Mudgee Running Festival
2013
I arrived at Mudgee for
the 5km race on Saturday. We parked and made our way to the rego area to
collect our race packs for the weekend. From here we headed back to the car so
I could get ready on the way I noticed Mitch Williamson from Orange was warming
up, yay a race against a real speedster awaited!
I completed my warmup
and ventured to the start/finish line for race brief. We were told the 5km
would start 1 minute after the 10km, crazy and odd, but that's the way they ran
it. We lined up and quickly it was obvious it was a race of 3, Mitch, Brent Harris and myself, well actually it was going to be how far Mitch won by.
The 10km went away we
waited for our start. We were set off and I went out hard, feeling good and out
in front I began weaving, crossing and dodging the back pack, middle pack and
front pack of the 10km race, all inside of a km! I had gone out too hard, split
3.10, yep way too hard!
I felt good still but my
pace was sliding, I then started feeling bad, my pace varied and I was in and
out of threshold, big problems. I maintained effort and hoped that I could
recover, I have been training well in my intervals and was hoping this would
assist here, it did but it took much longer than needed.
At around 3.5km I felt
ok again, I was in 3rd and roughly 200m from 2nd spot. I was witnessing 3.38
and 3.40 splits so I was aware I could increase my pace to close the gap, but
very mindful of what tomorrow had in store. To blow up twice in a 5km would be
very silly. I may have went out hard, a rookie mistake yes, but I do learn from
my runs and I was happy to cruise in to the finish. I arrived in 17.50, not
what I had hoped for, but in 3rd place, another podium and a good lesson
learnt. I'll take a lot from the race into other races and can work on my
weaknesses in training to improve them come race day.
The pesky cough that I
have battled on and off for the last few months arrived shortly after the 5km
and lingered into the night. I had a beautiful meal with Kel, kid free and very
enjoyable and we were able to relax before our marathons the following morning.
We got back to our accommodation, had a stretch and went over the last minute
things, and then it was off to bed.
We woke to a cool but
not freezing morning, a good sign and a relief as the T shirt would do from the
start. The start line at every race is the same, people sizing each other up,
nervous energy, chatter, stretching, porta loos and the now familiar coffee
van. We had a quick race brief and then
made our way up to the bridge for the start.
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| Just before the start of the Marathon |
I had a small warm up
and readied myself for what would my first road marathon, hopefully close to
2.50 but mostly a sub 3. Dani Andres was
opposite me, and I noticed he had a marathon bib on and Nick Zawadski, also a
Bathurst boy, had registered in the marathon.
It would be a challenge to do well as both had sub 3 efforts to their
names and were far more experienced than me at the distance. I was going to run
my race nonetheless and the rest would sort itself out.
Kel was nervous but she
had prepared very well, only weeks before she had ran the distance in training,
in a time a only few minutes slower than my first training marathon. She is fit
and can run well and with more racing, long runs and confidence could really
become a tough person to beat in long races, I truly feel that a sub 3 marathon
is within her reach if she keeps at it.
I gave her a kiss and the start gun went, it would be the last time I'd
see her for 3 hr 45 minutes.
Nick went out hard,
getting to the front quickly. I was happy with my start and I just slid into
pace and assessed my feeling, breathing, rhythm, tempo, etc. I had no idea who
was in what race and Dani was just off my shoulder running in a similar
way. After 5km I was on target for a low
2.40, too quick but I knew the hills would balance things out and I had planned
my pace to run 19 minute 5 km splits. I approached the half turn in 3rd just
behind Nic and Dani feeling great, I even took a sneaky look back and it
appeared to be daylight to 4th.
The next section was
where I ran well, I picked off Nic at 10km, running the gradual climb
efficiently, I also closed the gap to Dani and by the start of the climb I was
only 100m behind him. I kept my cadence and pushed up the steeper section of
the climb and I was now running side by side with Dani and feeling good, we
turned into the out and back section and shot down the hill very quickly. Nick was 2 or 3 minutes behind at the turn and
we made our way back up again, both overtaking the lead bike on the climb.
Dani shot away on the
next descent and that gap was never closed, I bloody tried and got close but
never regained contact. I had him in
sight, sometimes he was closer, other times he was further away, but I knew if
I could up the pace or he blew up I could grab the win. The next 10km or so we
ran up a gradual hill and descended back towards Mudgee and the back end of the
half course that I ran last year, which I remembered had one longish hill and a
few rolling hills and then it was down into a flat final 2km.
 |
| 1st in 30-39 yrs |
If I was going to move
it was now on the hills, I could not wait to the end and had to push it then. I ran
up the long dirt rise that lead to the 2nd last aid station at a good pace and
the guy informed me I was 1 minute 20 back from Dani, I had closed slightly but
still had plenty of work to do. I ran the first couple of hills ok but on the
last hill I busted, my pace blew out and I struggled to get going again, Dani
had now distanced himself from my sight and was running away to a well earnt
victory.
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| The Mens Podium 3rd, 1st & 2nd |
I had 5km to run, I was
in pain but I knew I had to finish and wanted the sub 3 finish. I was battling
cramps in my hamstrings again, similar to the Bush Capital Race last month, so
I was adjusting my stride and gait as well as eating endrolytes like lollies. I
even chewed one up to get it into my blood quicker, something I'd discussed doing
the weekend before, I don't recommend it, but as bad as it tasted, it
worked!
So I toughed it out, and
the last 5km cost me 2 minutes and a low 2:50 time but I pushed on and got my
sub 3 and very close to the par of 2:55 that I'd set before the race. I
finished, ran the whole thing and held a sub 4 min pace for 35km, topping it
off I came 2nd, so I was very happy when I crossed the line. It was a great
feeling running down the path to the finish, the crowd cheered and I was finally
at the end, time to stop and get my legs feeling normal again! The first thing
I did was congratulate Dani on his victory, it was an experience racing someone
so far into a long run, an experience I'd only had in shorter races previously.
 |
| Sub - 3! |
Nick crossed the line
not too far back and in sub 3 fashion, a great result! He recovered well after
a typical fast start to get a pb and a good confidence boost before the next
couple of weeks where we will go head to head again. I know I'll have to run well if I'm to stay
out in front in Dubbo and Bathurst.
I had a bit of time to
sort myself before Kel finished. I caught up with Shelley Hanrahan, who had
just won the half in 88 minutes (Shelley took an incredible 8 minutes off her
previous Half Marathon that she ran in Bathurst 3 months ago – what an
achievement!). I also caught up with Tom Hanrahan who is also from
Bathurst. Both Shelley and Tom (No
relation I think) had run very well over the weekend. Tom came in 4th in the
5km and cracked the 90 in the Half, quote "without having much of a
go" and Shelley had a massive weekend not only winning the half but also
placing 3rd in the 5km, much deserved after the hard work and training she has
put in. It was also great to meet
Bathurst Runner Geoff Lynch who also put in 2 great performances in the 5k and
the Half.
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| 3rd in 30-39 yrs |
I had a feeling Kel was
near and moved into a spot to be able to cheer her on for as much of the last
stretch as I could. I saw her come up
from below the bridge, a sharp up that had nearly made me cry earlier, and she
was running well, relaxed and in control. She ran toward the end and I cheered
her to the finish, I even managed to trot to get to the end to take a picture
of her maiden marathon finish. I was so proud,
not just because she had finished, but because of the work she had put in the
lead up and I knew what it meant to her. I don't always say it and at times I obsess
over my running but how Kel is progressing and the effort she puts in means so
much to me and I can't wait to see her get going even stronger with more km's
in the bank. Kel finished in 20th
overall, 10th female in 3:46:20, a time that would have top 5’d in most
marathons. She also picked up a trophy
for her age group, not bad for a first timer!
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| Results |
Kel approaching the finish and crossing the line
So there we were, both
finished close to our goals, and in the top 20. A bloody good effort if you ask
me. Last year I ran the half at Mudgee
in 88:30 came 11th and Kel said she would've laughed if you told her she would be
running the marathon in 2013. Now its
onwards towards Dubbo, the Edgell Job and ultimately the Kanangra Trail Ultra
in October.
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| Spoils of the weekend |
I have also accepted an
entry into the Sri Chimney Canberra Centenary 100km Trail Run in September,
thank you to Hammer Nutrition for the entry and the opportunity to make my
100km debut. I am very excited, nervous and keen to get out there come race
day. More on this run to come in the next few weeks.
