Sydney Marathon 2009 (4:15 Pacer)

Only a week after Glasshouse 100 miler and feeling good.
Legs good feet excellent and ready for a nice easy 4:15 Marathon.

I was one of the 4:15 pacers the same as last year pacing with Strider Phil.
Got to the start gate OK and waiting, we hear a gun go off and some body says it is the Wheel chair start.
Start walking forward and I think thats OK just pushing up for the start, look ahead and see people running bugger missed the gun time.
This is very important as some E mails from the pacer organisers had suggested the pacers should run to gun time.
I guessed it took us between 2-2.5 minutes to get to the start line so would aim for that.
We took it out nice and easy so not to blow anybody in the first few KMs.
For some reason we started passing lots of people as we went through the park maybe they had gone out a bit quick or the heat was getting to them not sure, all I know is we were still doing a steady 5:56-6:00 per km pace which was the plan.
All going to plan with a larger bus than last year I guess we had between 30-40 people close to us for the first half marathon point.
After the half marathon point we started loosing people at a steady rate but also picking people up at a similar rate.
Between 25-30kms we were loosing a lot of people and we were down to less than 15 people close to us some looking good some looking hot and bothered and really struggling.
The small down hills in the city and the shade seemed to help a few people at this point and some people passed the group.(a big mistake for most of them)
Going up one of the small hills before the West City Link my fellow pacer told me he had a head ache so I gave him some Nurofen and aid to maybe only take one.
Not long after he told me I would have to go on alone as he needed to walk I aid by and good luck and we ran off.
It gets a little warm out on the West City Link but it felt cooler this year than last with a slight breeze which was nice but as soon as we got over the bridge I was down to about 5 people.
Three people had started with me so that was good, I like this part because you see all the runners going the other way and can say hi or GCR as they go by I did this for lots of people and then the to turn around.
I yell at Action to run with me for a while as I had just seen him running with Seris going the other way we had a little chat and he ran back down the hill.
Passed Seris going down the hill which is the West City Link as she was talking to some long lost friends.
The plan was to slow down a little for the last 5km so I told the few people close to me to keep the same pace and they would get close to 4:10 net time if they kept going so off they went as I slowed a little.
Into the city and I managed to pick up a few walking people who would stay with me for 1-.5km and then walk again.
Only 3kms to go and I suddenly started getting nausea again, bugger not again.
I kept to pace no worries but it was little uncomfortable.
One of the people I caught was Terry pacing his partner I think so they stayed with me the next few KMs and then move ahead in the last 1-1.5kms.
Caught a friend of my fellow pacer and she told me I was ahead of schedule actually lots of people for the last 10km had been telling me that but I was sure I was on for a 4:15 gun time so told them that.
This lady stayed with me for the rest of the run which was great I think a 5 minute PB.

So job done shame I missed the gun as I needed to add 3 minutes not 2:30 to the Net time.
Halfway mark
Net Time 2:04:12
Gun Time 2:07:03

Full Marathon
Net Time 4:12:35
Gun Time 4:15:27

The CRing cheer squad out did the selves again, thanks guys/girls you are superb.
Sorry I did not get to the pub but I was needed at home for some family matters.

Next GOW100 only three weeks to go.