Well I say it every year and this year was no different, the
annual City to Surf is my favourite race day on the calendar and I went into
this year’s run in good form and confidence high after a solid block of 8 weeks
training. Just a slight bit of apprehension though with the marathon in my legs
from only two weeks back kept me a little grounded mind.
I think one of the highlights of the run is the warm up and
getting the chance to mingle with everyone around the start area, Saw pretty
much the whole team at one point or other before toeing the start line standing
beside latest man in form Scotty O’Connor.
It’s a fast start and I’m keen not to get too excited
especially as I hate that first test up to Edgecliff at the 2.5k mark of the
race, then it’s the fast section as you head into Double Bay and the ‘Golden
Sheaf’ where for the first time in about 25 years I don’t hear ‘Mustang Sally’
blasting out from the pub rooftop that has me thinking that I must be behind
time. Start to settle and feel as if I’m moving OK as I can see Jeet just ahead
before the 5k mark that tells me he’s either struggling or I’m up on time. Hit
the 5k mark at O’Sullivan Street in about 18.20 that was slightly down and had
a shock as I went past birthday boy Jerome who it seemed was done for the day
and confirmed this race as one of the toughest going and takes no prisoners.
Tried hard to bring the heart rate down before ‘Heartbreak Hill and seemed to
get up over the top without too much damage done and then got a nice surprise
as Jerome was back on and offering up encouragement to me as we then seemed to
drag each other for the next couple of Ks as we turned right at Watsons Bay and
into Military Rd. The worst section of the race for me is always at the
9.5k and its torture in just getting to
that 10k sign, A quick check of the watch sees a 5k split of 19.43 (slower than
my goal of 19) as overall time hits 38 mins and I know I’d have to boot it home
from there to better my time of 12 months ago.
Even at 10ks the long 600m drag is slow and torturous for me
as instead of the pace coming down it goes in the opposite direction and I’m relieved
to see the water that means I can kick it down all the way home. I have Mark
Ashworth shouting out behind me to keep it going and I see Jeet &
Jerome just ahead as I somehow find
something in the legs as I must be travelling around 3.20 pace for once. Surf Club at 13k comes and know the last one
is tough but then get the shock of my life when I see Ireland’s finest Enda
staggering around looking like he’s just consumed 12 schooners in the nearby
Surf Club, Surely can’t be a repeat of last year’s epic? I then try to find
something extra and go past strong as I know he will fight tooth and nail not
to let me get one over him. A new turnaround at Curlewis St sees a slightly
faster ending and turning into the car park only leaves you about 200m to go and
I try to sprint finish to get close to that sub 52 time. Sadly I was 7 seconds over as I stopped the
clock in 52.07, a solid enough effort but I didn’t quiet have it over the later
hills at the 9.5k stage and lost 30 seconds between there and the 11k.
Like the start of the race the finishing area is special as
you see all the team all within the space of about 5 minutes as the success
stories start to unfold. As usual many a fine run although across the board
most people’s times were slightly down ? The good came in the shape of Eastside
Elle, Bruce, Angus, Jac, Gleeso, Roberts and Champ, The Bad came from Jerome who I was predicting big things for and the
horrible came from Mr Stankard again who once again failed to deliver in the
‘World’s Toughest’ Race coming home on all fours for the 2nd year in
succession.
The Timmy Run of the Day’ though (and I’m getting sick of
saying it) goes to good mate ‘Geordie Boy’ Tommy H – does this lad ever run a
bad race? Brilliant effort in being first home to record a time of 45.28 to continue his dominance over ‘Me, Myself
and I’ man Barts.
Some of my splits from Sunday
0 - 5k 18.20
5 – 10k 19.43
10 -14k 14.09 (3.33
pace)
Once all recovered I then had to help Enda stagger back to
his house as he kindly hosted brekkie but with regular cook Super Kev absent I
was the chosen one to keep the regulars happy all the while Enda was sat with
feet up on the couch enjoying watching
Mo take out the 10’000m. A decent crowd enjoyed a top brekkie and many thanks
for the ‘Angel’ Angela and Enda for once again keeping the gang all fed and
watered.
The day is not complete without the ‘Allen’s marquee tent
with the host Tommy H opening the doors once again, Quality afternoon over the
course of the next 5 hours or so as the banter was in full flow. It’s here that winning and losing bets are
settled and first up Sammy J joined the Lindop party handing over his $20 after
he failed to cover the 2 minutes, Jeet next up did likewise, and Birch didn’t
escape either. On the down side ‘Shark’ Highnam’s reputation as a fair punter
took a massive dive south when the 5 minute handicap ( I was never going to
win) meant I was handing over. So bad I think Tommy was embarrassed about it ( I know I was for
him).
Over to the Bondi Hotel to end the day for the final few
hours and ‘The Chairman’s fine day was almost over before he got in as he got
the ‘tap on the shoulder’ even before his taxi had arrived this year.
Again. Prefect day but boy was I to suffer on the Monday.
A couple of rest days now but then back into it as I feel I
have some decent form to head to the Sydney Run Festival and run a solid Half
come September?
Cheers
Cheers
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