Event number two - a 10km fun run at Mount Beauty was today. I am still amazed that I use the word 'fun' & 'run' in the same sentence! If you don't know me all that well (or at all) you can read a little about my couch potato transformation by clicking here.
If you have been following my facebook page you will know that this week I was taken out by the first germy-lurgy of the season and have been feeling rather under the weather since Wednesday - BUT I made a commitment and a pledge to complete my planned challenge.
So ... Saturday rolled around and started at a refreshing 1.4 degrees! I dosed up with herbal cold relief, herbal immune boost, throat gargle and basic pain relief and a good supply of tissues and throat lozenges. My husband Byron offered to drive me and one of my bestest buddies Marianna to Mount Beauty for the event - and with a 10am start time we were able to have a bit of a sleep in and set off around 7am. It's a really pretty drive to Mount Beauty and we only encountered a little bit of traffic......
If you have been following my facebook page you will know that this week I was taken out by the first germy-lurgy of the season and have been feeling rather under the weather since Wednesday - BUT I made a commitment and a pledge to complete my planned challenge.
So ... Saturday rolled around and started at a refreshing 1.4 degrees! I dosed up with herbal cold relief, herbal immune boost, throat gargle and basic pain relief and a good supply of tissues and throat lozenges. My husband Byron offered to drive me and one of my bestest buddies Marianna to Mount Beauty for the event - and with a 10am start time we were able to have a bit of a sleep in and set off around 7am. It's a really pretty drive to Mount Beauty and we only encountered a little bit of traffic......
We arrived around 9am to thick fog and a small but growing crowd. Marianna had signed up to do the 3km walk/run as a show of support so we signed in and picked up our bibs. This is probably the only event that I will ever have my name printed on my bib :-D
We still had plenty of time so Marianna and Byron grabbed themselves a coffee while I looked on longingly, knowing that coffee, running and I just don't mix. I did make them promise me that we would make time for me to grab one after the run though!
Back at the event (having spotted a few friends and colleagues) it was time to get things sorted, HRM, bib, last minute loo stop, stocking up on tissues and lozenges, ditching my comfy (and warm) trackies and hoodie :-( By the time we were ready to line up for the start it was around a sizzling 3 degrees.... perfect weather to complete a thorough warm-up but instead I was a little silly and did a really quick warm up while waiting for the gun to go off.
We still had plenty of time so Marianna and Byron grabbed themselves a coffee while I looked on longingly, knowing that coffee, running and I just don't mix. I did make them promise me that we would make time for me to grab one after the run though!
Back at the event (having spotted a few friends and colleagues) it was time to get things sorted, HRM, bib, last minute loo stop, stocking up on tissues and lozenges, ditching my comfy (and warm) trackies and hoodie :-( By the time we were ready to line up for the start it was around a sizzling 3 degrees.... perfect weather to complete a thorough warm-up but instead I was a little silly and did a really quick warm up while waiting for the gun to go off.
I didn't really have a 'race plan' for this event - other than to finish - given how I was feeling. I really had no idea how I would go so was going to play it by ear. The half-marathon and 10km competitors lined up and started together. I had positioned myself right at the back of the group making sure I was out of the way of everyone else - and set off at a very relaxed pace.
The start of the run is half a lap around a football oval, under some trees and through a playground - and feels a bit 'cross country' at first, but in under 1km it opens out into the back streets and then into the gorgeous undulating farmland that surrounds Mt Beauty.
It didn't take long before I needed my first tissue! I managed to get said tissue out of my race belt and blow my nose without stopping - winner!!! The cold air on my throat was pretty ordinary too. Luckily though that's as bad as it got and I managed to get through the race using only one tissue and my throat settled down after a while. After about 2 or 3kms I had to lose my long sleeve top - it was still quite cold but the sun had come out and I had warmed up enough for the top to be annoying to wear. I am not sure if there is an art to it or not - but I managed to take off the top and tie it around my waist without slowing down too much.
For most of the first 4km I remained almost right at the back of the pack, slowly overtaking a few people here and there, and just enjoyed the experience and scenery. I really love the camaraderie and support at fun runs and the mix of age, ability and experience of those who participate. Lots of high fives for the little boy running with his dad, supportive 'your nearly there' 'you can do it' 'looking strong' by the volunteers marshalling the event and those already looping back on their return.
After about 4km or so I got the familiar foot tingle as my feet started to fall asleep - luckily though it wasn't 'too' bad and I didn't need to stop to relieve the discomfort. From 4.2km there is a quick, short but steep-ish, hill that takes you up to the 5km turn around point. Last year that hill knocked the stuffing out of me and I hated it and had to catch my breath at the top. This year I was ready for it, it didn't seem as long as I remembered it last year and just took it in my stride. Just before the turnaround point I spotted a lady I ran next too for part of the Wangaratta 10km back in February. I said hi - gave her some words of encouragement and then turned around headed off back down the hill.
I love the half way mark of any run! I always figure that if I've made it half way that the rest is easy and it usually puts a spring in my step - even if just for a little while :-) I had a quick drink and grabbed a jelly bean at the aid station at the bottom of the hill - chatted to another runner for a bit and then pushed on for home. I couldn't believe it really - given how lousy I was feeling, I had made it to over half way and still hadn't stopped but for a mouthful of water. I knew the rest of the run was mostly downhill and pushed on a bit harder - I felt surprisingly good. I also realised that it was this exact event 12 months ago that my foot tingling started and how much it bothered me during that run and how hard I found some sections of the run - things I didn't even really notice this time.
The last 3km went by without incident - the sun was shining - the hills were SO green it was stunning - I passed a few more runners (slowly) - I had a good playlist egging me on - and a few 'good job, you're nearly there' from the volunteers. The last km is a bit confusing, back through the local playground, dodging people watching their kids play netball, people finishing up their 3km walk and other competitors already heading off. Mind you, it's not 100's or 1000's of people, but just enough to make finding the right route a little tricky :-)
And then - the oval and finish chute are in sight - so you pull yourself up a little taller - determined to finish like you mean it and not just limp over the line. Byron was on the side lines to cheer me on for those last few meters and take a picture or two of the moment - which are always glamour shots :-) I crossed the finish at 1:04:43 (less than a minute more than last year!) - with a few round's of 'well done' from the volunteers recording times and numbers at the end. It's not my best time by any means - but it isn't as dreadful as I thought it would be - or that much worse than my best.
As soon as I stopped I realised just how cold it was. The sun had gone and breeze had picked up. My wonderful support crew made sure I had fruit and water (and a few snakes :-) ) from the finish 'aid station' to refuel. They even grabbed my picnic rug so I could have a good stretch without getting a wet butt sitting on the damp grass !
The start of the run is half a lap around a football oval, under some trees and through a playground - and feels a bit 'cross country' at first, but in under 1km it opens out into the back streets and then into the gorgeous undulating farmland that surrounds Mt Beauty.
It didn't take long before I needed my first tissue! I managed to get said tissue out of my race belt and blow my nose without stopping - winner!!! The cold air on my throat was pretty ordinary too. Luckily though that's as bad as it got and I managed to get through the race using only one tissue and my throat settled down after a while. After about 2 or 3kms I had to lose my long sleeve top - it was still quite cold but the sun had come out and I had warmed up enough for the top to be annoying to wear. I am not sure if there is an art to it or not - but I managed to take off the top and tie it around my waist without slowing down too much.
For most of the first 4km I remained almost right at the back of the pack, slowly overtaking a few people here and there, and just enjoyed the experience and scenery. I really love the camaraderie and support at fun runs and the mix of age, ability and experience of those who participate. Lots of high fives for the little boy running with his dad, supportive 'your nearly there' 'you can do it' 'looking strong' by the volunteers marshalling the event and those already looping back on their return.
After about 4km or so I got the familiar foot tingle as my feet started to fall asleep - luckily though it wasn't 'too' bad and I didn't need to stop to relieve the discomfort. From 4.2km there is a quick, short but steep-ish, hill that takes you up to the 5km turn around point. Last year that hill knocked the stuffing out of me and I hated it and had to catch my breath at the top. This year I was ready for it, it didn't seem as long as I remembered it last year and just took it in my stride. Just before the turnaround point I spotted a lady I ran next too for part of the Wangaratta 10km back in February. I said hi - gave her some words of encouragement and then turned around headed off back down the hill.
I love the half way mark of any run! I always figure that if I've made it half way that the rest is easy and it usually puts a spring in my step - even if just for a little while :-) I had a quick drink and grabbed a jelly bean at the aid station at the bottom of the hill - chatted to another runner for a bit and then pushed on for home. I couldn't believe it really - given how lousy I was feeling, I had made it to over half way and still hadn't stopped but for a mouthful of water. I knew the rest of the run was mostly downhill and pushed on a bit harder - I felt surprisingly good. I also realised that it was this exact event 12 months ago that my foot tingling started and how much it bothered me during that run and how hard I found some sections of the run - things I didn't even really notice this time.
The last 3km went by without incident - the sun was shining - the hills were SO green it was stunning - I passed a few more runners (slowly) - I had a good playlist egging me on - and a few 'good job, you're nearly there' from the volunteers. The last km is a bit confusing, back through the local playground, dodging people watching their kids play netball, people finishing up their 3km walk and other competitors already heading off. Mind you, it's not 100's or 1000's of people, but just enough to make finding the right route a little tricky :-)
And then - the oval and finish chute are in sight - so you pull yourself up a little taller - determined to finish like you mean it and not just limp over the line. Byron was on the side lines to cheer me on for those last few meters and take a picture or two of the moment - which are always glamour shots :-) I crossed the finish at 1:04:43 (less than a minute more than last year!) - with a few round's of 'well done' from the volunteers recording times and numbers at the end. It's not my best time by any means - but it isn't as dreadful as I thought it would be - or that much worse than my best.
As soon as I stopped I realised just how cold it was. The sun had gone and breeze had picked up. My wonderful support crew made sure I had fruit and water (and a few snakes :-) ) from the finish 'aid station' to refuel. They even grabbed my picnic rug so I could have a good stretch without getting a wet butt sitting on the damp grass !
In all I was really happy with how the run went - given the lead up I had had.
Oh and the coffee I was promised - was wonderful!
Oh and the coffee I was promised - was wonderful!