The result was just a bit slower than I expected but I am not sure it is wise to predict a finishing time when you don't know the course.
It didn't take long to find out what devils the course had. Between 4/5 k there was a very steep hill probably about 600 meters long and enough to take a lot of the speed out of the legs early on. I got through the first 5k in just under 23 minutes and thought then it maybe a long day knowing the same hill would still be there 21k later.
I was running alone along a mixture of tar, dirt gravel and a small bit a rough grass along the edge of the road. It meant you needed to watch the road just in front to make sure you would not trip or where to place your foot. As best as I could I settled into a steady pace but not enough to get back under 3 pace. There were some long steady inclines that just drained the speed from the legs as well with no hope of of making up the lost speed on the down hills on the other side.
If you watched you footing you didn't look into the distance and when you did you realised that you had been on a steady rise for some k's. It was funny on the way back the downhills seemed to have flatened out compared with the same stretch on the up hill. Ever find that?
Went through the half in about 96 and thought 3.15 would be the best finish. Then had the pleasure of running part of the second half with ex Knights Robbie O'Davis who was running his first marathon. From 25 - 40 it was just a matter of grinding out k's alone along the long inclines with few runners to be seen.
It was a challenging course with some great scenery from the hills. Overall I thought the course was good, much slower than a straight road marathon because of the change in surfaces and the hills. It was also difficult on the dirt road sections to find a flat section and avoid the significant camber.
It didn't take long to find out what devils the course had. Between 4/5 k there was a very steep hill probably about 600 meters long and enough to take a lot of the speed out of the legs early on. I got through the first 5k in just under 23 minutes and thought then it maybe a long day knowing the same hill would still be there 21k later.
I was running alone along a mixture of tar, dirt gravel and a small bit a rough grass along the edge of the road. It meant you needed to watch the road just in front to make sure you would not trip or where to place your foot. As best as I could I settled into a steady pace but not enough to get back under 3 pace. There were some long steady inclines that just drained the speed from the legs as well with no hope of of making up the lost speed on the down hills on the other side.
If you watched you footing you didn't look into the distance and when you did you realised that you had been on a steady rise for some k's. It was funny on the way back the downhills seemed to have flatened out compared with the same stretch on the up hill. Ever find that?
Went through the half in about 96 and thought 3.15 would be the best finish. Then had the pleasure of running part of the second half with ex Knights Robbie O'Davis who was running his first marathon. From 25 - 40 it was just a matter of grinding out k's alone along the long inclines with few runners to be seen.
It was a challenging course with some great scenery from the hills. Overall I thought the course was good, much slower than a straight road marathon because of the change in surfaces and the hills. It was also difficult on the dirt road sections to find a flat section and avoid the significant camber.
It will be an iteresting week to manage a very short recovery and to get back out ASAP for a couple of easy runs before the double header next weekend. The hope is both will be under 4 hours and I have no injury. It should be a good challenge.
5 comments:
A healthy run again Eagle, well done. I don't have too much experience with running not knowing the course but the couple of times I have I didn't fare too well.
I think that, that first hill must have taken some wind out of the sails. Still, you certainly are able to maintain under conditions that would slow done a lesser runner.
Again congratulations.
A good run ray considering the tough course and not much done since GCM.
Congrats on another great run Ray. And thanks for all info about the course, this is one marathon that sounded quite tempting.
And how exciting getting to run with one of OUR State of Origin greats :-) It would be interesting to hear his thoughts on marathon running vs rugby league.
Ray,
Congratulations on a great run so close to the GC. Looking forward to catching up with you in Canberra.
Sounds like a testing course Ray.
I know what you mean about the hills. I hope the downs on the way back in today's Bush Capital were down and not flat.
Good luck tomorrow. If you don't want to sleep, stay up and watch Cadel win the tour :)
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