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Home Contacts Calendar 10km Series Super Series Blister Results & Ladders Sydney Runs +Maps |
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Home Contacts Calendar 10km Series Super Series Blister Results & Ladders Sydney Runs +Maps |
I started running around the block where I'm living. That meant a few runs per week at a very moderate speed. As a matter of fact initially 3.5 k was more than enough for the old body. However some challenge was required and then you start entering the various fun-runs, amongst these also the Strider arranged run to SCG. Here I picked up an entry form and joined a running club. If somebody had been prepared to take a bet on that ten years before, I would gladly have taken the bet 100:1 - in favour of what, I'm sure you can guess.
My reasons for joining a running club were several. First of course, I wanted to run with somebody else, not just pounding along alone. Secondly I imagined a running club to have regular meetings where training, equipment, injuries, preparation etc were subjects to teach newcomers in order for them to maintain interest and get the most out of their common interest. I received an introduction letter from the president and the current calendar for STAR events. Nothing further happened, I got injured, didn't want to turn up the first time and not be fit enough to complete a run etc.
Anyway the result being that it wasn't until July 1995, I participated in my first STAR after a call to Chris informing me that 10k started at 7 am. At Wahroonga Park I introduced myself to the host as a new kid on the block and went for a run with Bill Blecha and Phil. I followed Phil, as Bill was slowed down by his dog. After the run of 14-15 k, I learnt that Phil ran 10k in 42 minutes. No wonder I couldn't follow him for more than a few k and then returned alone to the park, paid my $2, drank a Coke and returned to my residence more confused - and definitely more tired - than when I left.
I did continue my training alone, because I wanted to participate in the City to Surf, and as a preparation for this, I went for the Memorial Equaliser. It all went well until reaching Jim at the waterstop. There was water, but I was probably to exhausted at that stage to listen to any instructions and consequently I ended up on Mona Vale road. With no Striders in sight, I returned to the drink station only to find that it had ceased to exist. As the course was completely unknown to me, the only thing to do was to return the same way as I came - and so I did.
For someone who had never participated in any big events before, I had to start at the back of the pack, which gave me plenty of opportunity to "smell" and indulge in the atmosphere surrounding a marvellous arrangement as that particular run is. There were people everywhere, running, singing, playing, walking, drinking and if you had the need for a shower, just get under one of the hoses that the residents along the route provided so freely. I came through in 77 minutes and taken into consideration my start position, I was very pleased. I ran all the way and didn't even stop to walk the big hill.
My next experience of racing came as I decided to run the 10k arrangement in conjunction with the marathon event. Although suffering from an injured knee, I managed to get to the finish line in 46 minutes. I was happy with that, but the incident that I remember most clearly occurred about the halfway mark. I had at the previous STAR bought a Strider singlet, specifically to wear it on the day of the marathon. If you flagged the colours of a running club, they might not take you for the novice in the sport as I really was. The steam was about to leave the balloon as a result of starting too fast probably, but also a constant pain in my right knee.
And there out of the blue, running against us on the footpath came a small group of Striders and amongst them Joanne Cowan. They were going at a moderate tempo looking at the field and Jo caught the sight of my newly bought singlet. "There is another Strider, hey keep going..." and some more encouraging words. That got me through the next couple of k's and I must admit at the time I felt like one of them.
The following day, Monday, I visited my GP across the road from my office. The knee was not very well. I told him that I planned to run a half marathon within the next 3 weeks - my first -"I don't have time for relaxation and/or stop training, doc, what can you do?"
"Slow down to half pace and distance next week, take these pills for 8 days and you'll be fine. By the way, you might be interested in this." - and out of his draw came the medallion for completing the Sydney Marathon the day before!! You should have seen my eyes, not to mention my lower jaw which I picked up from the floor leaving his surgery with the following comment: "When you have finished the Bankstown 1/2, just ask yourself if you want to do another one. Then you know how I felt yesterday."
The GP's pills and/or advice helped. I managed to get my knee in order and felt like a million dollars on the morning on the starting line. I had picked up my race number the day before and had driven the course in order to familiarise myself with the surroundings. My aim was to do the first half of the race in 50 and the second lap in 55 minutes. I came home in 103 minutes, so I was more than pleased with my performance. Naturally I didn't see Darren Benson or Andy Lloyd until the prize ceremony, but somehow it felt good to see a Strider up in front and again the feeling of being -nearly- one of them.
After having achieved the milestone of running 21k, taking into consideration that I barely could run 5k 6 months earlier, I relaxed for a couple of weeks and didn't do much. Then came an overseas trip for another 3 weeks and before you get started again - I mean really started - 8 weeks had gone. My first STAR thereafter was the Pymble Pushover and I simply couldn't believe how difficult it was to just run 15k. I walked several times back through the bush and it was really a pitiful experience. At this stage my mind was set on a full marathon, not a firm and fixed determination, but a picture had formed itself in my mind. How on earth should this dream ever come through when 15 k felt like this. It was about this time I joined the K O'K established Marathon Training Group. And I must admit that if that opportunity hadn't occurred, I probably wouldn't have got any further. Thanks Kevin.
We gradually increased the distances and around Christmas time, my wife in one of her philosophical moments, commented on the intensity and development in my performance in the following way: "Can you remember how much fuss and disturbance you created leading up to your half marathon - and now you are running more than one every week!". The Sunday arrived when we cracked the 25k, although it didn't happen without a bit of pain. Not as I recall it from running, but because I managed to put a thorn through my shoe and deeply into my foot at around the 15k mark. Manfred was the man of the day and got the thorn out of my shoe, Penny the woman of the day getting me to the end of the course.
As it was told by some of the members of the group: "It is compulsory to participate!!". My nephew had joined the group in mid December and he and I had decided to do 2h30 and 2h45 respectively. He did his in exactly that time although never been running more than 12k before coming to Australia, whereas I didn't quite meet my target. I came in at 2h55. However I am convinced that I could have met target if it hadn't been for those bloody shoes.
After 20 k I had burned of most of the stored energy (which I'm sure didn't affect my time at all) but at the same time my big toes started to tell me that they didn't like to be treated the way they were. I told them to stop complaining, but they behaved like naughty kids and didn't listen. As a matter of fact they disliked the treatment so much that they decided unanimously to drop their nails some days later. Nevertheless I felt it had been a good day and a good experience which I'm prepared to repeat next year. The family reception at the finishing line was champagne, in strong contrast to the "Big Fella" who emptied a very large bucket of water over our heads.
When joining the Marathon Training Group one of the questions in the form was about your goal for the Six Foot Track. I asked what it was and was informed about a marathon mainly on bush tracks.My goal was to run the full distance. That was until I saw some of the previous times, found out that the course was 46k and heard that the hills was steep as the escalator at Central Station, except they were not moving and if it felt that way, it was more like running up the escalator going down!! After these horrible descriptions I decided not to try to concur the course. My sincerest congratulations to those who did!!
The Marathon Training Group was over time divided into at least two groups with different pace. KO'K looked after the slow group and Bruce in his indescribable style took care of the slightly faster. I have been running a fair few k's with Bruce now and I admire the patience, guidance and dedication with which he got us through the various STAR's. He always had a better way than the described course. And more often than not did the better way involve an extra hill. "You got to do some hills."
At the drink stops, he managed to get us to drink plenty - only to lead us past the next tap without a stop. "We don't need to drink again, the next tap is in Lindfield." When we reached Lindfield, Bruce was the first to drink and then start walking/slow running while the rest of the group had their turn. If it lasted too long, nobody was left in doubt of the purpose of the Striders. "This is a running club!!" Thanks Bruce.
The sole purpose of all the effort put into the previous months' training was to complete the Canberra Marathon. I'm writing this on the day after the event and all the impressions have not been digested yet. One fellow was running his 300th marathon, another his 100th, and here am I being very proud of completing number one. Because I did it!! Also the fellow attempting to complete the course in 3.22 in order to get in Guinness Book of Records juggling all the way. Unfortunately the fellow didn't succeed in terms of time, but he did actually juggle all the way and finished in 3.56 - unbelievable stuff.
It was a positive experience to see all the Striders participate - nearly all of them in "the uniform", right Chris - and the families and supporters along the course made it very difficult not to feel very welcome and in very high spirit. Even the kids shouted: "Come on Strider - go,go go." The only "disappointing" element was Darren Benson, who caught me in a group of Striders early in the race where the conversation flew a bit more freely than later on the course. His comment from the sideline was along the lines of stop talking and start running - with a big smile all over his face. The remark was taken in the spirit it was delivered, and caused a few laughs. This is a running club, you know!
My aim was to finish in 3.38 and I was pretty close to target at 30k, but drifted a bit in the latter stages and came in at 3.43, which I was and still am very satisfied with. However the Striders lycra shorts, the long ones - didn't live up to previous performance as I constantly in the second half had problems on the inside of my thighs. In order to avoid the sting, I regularly had to pull my pants up on the backside to get fabric in between my legs. However Vaseline was provided at every drink stop, and consequently I would take a handful, and still running, try to get the Vaseline in between my legs from the front. Only with the result that I soon after had to try to get some fabric in between my thighs by pulling my pants from the back. You got the picture. I'm glad nobody (I hope not anyway) caught this action on video.
The action is over and next time it will be about a possible PB, not about finishing. That will put a new dimension to the running I suppose. It has been an exciting year as a Strider - I believe I'm entitled to feel like one of them now - and hopefully will the next year bring as many positive running experiences as the first.
