Friday, October 30, 2015

Gold Coast Half Marathon - race wrap up

How hard is it to write a race report - for an event that seems to have occupied my thoughts for over a year ...?

Apologies in advance. This one will be long.

My half marathon journey started a full year ago.  One year ago I was following my friend Sonja and her journey to her first half marathon at Gold Coast. And that day - as she finished - I decided I was going to run again. It wasn't so much knowing she ran it - and how epically she did. It was seeing the work that had gone in. The sacrifice and commitment she had made, and how running was so much a part of her life. And THAT is what I wanted. And so I made a promise I would run again. And secretly, I promised I would run that half in 2015.

So plans were quietly made, and supporters were gathered. I know the people in my life who truly "get"running, and who understand the journey - and they were the people who knew. And babysteps were taken - that led to this day.

In the few days before Gold Coast I was a basket case. Every bit of "what if"that my mind could think of was gone through. It wasn't until my final training run - that I felt I could do this. I ran and I felt strong. I ran and I went through every step of my journey in my head. I ran and realised what an epic journey the training had been. And at the end of that run - I was ready for race day.

Our day began crazy early. Like stupid o'clock. 4am wakeup, dress and breakfast. And then I met these two beautiful girls in the lobby of our hotel.

How amazing was I to have these two ladies to run with? Rell on the left is my running coach, supporter and cheer leader. She wrote the plan that got me to my half and supported me in daily text messages. Love her dearly and so grateful she came to run with me all the way from country Victoria! Ness on the right just adores running! Her smile is infectious and she radiated joy the whole day. Beautiful lady that gave me peace on race morning!

Initial plan was to walk from our hotel and catch the light rail to the start ... but the shuttle bus pulled up at the door just as we hit the street! Perfect! And can I just say runners are awesome - the second we walked on the very full bus several men stood up and gave us their seats. Chivalry is not dead!
Next step was a pre race photo with the five30runners! One of my favourite parts of the day was allt he cries of Go five30! on the course and all the high fives! Truly got me home! Love the power of red!
My first 10 k was fast. Some pbs in there. I ran with the crowd and the atmosphere and absolutely soaked it in.
Turnaround tho was hard and that was when the mental race began.
The training had been done though and I ran every step.
And when the finish line opened up before me it was all I could focus on.

I actually thought it would be more emotional - finishing my first half. But instead of tears ... it just felt complete. Big huge goal accomplished.







Sunday, March 22, 2015

Race Report: Twilight running series

Twilight Running Series! Now THIS is a fun run I won't forget!

Twilight Run at St Lucia has been a run I've had my eyes set on in the lead up to Gold Coast Half. Really trying to get that balance between solid training, and race experience going.

It was a good solid lead up. The plan by #coachrell had been excellent at keeping me focussed, and despite needing to shuffle it a lot - I had stuck to it solidly. I had come to accept a lot of slow runs - I just wasn't getting the speed increases I wanted and after several 10k runs in the 1hr20 vincinity I had set my eyes on a dream goal of 1hr 15 for twilight.

The week before race week my legs felt tired. Rell kept telling me the plan would give me speedy legs Sunday ... can't say I was too convinced but what do you do! Can't force speed from a tortoise!

Race day was set for 4pm for Miss E (running the 5k) and 5pm for me. Earlier rains had made the day hot and humid. It was sticky and awful. I was NOT looking forward to the run.

What I did enjoy was the social. Catching up with our five30runners was fantastic! Being with friends gives a new energy to fun runs I never had when I first started running. I love how we can share the excitment before had ... and then go on and run our own races at the start.

E and I had plenty of time to check things out first ... and then she was the first to start!

Big thanks to local parkrunner Sandi who took E to the 5k start line and made sure she didn't get squashed! I love how my running family looks after my girl!

I was a bit worried about how she would perform. It was SO hot out there. But she was off - and let's face it - she is too fast for me - nothing I can do about it once she is gone!

And then - we saw her coming down the straight. She was running easy - and it made me laugh when my friend told me she could see her - she was the one checking her garmin!

She told me afterwards she loved it. Her favourite thing was the people singing at the water station! Funny thing is - it was mine too. She finished in 25:49. 13th in her age category (which was under 14! She is 9!)



Then it was our turn. It was so hard to get your head into race mode at that time of the day. It just felt like a big social catch up!

And how good was it to go to the start line with friends! five30runners family !

This is our last picture dry. At the start line. Seconds before the rains came in.

And when I say rain I mean pouring downpour.



 To start with it was awesome. The heat broke and the rain was gentle. And then it got harder. And harder. And we realised we were going to get VERY wet. Soaked before the start gun went. Absolutely drenched. So what was there to do - but run?

The first k was awesome. I was running strong. It felt good. My body which had been niggling for days was behaving and I was making very good pace. I did pretty well at not getting too caught up in the crowd. Although it was a fast pace km for me - it was one I knew I could do and wasn't ridiculously speedy. It was more about finding legs in the rain (and funnily enough - me trying to keep my feet dry! Really! What a joke!)

The first couple of k's of the race were just run. Running in the rain. Avoiding puddles. And embracing the atmosphere. The water stops were incredible and really added to the fun. (not that I stopped for water - there was enough falling on my head!) There were a couple of little hills but they felt strong. All those bloody hills in Warwick are paying off I think. It would have been a very pretty route (if you could see past the rain!) but really - the weather meant scenic was not happening that day.

Km 3 was one of my slower splits. The reason was really that I kept getting caught behind groups of runners and prams. It took a little bit to get past them and get my momentum. I do think that slower k helped me still have energy later in the race.

By now - after crossing the main bridge - the rain was bucketing. Water on the path/road became a real hazard. There were rain made waterfalls in several places. Water was often above my ankles for long stretched and at times mid shin. There was no way to avoid it - some puddles were 5m long. You just had to embrace it.

Getting close to the turnaround point was awesome. Seeing my friends and getting to shout encouragement was great! And I got to high 5 Sonja which was awesome! It did of course leave me wondering HOW MUCH FURTHER to turnaround!

At 5k there was a timing mat and I reckon I hit it very close to 35/36min. It made me realise how strong I was running. It was just past the turnaround point I heard the first rumours that the race was cancelled and that there was a bigger storm coming. Not the news you wanted to hear - especially after hearing a fair bit of thunder on the course. A few people slowed to a walk then. I figured that I could NOT get any wetter, and quite frankly there was no other way home so I better keep going and try to keep it strong. I did NOT want to be stuck out there. So back it was. Through the puddles. Or lakes. Creeks? On we went. I heard someone saying "I better still get a medal". All I could think was "I better still get my hot cross bun!" as these were promised in the recovery area.

I really can't believe how strong I kept going. Around 8k I realised I had a hope of smashing my 1:15:00 and that really kept me going. That and the thought of getting my family and friends out of the storm!

Towards the end it was dark. And wet. And slippery. And then I heard the best sound ever. The first water stop (which had men playing "drums" on plastic bins as we ran past) were drumming in the distance. And singing in beautiful harmonies. It was magic. They sang us past and it brought tears to my eyes.  They sang and smiled and cheered us home.

I LOVE the names on the bibs too - Go KATHARINE. You can do it - I heard my name over and over. The volunteers rocked.! With about 500m to go - I could hear the crowds cheering and see the lights. I pushed home as hard as I could I wanted done.

And then I saw the finish line. And Sonja and Linda right there under it waiting for me!

Best ever! Done in 1:11:37. Goal smashed!

Then the funniest bit of the night. Sonja's husband PP trying to gather us up - like herding kittens he said. The whole stadium was being evacuated and he wanted us out of there! Hot cross buns were collected, and he got us away to an underground carpark where our family and friends were waiting.

Most crazy fun run ever done.

(almost as crazy - I ended up piggybacking a stranger back to the car. She was barefoot in a prickle patch. Guess that post race adrenalin was still pumping.)


Thursday, March 12, 2015

Starting the year right! Resolution Run!

Before we start let me tell you a secret. I almost didn't do this run.

I had been struggling on my long runs in the heat and I didn't think I had it in me.

A couple of weeks before hand, my friend Sonja and I went running and cracked out a very nice 10k. After a brief walk she suggested we shuffle the rest of the way home. 1k later she said - "see there's your 11k - you've got this". I signed up that night.

Other funny thing - I thought I booked a different hotel to the one I did. So what should have been a nice 1k walk to the start was actually closer to 3. Seems it didn't matter. It was funny walking to a fun run tho and seeing people heading home - still suffering from the night before though!

I got there nice and early - I was worried about being late! It was humid and hot before we started. Ridiculous for that time of day. I was really dreading it - it was going to be a hot hard run. Dream time was 1 hr 20 ... and that would be pushing it!


It was great to catch up with Kathleen - a five30runner from Sydney who had come up for the event. She had done the event last year - and gave me a few tips before we started

It was also awesome to catch up with Sonja and my Operation Move buddies before the run.
Sonja stayed with me at the start while we waited to go ... even though she is much faster than me. Chatting to a friend did a LOT to calm my nerves. In fact - we didn't even hear the start and got a shock when the crowds started moving!

Just as we started we were given the best gift ever!

The heavens opened and it rained. It was heavy enough to get wet - but not to feel drowned and it was so lovely and cooling. Completely changed my run for the better!


The run felt strong. I really love being part of fun runs .. running alone but together with hundreds of others. At one stage one of Paul's running buddies from Brisbane found me and ran along  - it was good. Well - it felt good apart from the hill back to the start for lap two ... I walked that bit!

The second lap had the funniest piece of motivation ever! As we were running through the gardens again a man was there practicing yoga. He was in a strong headstand and he said as I passed "running is like the practice of yoga.  You need to take it one step at a time". Yes guru!

So that is what I did. 

I had the BEST fun running. I realised as I was going that my pace was strong. I was going to smash 1:20.

And I did. 1:15:50 for 11.5 k! Ecstatic!

Even better was having my friend waiting at the finish line for me!! Running with friends is amazing. Running with friends who believe in you ... that's the best!