662 replies to this topic

[allrounder]

I'm in for the half...hoping to successfully complete two in two weeks (doing the Disneyland HM on 6 September) at around 1:45 or better...

Edited by allrounder, 25 August 2009 - 11:38 PM.

[yondi]

I'm in for the half too. Can't wait.

Last year I was going to do this and after theLakeMacquarie 10k run realised that I was not ready and changed my entry to the 9k, so it'll be good to do it.

Hope to see lots of Cool runners there.

YONDI

I'm Bib No 10 000

Edited by yondi, 14 April 2009 - 11:00 AM.

[greyhoundracer]

This 'could' be my 1st 1/2 Marathon, but I would like to do the 9k Bridge Run to see how much I've improved since last year - see how the training goes and decide closer to event!

[sook54]

Web address:
http://www.sydneyrun...estival.com.au/
click on the 'enter now' button.

I will almost certainly do the half.

[millymoo]

I did the 9 last year and struggled.  Have some really off times, but really want to do the half this year.  It is a big ask but it is all part of the grand scheme to do the full next year.  Can't commit myslef yet though.  (But then, maybe I should?)

[CantPaceIt]

I've got unfinished business in both the 9k and the half.  I'm still pissed off at losing to that cute Channel 7 weather presenter, Sara Groen back in the 2007 9k   
It would be better for my ego to go for the shorter option instead of  getting  chewed up and spat out by the half again

CPI

[runningcat]

wow the opened it early! its even earlier than the C2S!

[sook54]

Maybe they are trying to get some cash flow early to pay for preparation expenses?

[Muzman]

I'm in for the full.  Had to pass it up last year because of a calf tear, so looking forward to it now.

Muz

[StellaBella]

I plan to be there again... if I can...
Most like HM unless I happen to find I'm somehow a real gun at marathon recovery and decide to pop a 4th into this years schedule!

[bobbys]

I plan to do the Full. Will wait until after the SMH half to enter. Just a little superstitious for a long event.

I've already started stretching my long runs to 24km

[walshy2]

Im hoping to do the full and make amends for a terrible time I had of it last year

[brewer]

In for the half and lunch afterwards.

[Jane06]

I just entered in my first full marathon!  Excited and scared at the same time. I've done about 9 HM's before, and it has taken me 5 years to work up the guts to go for the full 42.2.

Will start on the marathon training program after the SMH Half. It would be great to have another marathon first timer going in the same event to compare notes with.  If there are any others out there interested in this, drop me a message.

Good luck to all those attempting a distance for the first time in the Sydney Running Festival.

[yondi]

Jane06, on Apr 15 2009, 01:59 PM, said:

I just entered in my first full marathon!  Excited and scared at the same time. I've done about 9 HM's before, and it has taken me 5 years to work up the guts to go for the full 42.2.

Will start on the marathon training program after the SMH Half. It would be great to have another marathon first timer going in the same event to compare notes with.  If there are any others out there interested in this, drop me a message.

Good luck to all those attempting a distance for the first time in the Sydney Running Festival.

Jane get some cool running gear so we can cheer you on.Good luck and hope to see you there.

Yondi

[bobbys]

Jane06, on Apr 15 2009, 01:59 PM, said:

I just entered in my first full marathon!  Excited and scared at the same time. I've done about 9 HM's before, and it has taken me 5 years to work up the guts to go for the full 42.2.

Will start on the marathon training program after the SMH Half. It would be great to have another marathon first timer going in the same event to compare notes with.  If there are any others out there interested in this, drop me a message.

Good luck to all those attempting a distance for the first time in the Sydney Running Festival.

Jane,

If you're interested, this would be my first (the SMH half will be my second half) but I've found it reasonably comfortable increasing the distances thus the limited number of half's. I'm sure there are a few other first timers. And make sure you get some CR gear- the support from other CR's is great and really helps when you think you're getting tired. I really appreciated seeing Yondi regularly encouraging me.

BobbyS

[yondi]

Well I hope to cheer you on again  BobbyS and Jane and all the other cool runners after i finish my half. I almost enjoy the cheering as much (maybe even a bit more than) the running.

Yondi-  Half marathon and cheersquad

Edited by yondi, 16 April 2009 - 05:40 PM.

[julz83]

what's the half like?

if my musculoskeletal system can hold up i might just pop down for it

one of my best friends lives in sydney and it would be the perfect excuse to head down for a visit.

[Crunchie]

I'm keen to do the marathon.  I've been tossing up for a while whether to do Gold Coast, or M7 Cities or Sydney, but I would like the extra time to prepare for Sydney.  

Julz83, I did the half last year and loved it, but it was my first half (and my second is coming up in May) so hard for me to compare to other events.  It's pretty flat though and a lot of it is scenic, running over the bridge and finishing at Circular Quay.  The parts along the city westlink are not scenic, but I just loved the thrill of running my first half.

[camo31]

I have just registered for this also. My first half and I am nervous.

Cant wait to do it though. Look forward to seeing you all there...

PS: Bib No. 10 011

[Jane06]

julz83, on Apr 16 2009, 02:54 AM, said:

what's the half like?

if my musculoskeletal system can hold up i might just pop down for it

one of my best friends lives in sydney and it would be the perfect excuse to head down for a visit.

Hi Julz - I have done this half a couple of times and it has been my fastest half.  The course is pretty flat (for Sydney) and running across the Harbour Bridge & old Glebe Island Bridge then finishing at the Opera House is pretty cool.  For me the downside is the bit running out along the Western Distributor for about 4 kms (return) - flat, but boring.

It is much easier than the SMH Half course (in May).

[sook54]

I agree it is a fun course for the half - the City West link bit however I remember as not entirely flat, but having a long slow hill going out and a short sharp hill coming back - with a flat bit for a km or so up to the turnaround.

[julz83]

awesome thanks for the feedback guys. sounds like one to have a think about. i;ll keep an eye out for cheap flights and see how it all pans out!

[brewer]

Not sure on your definition of cheap, but just had a quick look at Virgin Blue, they've got $85 each way for that weekend in September at the moment.

[julz83]

brewer, on Apr 17 2009, 08:41 PM, said:

Not sure on your definition of cheap, but just had a quick look at Virgin Blue, they've got $85 each way for that weekend in September at the moment.

cheers brewer. that's not bad- i reckon i could get better than that though. and im still a poor uni student waiting for kevin to pay me

and i might not committ just yet. would hate to get thru 4 half marathons this year and all set to do a 5th and discover that my body has other ideas.

[GameOver]

Just registered for the full marathon. Will have to get back into training program after having shin splints

[Jane06]

GameOver, on Apr 20 2009, 09:31 AM, said:

Just registered for the full marathon. Will have to get back into training program after having shin splints

I feel your pain GameOver (hope the name is not prophetic) - I had shin splints a few years ago and am very careful not to get them again.  They are awful.  At least there is lots of info on CR for recovering from them. Good luck!

[Wedged]

Hopefully i will make my debut in the marathon here.

[Tesso]

julz83, on Apr 17 2009, 07:48 PM, said:

sounds like one to have a think about.

Yeah yeah!  Be great if you do Julz.  

A few of your fellow Brissie CRs who ran Canberra are getting excited at the thought of heading down there for the full ... hopefully we'll still feel the same once the endorphines wear off  

[StellaBella]

Wedged, on Apr 21 2009, 08:44 PM, said:

Hopefully i will make my debut in the marathon here.

I'm holding you to that comment!

As for this course being flat... I don't think so!!!
I got the same advice last year and got the shock of my life - I probably shouldn't take people so literally!
That said I think the weather got to me far more than the inclines so perhaps that just made them seem worse than they really are!

Geez I'd like to do the full here... but surely no novice would be able to back up and do the Melbourne full a month later and I think that's my priority!

[drew70]

For sure Tesso.. the canberra endorphins have definatly worn off and  i am still very keen for sydney ...  

[inhisshadow]

I think I might have a shot at redemption, my dignity is still out on the city west link somewhere. I reckon this will be one of those rare occasssions where the sequel is better than the original. "IHS Sydney '09 - The shadow strikes back"

[flyingemu]

I'll be there for the marathon. After Canberra, this is my next main goal, plus a big City2Surf pb.

[superflake]

Hopefully I'll be ready for the Marathon. Have to give Blue Dogs PB a touch up after he beat mine at Canberra.

[greyhoundracer]

hhhhhmmmmm, after recently watching the Boston Marathon on Foxtel, I'm leaning more towards the Marathon instead, it was inspirational stuff, but not sure if going from 10k events straight to a Marathon is a "good" idea . . . . . . .

[Barefoot]

I am in for the Half Marathon. Surprised that accomodation is filling already at Kirrabilli.

Starting 6 weeks long service leave in September, to prepare for New York Marathon in November, so the Sydney Half will telll me how much extra training I will need to do.

Edited by Barefoot, 18 May 2009 - 08:29 PM.

[Quinkin]

I plan of running the Bridge Run.

Really have fond memories of that day lasy year.

My race of running dreams come true

[UltimoJogger]

I just signed up for the half.....my fourth one in the Sydney Running Festival...I am looking forward to it.  

[PeterPlodder]

I'm in for the full marathon. It will be my second after Canberra.

I'm planning to follow the Hal Higdon intermediate program, being sure to include hills (the Sydney course looks a lot less flat than Canberra). It's nearly 5 months away so that's lots of training time.

Two goals:
1. Avoid injury
2. Finish within 4 hours (at Canberra I faded badly to 4:33 - this time I'll do better)

[Basil]

Great to hear so many people stepping up to do their first marathon. Do the work and you will all be fine.

I have actually lost my passion for running over the past twelve months (probably something to do with work!) and have been really down about it. However, I have set myself some long term goals (2 years out). My first step back is to do a marathon. I figured that if I chose Melbourne it would be too easy to pull out if I didn't feel like it. So, I picked Sydney, entered last week and booked the flights. My wife will kill me if I back out now.

I am going to run with an old air force buddy of mine who has really got into his running over recent years so I am really looking forward to it. Amazingly, since entering and booking flights, I have really enjoyed my training runs (as short as they are) and just know I have reignited my passion. One of the keys for me is to make sure I do NOT think about work while out running - this was tough at first but it has made a huge difference.

I look forward to building the miles over the next four months and seeing everyone at the opera house.

Basil.

Edited by Basil, 28 April 2009 - 10:02 PM.

[coxl]

im going to be running my first full marathon at the sydney running festival.
last year i did the 1/2 in around 2 hours 15 minutes with only a months training.
have been training ever since so would love to do the full in 4-4 1/2 hours

its such a long time to run though

[Wayne Larden]

Hi CR's

Great to see so much enthusiasm this early in the prep!

Just thought I would follow up some of last years feedback from you guys and provide an overview of some of the changes we will be implementing this year based on your (and other) feedback;

- Seedings - we have had a bit of feedback from fast runners in the past about slow runners getting in the way. As such we are going to be seeding every runner in every race to try to reduce the incidence of this. There will be three groups in each run with different colour bibs. Each group will enter the race start from their own starting chute on the side. The chutes will be colour coded and we will be managing each entrance to ensure only relevant colours enter chutes. It will still be up to you to get to the front of your chute however.
- Baggage - a problem every year, should this year be made easier by colour coding in each group according to start group. This will make it easier to sort at the finish. We will also have a much larger team sorting bags at the finish.
- Change rooms - at the start last year a lot of people used toilets to get changed in, we will this year have a male and female changing area to reduce this.
- Toilets - we will have keys on had to all toilets to ensure they are opened on time, we will also be laying them out differently. More urinals will also be available for men.
- Course km markers - will be more elevated and new to ensure you can see them.
- Drink Stations - we are relooking at all aid stations to ensure we have adequate water flow and supplies on each station.
- Medals - we will go back to medals for all events this year after our research indicated over 50% wanted medals and not key rings.

We are working on some other refinements such as course entertainment as well but will advise exact  details a little later.

Many thanks
Wayne

Event Director
Blackmores Sydney Running Festival

[yondi]

Thanks Wayne. Sounds like it's going to be another great day.Last year was great and with these little problems ironed out everything should run smoothly.
Yondi

[StellaBella]

Not sure if I've put my hand up officially yet... i'm in for the full this year!

Wayne, if you're reading this (and I think it's awesome that you do) - any chance there will be water bags this year? I have a feeling this has possibly already been addressed elsewhere so my apologies for any repetitiveness but I can't remember where & I'm too lazy to search for it!

[Zappa]

Wayne Larden, on May 18 2009, 10:06 AM, said:

We are working on some other refinements such as course entertainment as well but will advise exact  details a little later.

My 2 cents...the lap dancer was a great fillip yesterday.

[UltimoJogger]

Thanks Wayne.  I must also compliment your team for a fresh looking website and the FAQs provide clear answers too.  I have encouraged 2 other friends to do the half.  

[Wayne Larden]

Hi CR's again

No plastic satchels this year. We are going with the filtered water from Culligan Water but going through Sydney Water mains (to ensure supply) into paper recyclable cups on entire course. We find this easier to clean and its pretty environmentally friendly. We are trying to organise bottled water at the finish line though in a re-usable environmentally friendly bottle. But this is subject to some funding by one of our sponsors otherwise it will be cups at finish as well.

We will be laying out the finish differently though. Medals as you cross line, chips off before the gates that go into Royal Botanic Gardens, a waiting zone on each side of the finish area for parents, drinks on the grass area in Royal Botanic Gardens and t-shirts for marathoners in same area.

Then of course on to the fun of baggage collection and Recovery Village.

Thanks for comments on website we've spent a lot of time refining this year.

I'll keep a look out for anything I can help with but if you have anything specific you can email our info email which is info@sydneyrunningfestival.org

Cheers
Wayne

Event Director
Blackmores Sydney Running Festival

[Zappa]

Wayne Larden, on May 19 2009, 01:44 PM, said:

chips off before the gates that go into Royal Botanic Gardens

Can we get disposable/commemorative chips like on Sunday?  They were tops.  I don't fancy my chances getting the chip off in Sept.

[greyhoundracer]

Definately the 1/2 Marathon for me now after successfully completing my 1st on Sunday!