Dead Runners society race report
Canberra Marathon, Australia
- Sunday 10th April 1994
Well I didn't
go to the Disney marathon in January 1994, instead I went on a trip
of a lifetime to the other side of the world to visit my email
running friend Tim Armstrong. JimP is Jim Puckett a DRS member, did you know
he once qualified for Boston?:-)
Canberra International Marathon
G'day from your pommie marathoner, its the morning after the marathon. Here`s the report.
start
7.00am
Conditions
near perfect, cool, fine and no wind :-) I decided I would have a go at running
under 3 hours. Rob de Castella set us all off on our tour of the National
capital.
5km
21.35
There was
a climb up to the aussie parliament house, that was the worst hill on the
course, still felt comfortable and speeded up slightly on the way down. At 7km I
saw Tim Armstrong and friends out on their sunday long run, Tim gave me some
encouragement.
10km
43.06
Still
feeling good, by now runners were coming back to me. There was another climb up
to the start finish area at 11km before running down to the lake to start the
"long" out and back section.
15km
1h04.31
I was
still feeling good and passing runners, there was still a long way to go but I
was still on a pace to run just over 3h00.
20km
1h26.06
I was
feeling a bit tired by now, there were a few little hills around here. I saw Tim
again just before halfway (1h30.46), the second half of the course was flatter
than the first so sub 3h00 was still just about possible. The turn point at 22km
seemed to take a long time to come but I was in racing mode now, no-one was
coming past if I could help it!
25km
1h47.45
A runner
caught me at 26km, I ran with him to 27km before I pulled away from him. By 28km
things were starting to hurt and I was starting to slow :-(
30km
2h10.00
Sub 3
hours had gone now so I just concentrated on getting home in one piece with a
new pb. Before the turn point at 32 km 2 runners came past me :-( There was just
the "short" out and back section to run before running up to the finish.
35km
2h33.14
Things
were pretty tough by now but I was still running, I was passing some stragglers
but a few were passing me. At the last turn point around 37km I felt a bit
easier as I knew I was moving in the right direction :-) I was passing lots of
slow runners who were still on the "long" out and back section.
40km
2h57.55
Very tired
by now but I knew that I had a new pb, at 41km I thought I had a chance of
JimP's 3h08.16 but the last km was all uphill and seemed to take ages. I finally
got round the last corner and managed to pick the pace a little to the end,
the PA said "Here's Tony Bell, all the way from England" just before I crossed
the line.
FINISH
3h09.02, 2m30s off my old pb!! :-)
:-)
Very very
tired at the end, I had a few minutes in the medical recovery area where they
fed and watered me and helped me take my shoes off. I was able to stagger
over the road to the changing area where there were some hot drinks and some
massage tables. I got my legs massaged which eased off the pain in my sore
legs.
I was
pleased with my run, I didn't want to come 12000 miles and not get a new pb. In
retrospect I didn't run the right pace for the first half with all the hills but
I got away with a pb so I can't complain.
I finished
92nd/333. I was first (and only englishman) home, the race was truly
international, there were lots of new zealanders plus runners from russia,
denmark, canada, uganda and south africa.
The
performance of the day was by Tim's friend, neighbour and training partner (and
1992 olympian) Susan Hobson. She won the ladies race (and finished
6th overall) in 2h32.57, a new ladies course record (beating the old
record of Lisa Ondieki!) This was the fastest time ever run by and australian
lady in australia!!!
Hey, I`ve
got a Boston Qualifying Time, see you all on Heartbreak Hill in 95?
carpe
marathon recovery
tony bell,
all the way from england, canberra
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