Kurrawa 2006 - (25km Running Buddy Championship)

Firstly thanks to everyone for your very kind and thoughtful comments re: time trial.

I was too nervous to post in between but now have finished my goal race for the year and have some comments to say. Sorry it's not a two liner *grins*

Met up with Tesso at the hotel for some pre-race day relaxing. The great thing was to see I wasn't the only one consumed with nerves. After hearing our friends secret training regime it was very disheartening and I certainly felt immediately underqualified to race when I had done so little in comparison to their comprehensive training.

Nonetheless I knew Tesso and I had both worked hard towards this race and if nothing else...we will enjoy it.

I didn't get a good night sleep but was comforted by Jackie Fairweathers words 'sleep the night before has no impact on your race'. Now I know what she means - the adrenaline kicks in and wakes you and gets you to the start line. Your training gets you to the finish...and if you are like me...hubby gets you home :)

4:30am registration. There were so many last minute regos that the race was delayed 10mins. I didn't worry too much as I was in line for the loo and it would have been awfully inconvenient for them to start on time.
5:10 and off we go. The first few km were fun. We were all one big group running together with an aim to go hard and go long. 156 competitors in all - 67 teams doing 25km each runner (a 50km race) and the rest were solo runners.

I felt good but it was disappointing to not have km splits to be able to gauge how you are doing. I trusted my gut instead and maintained the pace - fully expecting to blow up at around 18km.
5km and David Lang went past me - WTF? - he is a fast runner from Pat's group and we started together. Turns out he took a wrong turn DOH. My worst nightmare.

I kept the runner in front of me in view and persisted on with the race. I was overtaken only a few times but each time thought it was Tess or Karen coming to exert their prowess in the endurance events so I pressed on.

I have to pause here and remember Allan my wonderful husband. He awoke with me at 3:30am. Drove me to the race, met me at each 2-3km with water/endura and yelled at me how I was going. He even held signs written from Matty (I had my ipod on) to tell me how others I knew were going. The worst/best one being "TESS IS 75sec BEHIND YOU" 75sec seemed a very tiny time in a 25km race and much as I wanted to finish with her it meant I was slowing down (she was running with a garmin and doing 4:45pace) so I had to kick in another gear.

I got sick after taking a gu but kept running and tried to not break my stride. I was aching and cramping but I just persisted in taking on cold water and it seemed to work. Some time later I asked "am I half way" only to be told I had 6km to go. In reality I had 4km...which shows how much I was out of it.

Not much else to say except when I felt I was getting near the end there was this ginormous hill. Wasn't this meant to be a flat course? I died going up it and then thought the finish was on the other side...but you had to run another 500m along the top before tumbling down to tag your partner. I had enough energy to yell out "Robbie get ready here I come" quite loudly and seemed to shock a few *grins*

Final result - I did my sub 2hrs. 1:57:12 and very very proud. I can now relax and enjoy my Christmas and look forward to lots of wonderful long runs with Tesso in the build up to Canberra. Tess I think you're terrific and I wouldn't have done today without you buddy.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY WONDERFUL E-FRIENDS.

Team results for Running buddies:
1st Liz (brilliant effort from her) and Glen
2nd Tess and Nick (who had a blistering run)
3rd Claire and Robbie