have landed the PB despite the cough and back injury interrupted last 4 weeks... My low intensity long runs and overall time on feet (similar to mileage but measured by minutes not Km or Miles) the best I've done in the last 6 years, although still could be better. Hopefully next year, my body, finances, training etc will be up for another PB shot as I edge closer to becoming a Spartan at MM (4 to go)... Right now have some physical, sleep, food, and finances recovery to do, not to mention my poor wife having to put up with me being away again on another "running trip", although she has been pretty good about it, and our whole family has made it to MM 3 times 2012, 2008 (when none of us made it onto the MCG), and 2009 (One of our kids wasn't born then). Soooo thanks BT, and thanks God! for the opportunity for another memorable Melbourne Marathon magnificent "mecca" weekend.... http://trailblazer777.net/marathonmcg.html ••• Device: Garmin Forerunner 10 Shoes: Nike Lunaracer blue (526.9km)