Race Report - Bridge to Brisbane 12k, 2nd August 2006

 

I have to admit, standing at the Gateway Bridge toll booths, tightly packed with other runners of various shapes, sizes and degrees of deodorant use, I was really very intimidated by the view of the bridge itself rising up to what seemed like infinity.  I wasn't sure I could even walk up that, let alone run it!  But it was too late to back out, I would just have to drag my butt up there any which way I could.  With my watch showing 6:55am, I had plenty of time to concentrate on breathing, centering myself, and getting ready to fly through the 12k.  Or so I thought...  Unfortunately, unbeknownst to the participants, the organisers decided to start the race five minutes early, so somewhat in shock I got caught up in the stampede heading up the bridge as the gun went off prematurely.   Despite the unwelcome interruption to my pre-race preparations, I hit my stride pretty early, and thanks to my position at the head of the "yellow pack" (intermediate runners) I managed to avoid the frustrating impedence of the walkers that many of the other runners in the race complained about.  In fact, I had a pretty clear run the whole time, and managed to lose myself in the rhythmic beat of my shoes hitting the ground in time with the music (Oh mighty Apple Corporation, manufacturers of my beloved iPod, I salute you!).

 

I felt really good the whole race, a bit TOO good in fact.  Absolutely cruised past each KM marker, 5...  6...  7...  Planned on downing the jelly beans at about the 8k mark to keep the blood sugar drop at bay, but didn't even end up needing them until I hit the 9k marker.  Skipped the first two water stations, which probably wasn't the greatest idea, but I was flying so well I just didn't want to stop.  Heading into New Farm and seeing the 11km marker had me kick up the pace, which didn't exhaust me nearly as much as I thought it would.  In fact, I had enough energy for a really good sprint at the end.  My last race down the Gold Coast may have been less "technically successful" (I went out hard and crashed early, whereas this time I paced myself really well and kicked it up at the end), but it was a lot more satisfying.  I just didn't feel like I pushed myself hard enough in this race.  I didn't get as much out of myself as I could, so I was a little disappointed.

 

My time?  Well, we won't even mention the fact that they made us wait a whole week AND buy a newspaper to get our official times (gee, not an obvious marketing ploy at all!), but I managed to bring it in at 1:15:13.  My goal time was 1:20, so I was really happy to have blown that out of the water by a whole five minutes!  I placed in the 5000s out of about 15,000 total, so I finished in the top third.  Not bad for someone that has only been running seriously for six months.  Of course, we shall also not mention all those genetically-blessed people that can get out there and run a sub-1:00:00 time with practically no training... 

 

Special mention also goes to Kylie, my housemate, who met her own goal of 1:30:00, and to my Mum who managed to get her butt over the line in 2:00:00.  Well done to everyone that participated, we're all legends!