Geelong Half Marathon (26 seconds off PB)

What a great day for a half marathon. The weather was perfect at 12 deg rising to 14 deg at the end. It was overcast and wanting to rain but didn't, wind was from the west at 8/11 kts and relative humidity around 91%. To top off the weather report the pressure was 1022.

Arrived there about 8.15 am and the registration process went through relatively smoothly. $35 later I had my race number (219) and a T-Shirt.

Met quite a few CR's prior to the race, Kelvin, Wilco, Slowaz, Stu-Mac (and Chrissy), Whippet Man, Shuffeupagus, Repoman, MikeyMelb & Martin.

Ok, I'll get to the point. For 21.1 km I ran it in 1:37:16 which works out to a pace of 4:35 /km. I missed out on a PB by 26 seconds.

I was hoping for a sub 90 min but unfortunately that wasn't to be today. My plan was to go out hard and see if I could maintain the pace at around 4:10 - 4:15 /km. The plan was all good and well until about the 5 km mark and it all fell in a heap. I was then pacing at around the 4:40 - 4:50 mark for the rest of the race. Oh well, I gave it a shot.

At the 4 km Lee Troup and Steve Moneghetti, would you believe, from behind me strolled up. They were having a good old chat with everyone, even me. I was surprised by a comment from Lee that he saw the photos on the web of our group runs at the You Yangs. He mentioned that he trains there all the time. Anyway I had to let them go, they were travelling a little faster than me.

Also for the first 4 km or thereabouts I was tracking and keeping about 20 metres distance behind Wilco and that was the last I saw of him until the finish, after the finish that is.

About the 5 km mark, on my slowdown (I was stuffed and feelig it), this is where Shuffeupagus and Whippet Man passed me. As per Wilco, I didn't see them until after the finish.

Between the 5 and 15 km mark I had a queasy, unsettling, feeling in my stomach. This is basically why I slowed my pace, my legs were ok, just my bloody stomach. I felt that if I tried to maintain a faster pace I would have puked (watched a Seinfeld episode last night - George reckons - puked - is a funny word), vomitted. Maybe it was the big bag of chips (cheese & onion flavour) I had last night watching the English Premier League. I know of recent times, since returning from my cruise, I haven't really eaten properly or for that matter been drinking enough water. Who knows, I suppose it could be anything or then maybe it was just one of those days.

With about 5 km to go I was running with a little group, an older man with a weird or very awkward running style and a female runner. At this point there were quite a lot of undulations, nothing excessive but there all the same. On the straight portions this man was passing me, move in front of me and slow down a little. I was always on his heels. I had to move to oneside to avoid colliding. This was done a number of times and peeved me a little but thought better of saying anything. I really don't think he meant it. On the slight up hills the group I was running with would fall back and catch me again on the straights or downhills.

For this last 5 km my uneasiness in my stomach had subsided somewhat or was a little more bearable. As mentioned I came home in 1:37:16 (or 97 mins) and ahead of the little group I was running with.

After the run I stayed for a few snags and chatted with the CR crew. Not very often do I win anything but today I was one who won a spot prize, consisting of a sports bag, training jacket and running shirt. Probably over a $100 in value. Not bad for a $35 entry fee, I think I got my moneys worth. Wilco picked up a $100 skins voucher. Slowaz, who was with us at this point, missed out.

Stats as of 23 Apr 2006	km’s
Today	21.1
Prev 7 Days	61.1
Prev 28 Days	104.5
Apr 2006	96.5
YTD	855.3
Month Average 2006	213.8
Weekly Average 2006	50.3
Total (2001 – to date)	8596.4