Gold Coast Marathon
Sunday 2nd July 2006

Short Details
Place: 13th overall
Time: 2hrs 32:10mins....6:35min PB. (splits: 75:36mins, 76:34mins)
Had a good race. Hard work, especially over last 5-6km...it's not called a marathon for nothing!!

Long Details
"Don't stop...", dah, dah, dah, "..don't stop...". Of all the songs that played through my head, and were being played by various buskers and PA systems along the course...this was the song beating out at the final turn into the finish chute. Of all places!! A pretty mindless song of minimal lyrics...but a very catchy tune which I recognised easily since it was only the day before that Prue explained its motivational value in tough times.

And with less than 500m to the finish, these were the toughest of times but it was nearly over. I was on target for a big PB, in 14th place overall...but goddam it was hurting. This ain't called a marathon for nothing!!

The Gold Coast Marathon had been on my radar for months. The biggest in Australia. Flat, fast course. Usually good conditions. Good field and great support. And for a cold Victorian in the middle of winter, a welcome break in northern climes...if only for a couple of days. So with no triathlons for a while it was time to be a skinny runner for a couple of months and try to post a marathon time that I could "hang my hat on". Not quite all or nothing...but this race was an unmistakable beacon on my horizon.

So a little transformation began...perhaps more in my head than anything. Less bike riding and more running; two things that were very agreeable with me!! And some quality running miles...hard fartlek sessions around the tan, aths track workouts, races, long runs. I was loving this running caper. And with the usual swimming and a little bit of bike riding and things were headed in the right direction for Gold Coast.

Some road and cross-country races were great to sharpen up and score a few points for my Athletics Essendon club in the winter season. But it was the Great Ocean Rd marathon 6 weeks out that gave me a great confidence boost. An unexpected PB, 2nd place and really pleasing performance was a real highlight and I could hardly contain my anticipation for Gold Coast. In the two or so months specific preparation things couldn't have gone better. So it was all systems go.

Up on the Gold Coast it is tourist mecca. All roads seem to lead to either a) the shops, b) the many apartments blocks and towers, or c) the beach (which is very nice except when in afternoon shadow of said apartment towers!!). The best thing is being able to wear shorts and t-shirts...yay!! Prue had done a great job booking an apartment in Main Beach with 2 other Gladstone folk, Sharon and Glenn, which made for a great weekend. So together we readied ourselves for the race...the girls using a retail therapy method on Sat afternoon to strong benefit. "We're only doing the half marathon..." was their reasoning!!

Finally Sunday morning arrived and after a couple of alarm false starts we were up at 4:45am for the 6:50am start. The GC marathon is also the Australian championships and as such there is a state-based team event. I was lucky to be included as an emergency for the Victorian team of 6...the main benefit of which was that I could use the Elite Athlete area to drop my gear. But the best part was sitting in the background - I didn't really feel like I belonged there - watching the other, true elites in both the half and full marathons pre-race. A great range of body language...some wouldn't stop talking, some nervous and others laid back like a lizard. Fascinating!! But on the start line we were all equals.

My primary race goal was to run sub-2:35hrs backed up by a strategy of negative splits...second half faster than first half. But I was also conscious that I didn't want to run too slowly in the first half to miss the chance of a good time (or really good time!!). Sounds great in theory but 42.2km is a long way to race.

As we started it was clear just how deep and strong the field was in the first km...already stretched out. The main sensors I was using were km split times, my heart-rate (HR) and how I felt. Specifically aiming for about 3:36min/km and HR below 160 for the first half, then trying to pick it up from there. The few kms felt easy and my rhythm felt good and spot on time. The initial group I was in dropped off at about 2-3km and I was alone...and ran alone for the rest of the 42km. Sometimes I'm better off on my own since in a group I'm often inclined to lead and push a bit too hard doing so. On my own I could totally control what I was doing.

And so it was, going through 5km in 18:00min - spot on pace. Occasionally I'd pass a runner who was slowing but otherwise just taking in the atmosphere, scenery and cheering from the roadside. The course was two out-and-back legs, firstly 13k out-and-back to the south, then 8km to the north. The first stretch went through Main Beach, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and turning at Miami, mostly right alongside the beach. Along the way were some buskers, Sunday market stalls, and then families and small groups of people cheering from the roadside or their balcony. Giving them a thumbs-up and you'd get a louder cheer back - very cool!! It was quite intimate at times along the narrow parts of the road which made the running really pleasant and seeing everyone else on the way back from the turn-around.

Also along the way were drink stations, offering water and sports drink. My strategy was based on 4 diluted eGels into 2 Fuelbelt bottles strapped around my waist. I'd drink 1/2 a bottle (= 1 eGel) every 30mins plus water and sports drink alternating at each station. But no matter what you drink there's allways a sneaking fear when running...racing...a marathon that you'll hit the wall and be reduced to a mumbling mess. Little doubts...am I going too fast...how am I really feeling...how will my body respond in 10, 15, 20k time?? But you balance it out by drawing on your own confidence and experience in running. Usually you end up continuing in blissful ignorance...only really knowing the outcome when it happens...

So on we, or rather I went, very solo and alone. At the next km sign I realised I'd picked up the pace a little - only 1-2 sec per km - but enough to notice. But my HR was steady at about 158/159. 10km in 35:50min (5k - 17:50), 15km in 53:44 (17:56), 20km in 71:40 (17:55). At this stage we were back in Surfers Paradise beneath the towering apartment blocks, cafes and holidayers on one side and the beach and bright sun on the other side. Just ahead was the 1/2 way timing mat, reached in 75:36min - a little ahead of schedule but still feeling pretty good. If was going to negative split the work had to start now...

A passed a QLD team runner soon after and just after 25km (1:29:42hr - 17:42) as we headed back to finish area there were 3 runners - another QLD team runner - in sight ahead of me. My HR had picked up to about 161/162 in line with a slight increase in pace and effort. Through the finish area and into the second out-and-back is tough - far less picturesque, less support and you're already pretty buggered. It's just an 8km slog each way with the only distraction being the 1/2 marathon stragglers on their way back on the same roads. Two years ago I ran fair and square into the "wall" on this section...

I managed to maintain good pace through 30km (1:47:02 -17:40) but I was tiring and although perfect conditions, it felt like a headwind. I could feel myself slowing although still working just as hard and still so alone. The occasional bridge over canals were killers - even just little ups and downs. And a spectator called I was in 15th place.

After the final turn at 34k we were on the home run. I just wanted to finish on strongly...just keep running. I passed a Japanese runner just after 35km (2:05:21 - 18:18) but my splits were slowing...my legs were really starting to hurt. Not muscle soreness but the pain of the effort. My HR was still up around 161/162, though.

At this stage we were running alongside the walking 1/2 marathon people, but in a separate lane. But geez it was hard. Along the waterside we could see Southport in the distance but not quite the finish area...just a blur in the distance. The soles of my feet were burning but I passed another runner (a Victorian - I was now 5th Vic runner). It was just such hard work...I was trying to stride out a bit to keep going. Past 40km (2:23:46 - 18:24) and onto Gold Coast Hwy which would take us to the finish area. Increasingly hard work.

The support built up along this stretch...I think. I do recall a cheer with my name but otherwise had tunnel vision towards the turn-off to finish chute. And there it was "...don't stop...", dah, dah, dah, "..don't stop...". Can't stop now. A couple of little bends, Prue & Sharon cheering, and the finish line ahead. High-5 to Dayne onto the carpet and over the line. What a relief. Goddam that was hard. But a massive PB and a good race. There's an almost mystique about the marathon - it really is an achievable Everest and just the right distance to really, truly challenge yourself over. As the late, great Emil Zatopek said, "If you want to race run a mile. If you want to experience life run a marathon." Touche!!

So how does it feel straight after a hard marathon? Stiff. All your sore spots start screaming. You don't want to move. Certainly not bend over. Or talk much. Or doing anything much, really. Just savour a little bit of stationary-ness!! But the Victorians had a great day - 1st, 6th, 10th, 12th, 14th - winning the team competition.

And what else do you do after a marathon? Walk slowly and avoid stairs. And for me it included a custard tart, chocolate milk and chocolate for early lunch. 1/2hr in the spa chatting. Hamburger and chips for late lunch. Sit on the beach, still chatting. Red-wine pre-dinner drinks. Pizza and ice-cream and more red wine for dinner. Slept like a baby after that. :-)

It was a great weekend. Glenn finished his first marathon, Prue ran strongly and Sharon smiled through their 1/2 marathons. Great housemates. Thanks guys and thanks to the Tribal folk for all their support, and well done to those competing.

Also thanks to Scott Leydin (Zoot sportswear, Fuelbelt and eGel), Bakers Delight, Fitzroy Cycles and Keen hybrid footwear.