Barossa Marathon: 3.40.51

Where did that come from with all the negatives thoughts over the last few weeks.

 

In an effort to get the mind together I did not run on Friday but did have a lap of the Bay on Saturday morning. I am not sure why that would do anything positive mentally and really not a good idea physically but it was done and I felt a little more positive.

 

I did some sightseeing in the afternoon and arrived in town after dark. It was a quiet night in reading. I felt calm on Sunday morning and thought I would start out at 3.45 finishing time or 5.19 per k pace. I was not sure if my fitness was at that level but I knew if I was to run that time I would have to watch my pacing constantly and not run any quicker than 5.10 and no slower than 5.25.

 

I was watching it more often that usual and was running found I kept creeping up to the 5.05 - 5.10 range and then would have to ease back. All of this kept me at about 5.13 pace at halfway. The aim was then to be mentally strong and believe I could maintain about 5.15 pace to the end and hope the overall pace did not slip slower than the hoped for 5.19.

 

As the k's in the second have ground by I was maintaining the 5.15 pace and the further I went I know there would have to be a massive blow out to drift slower than 5.19. Past 30k and the pace was being maintained but if I did not look it was easing back to 5.30 and it took a big mental and physical effort to push it back up again. Any way held on with the final pace 5.14.

 

There were 242 finishers and over all 91st. However this is the first marathon that also publishes age adjusted times and placing. On that basis I ran 2.53 and was 16th over. If only that was the real result. Still pleasing to have the run put in that perspective.

 

Now a week to recover, train and taper for another marathon next weekend. This is a special one and a one off for Marathonman and his home coming. Around Sydney, with mates and will be slow to take in the sights.