Week - 13.5k
Month - 78k
YTD - 1064.5k
Sunday morning arrived and it was time to start the journey to Dorrigo. We had spent the night in Coffs Harbour with friends so the trip was only about 40k away. They also decided to come and watch the race, I couldn't convince them that it would be a nice way to begin the day.
Travelling there I had always heard about the Dorrigo range, but I was very suprised as to how beautiful the area is. I was also amazed as to how high it is, we had to travel 14km up the range before entering the township.
We arrived at the starting/rego area about 8am, I was initially told that the run began at 9 but further investigation the day before saw the time change to 8.30am.
Once I registered I found out that the race distance had also changed. An increase of 500m to 13.5k. So after getting over the shock of this I went for my normal lackluster 5 min warm up ;-)
Not long after this the huge field of 9 lined up for the 13 and a HALF km race. The race was started by an old bloke with a whip which was something different.
I set off pretty casual with the three young blokes in the field hooting along. I covered the first k in a very suprising 4 mins and the front runners had already gained about 100m on me. They continued to pull away never to be seen again.
On the way out to the race start I noticed that the road back into town was quite hilly, however nothing prepared me for the little out and back detour that we had to do before heading back into town.
The race was constant up and down with very few flat areas. Nothing like I expected or had the fitness for. To cut a long story short I suffered for the remainder of the run.
The combination of the hills along with the heat, broke me. I was reduced to a walk on many occassions. It was the worst I have ever felt on a run for a long time, I don't think it was the toughest run I have done but at the time it sure felt like it.
The last few k's enabled me to get my splits back down, helped very kindly by some long down hill sections. I ended up passing this guy around this point for the last time, we were swapping positions every k or so for much of the run. He certainly ran a more consistent race just plodding along whereas I was up and down like a yoyo. I ended up getting about 30 secs on him to claim 5th (Woohoo) finishing the 13.5k run in 1.06.09 (4.54/k)
In hindsight I do wish I listened to my friends when they just laughed when I said it would be a great way to start the morning :) No, just kidding, it was a good gauge of where and I am currently. It also gave me a taste of what it is like to run in the heat. Although a disappointing result it was only ever a training run and I definetly got a good work out and learn't a few things along the way.
*Edit* I also checked the BOM website and although it was only 26.2 degress at 9am it was the hottest and driest (39% RH) for the month for that time.
I shouldn't have written that, all that bleeting for........ 26 deg, what a whimp, it sure felt like 40 ;-)
4 comments:
Just 9 in the race! Funny, that's how many adults entered in the half I did yesterday. And the start time in it was brought forward! No whip to get us going though :-)
Sounds like a tough little 13.5k. 26 degrees is hot, especially that time of day. The sun has a real sting to it by then - good Kurrawa training for sure.
26 Degrees is hot Shane - especially if the sun is directly beating on you.
Trust me - we run at 4.30am for a reason!!!
I think that was secret Kurrawa training you did there...well done for going all the way to Dorrigo jus to do that.
Anything over 20 feels hot when you're racing - especially over such a hilly course.
You'll have to return next year and crack that podium!
Enjoy the show :)
You learned a few things so it was well worth it....I had a similiar suffering/learning experience myself on sunday...i will blog about it when i feel better!
But the main thing is you know better about where you at,just don't step back and lament it anymore,move forward.
R2B
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