Okay folks, here's the latest race reviews!
I have also added races that I will do soon, so I will add more race reviews as I run them!
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Upcoming races:
20 November 2016
Stromlo 10K
It's the lastest trend in hill training - run on Hills. I plan to hit these nasty hills again in November.
18 September 2016
Sydney Half marathon - 2H Pacer
Pacing the 2H bus again. I like this race. Nice views. The crowd not so much. The dodge GPS signal - not so much either. But it's a nice race and I like the harbour views.
14 August 2016
City 2 Surf
City 2 Surf
Well I registered - again. Not my favourite race but the atmosphere and the sheer volume of people is electrifying!
Red group again - and of course it will be crowded, just a faster crowd...! This time I will give sub 65 a shot.
10 July 2016
Sydney Harbour 10K/5K
I like to pace the 5K group which is mostly made up of single digit youngsters and future Olympians.
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Completed races:
3 July 2016
Gold Coast Airport Marathon
I gave this race another go and got BQ with 7 minutes and a bit to spare. Nice...! (and it was a 17 minutes PB).
GC is also a nice holiday destination, and the best Hurricane out of all its franchises. I also like the beaches and resort swimming pools there, even though I don't intend to be swimming or sunbathing at this time of the year when the water is sub-10C.
Race expo is here.
Race report is here.
Food review is here.
GC is also a nice holiday destination, and the best Hurricane out of all its franchises. I also like the beaches and resort swimming pools there, even though I don't intend to be swimming or sunbathing at this time of the year when the water is sub-10C.
Race expo is here.
Race report is here.
Food review is here.
15 May 2016
SMH Half Marathon
Once upon a time ago this was my first half marathon...when the route was still two laps around the city somewhere. How time has changed!
I finally attempted this run properly. This time around I actually trained for it and managed a 1:40 - a 6 minute PB.
It was a good test of my fitness and yes I am way fitter than I was 12 months ago!
I finally attempted this run properly. This time around I actually trained for it and managed a 1:40 - a 6 minute PB.
It was a good test of my fitness and yes I am way fitter than I was 12 months ago!
10 April 2016
Canberra Half Marathon - 2H Pacer
I've decided to ditch my Canberra marathon racing dream and pace the half marathon this year. I love the 2 hour group - it's a massive running milestone! The joy on runners's faces as they pass through the finish chute in 1:59...how could I say no to pacing this group again! On the right is is a photo of me with my group. From memory most of them hang on and came in under 2 hours.
22 November 2015
Stromlo Running Festival
So I finish my year on "fake" trail (or so I was told). I have decided to do the 10k option and I did smash those hills under an hour. I felt good at the first 2-3ks and thought I can breeze in under 50 minutes, but once those hills became a reality my legs felt the reality. Yes, I am out of training! After piling on some extra pounds from Berlin kebabs and bread I think it's time to shed some pounds and rebuild my fitness.
It was a fabulous run otherwise. Love it and will definitely be back in 2016. Here is "Deeks" De Castello - the dude that won Boston so many years ago. He created this race and also bakes healthy bread in Canberra.
It was a fabulous run otherwise. Love it and will definitely be back in 2016. Here is "Deeks" De Castello - the dude that won Boston so many years ago. He created this race and also bakes healthy bread in Canberra.
1 November 2015
The Sun Herald Summer Starter
http://www.summerstarter.com.auI was only a 5km@25min pacer for this race. Just for fun, and it was fun! I was pacing the next generation of race machines and those kids really making us adults look like snails. It's a fast and flat course. Not very crowded and you can easily smash a PB here and get a placing! Had I remembered my bib I would have been 9th female (well, pacers don't count, but you got the gist!). Here is me pacing a future gun runner.
29 September 2015
Berlin marathon
I didn’t achieve a PB as I have hoped, but it was a Marathon Major
and I was very proud at finishing it. I don’t find the race that crowded to be
honest – I think it has to do with the group you allocate yourself into. I was
in the 3:30 crowd so I had a good “traffic” flow.
9 August 2015City 2 Surf
I never liked this run. I mean, never. But somehow I kept getting roped to do it every year with the tagline "it's gonna be FUN and it's ONLY 14Ks"
Well so I entered, partly because I qualified into the red group and yes, I nailed a sub70.
26 July 2015
M7 Westlink Half marathon
Well I won a club comp so I'm in. Just the half. The run is stupidly undulating and its a good run if you are very serious and don't get moved by the lack of crowd support.
12 July 2015
Sydney Harbour 10K/5K
First time pacing 5K @25mins. It's a bit fast for me in all honestly, but oh hell - why not...
5 July 2015
Gold Coast Airport Marathon
In all honesty the course is not as flat as it claims to be. I
would say Amsterdam is way flatter. It is a very well organised course and the
atmosphere is amazing around the residential and touristy areas. It does get
hot and sunny so make sure you slap on a lot of sunscreen! See my post on
GCAM15 for a lengthy review.
17 May 2015
SMH Half Marathon
Last minute filler as the half's pacer. Not sure if they had
pacers before but whatevs. I haven't done this route since it became one big
lap as opposed to two. The only surprise was that the route was actually quite
boring compare to Blackmores or Canberra. Nice atmosphere though. It is a bit
hilly and I don't mind it.
12 April 2015
Canberra Time Half Marathon
I am delighted to be pacing 2hrs again! The crowd and the course
was perfect as always. I also had a great pacing partner. Lots of fun!
I am thinking about doing the full next year so watch this space.
14 March 2015
6 Foot Track Marathon
I qualified on my 4:13 - hahahahahaha - sh*t time for a flat
marathon but who cares - I qualified.
Check out my 3 blog entries in March on it.
It is a run that has everything thrown at you. If you qualify, do
it!
31 January 2015
The Sun Run (10K)
My club Sydney Striders ran a competition recently and gave away
tickets to this run. It will be a great opportunity for me to get into race
mode and also get my legs moving a bit faster. #gostriders
**updated - run done! This Dee Why to Manly run was quite
undulating - you do start on a rather steep hill, and then you hit another
kilometre of hill at the start of the 7KM...A very scenic run. Like the C2Surf
minus the ridiculous crowd.
I think went too hard up the first hill....and i wasn't able to
hold my pace so I did miserably at the first 5KM. From the 6th kilometre I
started to feel better...
25 January 2015
Standard Charter HK Half Marathon
Pulled out due to training clash. Dear Sibling will be doing it on
my behalf...:)
According to her the race was quite pleasant (her start was
8:45AM) - temperature was pleasant; the crowd was ok...but towards the end
there were lots of people trying to cross the road in front of competitors,
which caused a lot of annoyance. She also said it felt much hillier than
Amsterdam, with an elevation profile of 400m+ (Amsterdam was...20m!). Overall a
decent route and she is keen to do it again.
19 October 2014
TCS Amsterdam Marathon
My third marathon. First one in Europe.
Start time: 9:30AM
Route: Flat (25m), but narrow lanes. Really would
help my time if I was in an earlier group.
Temperature: around 13 degrees - it was a bit windy and
rainy as I headed towards the Amstel.
Organisation: Not too bad. Drink station was very well
stocked with bananas and sports drink.
Other comments: Very, very crowded if you were mid-pack
like me.
21 September 2014
Blackmores Sydney Half Marathon
My second half pacing race
Start time: 6:15AM
Route: Undulating...you basically run the hilly
bit of the marathon course (which also happens to be the most scenic!)
Temperature: 15 degrees (?) it was nice a cool in the
morning
Organisation: can be improved. the KM markers were
disastrous. My GPS was not also working due to the event being in the CBD
(building blocking signals...) so that didn't help. (see my earlier blog
entry...)
Other comments: it's not a bad Half - but I won't try to aim a PB
here. Take in the view while you can. Hills at Pyrmont can be painful.
16 April 2014
Canberra Half Marathon
My first pacing major event pacing gig
Start time: 7AM
Route: Fairly flat. Not particularly scenic but
you get to see our capital at its finest.
Temperature: 15 degrees (by far has the best running
temperature)
Organisation: No bad - in fast it was quite good. My
only complain is the drinks station - for some reason their water tasted like
chlorine!!! I was feeling sick from dehydration at the end...
Other comments: The half also runs concurrently with the
full and ultra. This year they made conscious change so that the others don't
get annoyed with us "Half". Small crowd so you are guaranteed a clear
run.
16 February 2014
Standard Charter HK Marathon
This was my second marathon. It's was so bad I just had to do it
again - ok - fine - the real incentive is a nice participation prize is you
complete the course under 3:30 ok? i.e. there is hope for us mortals!
Start time: 6:05AM
Route: Very undulating (800m+). Some flats toward
the end. Route is very uninspiring - runners essentially running up and down
highway flyovers and tunnels. Strong crosswind as you cross Ching Ma bridge.
Temperature: Cool but humid (90% humidity!) Gets
stifling in the tunnel.
Organisation: By far the best organisation in every
possible way. Great baggage drop off -pick up. Ample amount of drink stations.
Friendly volunteers along the highway (no one else is allowed on the highway to
cheer runners on, so the water station volunteers did an amazing job)
Other comments: Not a fast route. You also run into the
half marathoners towards the end so they might affect your pacing a bit.
20 September 2013
Blackmores Sydney Marathon
This marathon will always be special. It was my first marathon!
Start time: around 7AM
Route: Undulating (400m+). Flat around Centennial
Park. First 15KM is amazingly scenic, but boring up to 30K(around Centennial
Park, especially seeing faster runners running towards you...in some figure 8
routing...). As the route approaches Hyde Park, it opens to all people (at
around 30K) - so you might run into unsuspecting pedestrians.
Organisation: Ok, but road markers need work. Ran out of
GU for us back of the packers.
Temperature: Quite hot if you are doing around 4:30 onwards
Other comments: Not the fastest route, but can be fast due
to wide road and a small field (around 2500 people)
Just a cute photo of my pooch with fruit...
