Canberra Half Marathon 85.10

The Nations Capital was the home for the weekend as I along with some of the HuRTS team headed down for the Half, Marathon and 50k event that took place.

A spectacular day greeted the runners as blue skies and cooler temps made for great running conditions. Caught up with Enda, Ronan, Fats, Jeet, Pommy Paul and C.T for the usual best wishes and trash talk that has become the norm before races these days.

A lot more relaxed start to this race saw us basically just walk up to the front before the guns goes off and away we were, I felt bloody awful for the first 5ks and wondered how the hell I was even going to get it done. My mood /confidence wasn’t helped then when Greta Truscott came up to me and flew by around the 6.5k mark – Still, it was just what was needed as it sparked me to life and give me the kick up the @r$e that I needed. Just tucked in behind Greta for about 3 ks as we hit the 10k mark in 39.23 (faster then my Lane Cove time last week)

I could feel G.T just fading off a little at this point and I concentrated on just holding the 4 min/k I was on, Had a good look at C.T , Enda and Fats who had turned for home and were all looking good at the 18k mark. I turned at the 17ks but pretty soon after I could feel the pace drop and it felt like I was carrying a piano on my back from about 18ks onwards, I was even having visions of Greta coming past at anytime and was getting ready for a possible last 500m showdown.

Managed to get to the 20k mark with a second 10k split in 40.20 (losing a minute) and was happy to see the finish line soon after – Although it was one of those horrible finishes where you can see the line but have to run past it before heading back on yourself that seems to take forever.

Happy to cross the line in 85.10 – pretty much running on average 4 min /ks for the 21. Still loads of improvement needed but at least heading in the right direction.

Some pretty solid runs from the team with C.T first home in 75.14, with Enda and Fats both also getting in the top 10. The Timmy Run of the day though goes to Jeet who run a very good 82.05 and left me for dead within the first 4ks of the run, also special mention to Elle who stormed around 87.04 to win her age group.

We (HuRTS) missed out on the team event after Tony Fattorini decided to run for the Striders team and prevented what would have been certain victory for us.

Times were:

C.T          75.14

Enda       76.24

Fats        76.52

Allo Rene 80.45

Jeet         82.05

Timmy     85.10

Greta       85.52

Elle         87.04

Pom Paul 89.49

Full list here,  http://fairfax.tiktok.biz/list/canberramarathon/2014/21km/

Caught up with the lads post race and good to see Tucks for a chat and I introduced Superflake (who was there for the 50ks) to Taffy James and Skippy Heyden.

A quick fire lunch and beers followed before the drive home and it was pretty much straight back out for a night on the town to watch the London Marathon and the Liverpool Man City match that was to follow.

Massive turnout as well and great to see everyone out that included, Slim Sammy, Barts, new dad Stevie T, Kanser, Mikey, Taffy, and Miss Social queens Lisa Bowman & Sonya getting into it all. Trash talk hit new levels once more and once the marathon was finished it was time for Enda Stankard to stand before the first HuRTS Kangaroo Court on crimes committed to poor C.T. It appears that Enda claimed victory over Chris after been given a massive 4 minute handicap this despite C.T only having foot surgery two months back and our Irish Shark in career best form……….Shameful’

Verdict – GUILTY

Talk soon turned to the S.M.H Half then, with the Churchill /Sands Cup up for grabs again, and in true style the Irish are trying all shenanigans to rort the system. The big revelation though of the night was that one time #1 Irish runner Dave ‘Kanser ‘ Kane may NOT be Irish at all?............Yep, Kane is a Dane, it appears Kanser is Danish and will be running in his Viking hat from here on in and would prefer to be known now as ‘Hager’

All teams will be finalized over the next couple of weeks, but it wouldn’t surprise me to find a few ‘ring in’s ‘from the Irish team.

From here it was on to the Orient to watch the Liverpool match, unfortunately the door was about as far as Kane the Dane was going as he was deemed ‘Too Drunk’ by the powers that be and marched up the street.

Tommy H, Fats, Taffy James and I ventured up to ‘Jackson’ and with our more accustomed Pints in hand were there to cheer the ‘Reds’ home to victory 3-2 in a pulsating match.

My time of 85.10 probably wasn’t the greatest but it was enough claim my winning dinner over Enda who agreed to a 10 minute buffer my way – think I won with a minute up my sleeve, pretty good bet to be honest as Enda didn’t run as strong as he should and I perhaps was a minute or two up – Talk about running for my supper.

Few photos from Canberra and the night out

Start, and from the left, Robbie, C.T, Enda,Timmy and Fats.

Fats wondering where it all went WRONG after being beaten by Enda, He will need to lift his game if he is to make the English team for the S.M.H and we don't wont a repeat performance thank you.

Andy 'Skippy' Heyden at the end of his 50ks, Anyone prancing around like that at the end of a run wasn't working hard enough. He probably had a sleep at the 35k mark - that's the normal it seems?

Enda Stankard's Heart being led away for examination after failing to fire up once more despite being in career best from.

C.T settling his bets with Enda after getting shafted in giving him a 4 minute handicap start, C.T great runner you are but you have a lot to learn mate when it comes to betting with this lad.

....and finally, Sadly it wasn't all good news. After Taffy James got arrested on the Saturday evening. He was getting a little homesick and was spotted roaming around the City Centre at midnight catching up with one of his old flames.
He may have some explaining to do before the HuRTS committee this week.

Will be back at the Tuesday HurTS session 45 minute tempo this week

Cheers