freelee
07-06-2010, 10:43 PM
WOW! I love it, I have always loved running and now I love competitive running! Had a brilliant day at the Gold Coast Half Marathon. Harley and I decided to sleep in our van at the start line, it was a good move because we ended up having a great sleep in till 5:15am which was 45mins before the race started.
http://fruit4free.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/669441.jpg
There were 7,845 competitors at the half start line, so it was absolutely packed! It was pitch black and quite chilly. I was planning on starting with the 1hr 50mins group but the group was so far from the start that I decided to slip in with the 1:20/1:30 group. The gun went off and it took me only about 40 secs to cross the start line.
The first 5-10kms people were passing me like crazy. I was tempted to try to keep up but I firmly reminded myself that most of them were from the 1:20 group destined to run at least 20mins faster than me! I stuck to my plan of 5:05-5:10min/km pace, I wanted to do negative splits and save my juice for the end.
I started out at around 5:07 pace then slowed myself to around 5:10 which I knew was easily achievable but still challenging to maintain for the whole 21.1kms. In hindsight I could’ve managed 5:05 pace but I was being cautious because it was my first marathon and realistically I just wanted to finish!
At the 12km (7.4mile) point I decided to pick up the pace a bit, which also reflected in my heart rate which climbed to 180bpm. At Km 16 I got a fright when the 1hr 50min balloon came looming alone side, obviously I was getting too comfortable. I stepped on it a little more to increase my pace to 5:01 and 182bpm, I had to escape the Grim Reaper!
I was starting to catch up with some people who had flown past me earlier, now they were breaking down from starting out too hard. I silently praised myself for choosing the smart conservative approach. At the 18km mark I was running almost 5min kms, HR 184, still feeling good but now starting to “feel it” more.
http://fruit4free.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/670461.jpg
Coming around the bend in the last km I tramped it a bit more and reached 4:55 pace, 187bpm. Breathing was definitely becoming heavier and laboured. (Note: My Max heart rate is about 205bpm.) As I was approaching the finish line I gave it my all and passed what felt like about 50 people, at a continued 4:55 pace my heart rate raised to 190bpm as I crossed the line. Woohoo!! Made it!
Looking back my preparation for the day was great, fully hydrated, rested and carbed-up on mountains of good fruit sugar. One day I had an 18 banana smoothie for lunch, was proud of that effort. My hydration was so good infact that I didn’t stop for one drink although one was pushed into my hand at a “water” station. I took a gulp (thinking it was water) and immediately spat it out nearly covering the face of a fellow runner as I gagged on the sports drink. That stuff is VILE! I was actually somewhat suprised at how thirsty and dehydrated people were, they were launching themselves desperately at the drink station.
Completing my first half marathon was so exhilarating!! I now have more confidence in my competitive running ability. The last time I really raced competitively was when I was in little school. Now I’m keen to do more and I’m so glad I have Pat Carroll as an online coach. Seriously people if you are looking to increase your running fitness safely then please contact him, say I referred you and he may even give you a good rate! His best marathon time is get this…2hrs and 9mins! That’s for 42kms. Very inspiring.
http://fruit4free.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/6713111.jpg
For my stats and pics from the race visit my blog by clicking the link below...
So if you're thinking about starting running I recommend you find a comp you want to enter and train for it!
http://fruit4free.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/669441.jpg
There were 7,845 competitors at the half start line, so it was absolutely packed! It was pitch black and quite chilly. I was planning on starting with the 1hr 50mins group but the group was so far from the start that I decided to slip in with the 1:20/1:30 group. The gun went off and it took me only about 40 secs to cross the start line.
The first 5-10kms people were passing me like crazy. I was tempted to try to keep up but I firmly reminded myself that most of them were from the 1:20 group destined to run at least 20mins faster than me! I stuck to my plan of 5:05-5:10min/km pace, I wanted to do negative splits and save my juice for the end.
I started out at around 5:07 pace then slowed myself to around 5:10 which I knew was easily achievable but still challenging to maintain for the whole 21.1kms. In hindsight I could’ve managed 5:05 pace but I was being cautious because it was my first marathon and realistically I just wanted to finish!
At the 12km (7.4mile) point I decided to pick up the pace a bit, which also reflected in my heart rate which climbed to 180bpm. At Km 16 I got a fright when the 1hr 50min balloon came looming alone side, obviously I was getting too comfortable. I stepped on it a little more to increase my pace to 5:01 and 182bpm, I had to escape the Grim Reaper!
I was starting to catch up with some people who had flown past me earlier, now they were breaking down from starting out too hard. I silently praised myself for choosing the smart conservative approach. At the 18km mark I was running almost 5min kms, HR 184, still feeling good but now starting to “feel it” more.
http://fruit4free.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/670461.jpg
Coming around the bend in the last km I tramped it a bit more and reached 4:55 pace, 187bpm. Breathing was definitely becoming heavier and laboured. (Note: My Max heart rate is about 205bpm.) As I was approaching the finish line I gave it my all and passed what felt like about 50 people, at a continued 4:55 pace my heart rate raised to 190bpm as I crossed the line. Woohoo!! Made it!
Looking back my preparation for the day was great, fully hydrated, rested and carbed-up on mountains of good fruit sugar. One day I had an 18 banana smoothie for lunch, was proud of that effort. My hydration was so good infact that I didn’t stop for one drink although one was pushed into my hand at a “water” station. I took a gulp (thinking it was water) and immediately spat it out nearly covering the face of a fellow runner as I gagged on the sports drink. That stuff is VILE! I was actually somewhat suprised at how thirsty and dehydrated people were, they were launching themselves desperately at the drink station.
Completing my first half marathon was so exhilarating!! I now have more confidence in my competitive running ability. The last time I really raced competitively was when I was in little school. Now I’m keen to do more and I’m so glad I have Pat Carroll as an online coach. Seriously people if you are looking to increase your running fitness safely then please contact him, say I referred you and he may even give you a good rate! His best marathon time is get this…2hrs and 9mins! That’s for 42kms. Very inspiring.
http://fruit4free.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/6713111.jpg
For my stats and pics from the race visit my blog by clicking the link below...
So if you're thinking about starting running I recommend you find a comp you want to enter and train for it!