I have just entered the SMH HM, my first ever event. I'm a bit apprehensive about how the whole thing works! The actual running I understand (and hope I can manage!), but the hoopla around it has me a bit nervous, especially since I am from out of town.
I am wondering what to do with my stuff?? I haven't planned where I am staying yet, but I imagine that when I arrive at the event I will have things on me that I don't want to run with, keys, phone, tracksuit etc. What do I do with that stuff? Are there lockers, or a cloakroom or something?
If I drive in, what is the parking like? I can imagine that there will be a few other cars there.
On the route, are there plenty of water stops? Is there much traffic? Is it a problem grabbing a quick drink?
And finally, if nature calls are there loo stops on the course somewhere?
Thanks!
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First Timers Questions About Smh
Started by
Olmy
, Mar 31 2008 09:06 PM
10 replies to this topic
#1
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Posted 31 March 2008 - 09:06 PM
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#2
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Posted 31 March 2008 - 09:24 PM
Hi Olmy-welcome to cool running.
Being in Melbourne I haven't run the SMH but generally speaking your answers are:
There is usually a place to leave your gear but dont leave valuables as they are usually just an area and not a locker or anything secure. There are a couple of people keeping an eye on things but if anything goes missing it's bad luck. I usually just leave my backpack which has my tracksuit and some snacks in it-my phone and wallet I leave in the car. I only buy shorts with some sort of pocket so my car key and a little cash stay with me.
Parking varies-someone else will be able to suggest somewhere. I say get in early and park nice and close. A big event like SMH has a great pre race atmosphere so getting in early isn't a bad thing. Gives you lots of time for toilet stops, hydration etc.
Most fun runs have drinks on route and some have toilets. Drinks are usually between 3 and 5 km apart depending on the organiser. Best bet is to have a look at the SMH website-the course map will give you all that info. The site will most likely give you some idea on parking and baggage drop off too.
Drinking on the run can be hard-it's something I haven't mastered. On my first 1/2 (and pretty much every run I do) I walked through the drink stations and had a good drink. This makes sure you get something into you and also gives your legs a quick break. You lose maybe 20 to 30 seconds but can make that up pretty easy if you want.
A 1/2 marathon for your first event is huge-good luck and let us know how you went. Get yourself a coolrunning hat for some cheers as you run-it's worth several minutes off your time to hear a few "go coolrunner" calls as you go past.
Best advice I can give you is dont start too hard, run within yourself and above all enjoy yourself!
David
Being in Melbourne I haven't run the SMH but generally speaking your answers are:
There is usually a place to leave your gear but dont leave valuables as they are usually just an area and not a locker or anything secure. There are a couple of people keeping an eye on things but if anything goes missing it's bad luck. I usually just leave my backpack which has my tracksuit and some snacks in it-my phone and wallet I leave in the car. I only buy shorts with some sort of pocket so my car key and a little cash stay with me.
Parking varies-someone else will be able to suggest somewhere. I say get in early and park nice and close. A big event like SMH has a great pre race atmosphere so getting in early isn't a bad thing. Gives you lots of time for toilet stops, hydration etc.
Most fun runs have drinks on route and some have toilets. Drinks are usually between 3 and 5 km apart depending on the organiser. Best bet is to have a look at the SMH website-the course map will give you all that info. The site will most likely give you some idea on parking and baggage drop off too.
Drinking on the run can be hard-it's something I haven't mastered. On my first 1/2 (and pretty much every run I do) I walked through the drink stations and had a good drink. This makes sure you get something into you and also gives your legs a quick break. You lose maybe 20 to 30 seconds but can make that up pretty easy if you want.
A 1/2 marathon for your first event is huge-good luck and let us know how you went. Get yourself a coolrunning hat for some cheers as you run-it's worth several minutes off your time to hear a few "go coolrunner" calls as you go past.
Best advice I can give you is dont start too hard, run within yourself and above all enjoy yourself!
David
Edited by wombatoutofhell, 31 March 2008 - 09:26 PM.
#3
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Posted 31 March 2008 - 09:25 PM
Hi Olmy,
SMH is a great run, different starting point this year i hear so it should be even better. Firstly as someone who has run it with & without support once i parked in one of the many parking stations around the sydney CBD and walked to the start line, Boy Charlton pool and Goulbourn street spring to mind, on those occassions left the bare essentials in the car and ran with just the key. Wear some old clothes, a couple of layers, you can then leave these by the side of the road at the start and a charity picks them up for those less fortunate, plenty of loo's last year in the start area, lined up for about 2min before one came free, water stop is normally at the bottom of Lady Mac's chair & start/finish area, plenty available, just remember to thank the great volunteers, as for the traffic it will be just you and a couple of thousand other runners on the road, enjoy the experience of running through one of the worlds great cities without any cars. As for the nerves can't help you there, was always taught that they are a good sign anyway, enjoy the run, don't go to hard to early, and most importantly keep smiling, Happy days!
SMH is a great run, different starting point this year i hear so it should be even better. Firstly as someone who has run it with & without support once i parked in one of the many parking stations around the sydney CBD and walked to the start line, Boy Charlton pool and Goulbourn street spring to mind, on those occassions left the bare essentials in the car and ran with just the key. Wear some old clothes, a couple of layers, you can then leave these by the side of the road at the start and a charity picks them up for those less fortunate, plenty of loo's last year in the start area, lined up for about 2min before one came free, water stop is normally at the bottom of Lady Mac's chair & start/finish area, plenty available, just remember to thank the great volunteers, as for the traffic it will be just you and a couple of thousand other runners on the road, enjoy the experience of running through one of the worlds great cities without any cars. As for the nerves can't help you there, was always taught that they are a good sign anyway, enjoy the run, don't go to hard to early, and most importantly keep smiling, Happy days!
#4 Guest_Carmen_*
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Posted 01 April 2008 - 09:50 AM
SMH half is a great one Olmy. There is bag storage - so at the start of the race you can cloak your gear and then collect it again at the end. I've never had any problems with theft but perhaps leave your diamonds at home just in case 
The drink stations are at the 5, 10, 15k marks and at the start/finish. There are toilets at the start for sure but I can't remember if there are any on the course itself.
I personally wouldn't drive into the city as it is easy to catch a train and walk to the start line, but it depends where you are coming from etc. If you stay in a hotel in the CBD then they might have parking for you - and then you could walk straight from the hotel to the race. Last year I did see people getting lucky with free street parking - being a Sunday there are probably more spots than usual. And some parking restrictions don't start til later in the morning - so you can run the race and be back to your car before it becomes timed parking. But again, I personally wouldn't risk it. I feel more confident on my feet.
You can check out www.131500.com.au for public transport
Hope that helps
Cheers
Carmen
The drink stations are at the 5, 10, 15k marks and at the start/finish. There are toilets at the start for sure but I can't remember if there are any on the course itself.
I personally wouldn't drive into the city as it is easy to catch a train and walk to the start line, but it depends where you are coming from etc. If you stay in a hotel in the CBD then they might have parking for you - and then you could walk straight from the hotel to the race. Last year I did see people getting lucky with free street parking - being a Sunday there are probably more spots than usual. And some parking restrictions don't start til later in the morning - so you can run the race and be back to your car before it becomes timed parking. But again, I personally wouldn't risk it. I feel more confident on my feet.
You can check out www.131500.com.au for public transport
Hope that helps
Cheers
Carmen
#5
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Posted 01 April 2008 - 12:24 PM
Olmy,May I use your thread to pose some other questions?Thank you.
How strict are they on the 75mins/11K cut off?That equates to about 2h24m for full distance,and as I am hoping to just crack 2.20 on current form,it probably means having to run a litle faster over the first lap than I would prefer to do.Is traffic allowed on the course after that 75mins cut off?
Also,as the 75mins would start from gun,those slowies like me at rear of start could lose a few mins getting to the start line,meaning we have to run that first lap even faster.
Do they "encourage" the slowies to drop out on second lap if time falling away from 2.20 or so?
Jim Beisty
How strict are they on the 75mins/11K cut off?That equates to about 2h24m for full distance,and as I am hoping to just crack 2.20 on current form,it probably means having to run a litle faster over the first lap than I would prefer to do.Is traffic allowed on the course after that 75mins cut off?
Also,as the 75mins would start from gun,those slowies like me at rear of start could lose a few mins getting to the start line,meaning we have to run that first lap even faster.
Do they "encourage" the slowies to drop out on second lap if time falling away from 2.20 or so?
Jim Beisty
#6
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veryCoolRunner
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Posted 01 April 2008 - 07:09 PM
Jimboy, on Apr 1 2008, 01:24 PM, said:
How strict are they on the 75mins/11K cut off?That equates to about 2h24m for full distance,and as I am hoping to just crack 2.20 on current form,it probably means having to run a litle faster over the first lap than I would prefer to do.Is traffic allowed on the course after that 75mins cut off?
Also,as the 75mins would start from gun,those slowies like me at rear of start could lose a few mins getting to the start line,meaning we have to run that first lap even faster.
Do they "encourage" the slowies to drop out on second lap if time falling away from 2.20 or so?
Jim Beisty
Also,as the 75mins would start from gun,those slowies like me at rear of start could lose a few mins getting to the start line,meaning we have to run that first lap even faster.
Do they "encourage" the slowies to drop out on second lap if time falling away from 2.20 or so?
Jim Beisty
Hi Jim,
If you don't make the 75min cut-off they do "ask" you to pull out. They did for me last year, but as I had my MP3 player going, I played deaf and kept running. It was only a lady walking through the crowd of people. Most people's attention is focused more on the first ones coming home anyway.
The 75 mins starts from the gun, which I think sucks!! Us slower people, who out of consideration for other "faster" runners (and our own safety) self seed towards the back, then have to make up the extra time - last year it was over 4 minutes before I crossed the start line.
On both occasions that I have run this, my time was around the 2.30 mark and if you make it through the 75mins I don't think that they're too fussed. I haven't been stopped on the second lap either time.
Just a note, if you (or anybody) is asked to stop due to not making the 75min cut-off, your number is recorded and it is not listed in either the paper or on the website. You do, though, get your medal (at the end) and a certificate later in the mail giving your net/gun times.
Boney
PS: I AM GONNA MAKE THE CUT-OFF THIS YEAR!!!! (some positive self-talk)
#7
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Posted 01 April 2008 - 11:45 PM
I wanted to do this race but due to family commitment ill be in the gold coast.
Ill be thinking of you all running in that perfect backdrop.
Boney, good luck with the race and i hope you can make it past the cut off time without any problems and then power on to the end, finishing with a better time than last year.
Good luck all
Ill be thinking of you all running in that perfect backdrop.
Boney, good luck with the race and i hope you can make it past the cut off time without any problems and then power on to the end, finishing with a better time than last year.
Good luck all
#8
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Posted 02 April 2008 - 09:27 AM
Thanks a heap for that advice,BoneyChic,sets my mind at ease a little.With seven weeks to go I am fairly confident I can make the cut-off as long as my sore legs improve as well as they seem to be.
Four minutes is a lot to make up if you are at the back of the start list,but as you say we slowies are respectful of our faster brothers and sisters.
Knowing the officials I am sure that they would take that into account.
Jim Beisty
Four minutes is a lot to make up if you are at the back of the start list,but as you say we slowies are respectful of our faster brothers and sisters.
Knowing the officials I am sure that they would take that into account.
Jim Beisty
#9
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veryCoolRunner
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Posted 02 April 2008 - 09:41 AM
Thanks for the help. So I guess I will arrive with a backpack to pop my tracksuit in and run with my ventolin and key. And I will prbably get a Coolrunning cap to wear as well.
Looking forward to it!!
Looking forward to it!!
#10
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Posted 02 April 2008 - 10:35 AM
Oh! sorry,I did have one other question.
Do those who have run the race before think that racing the reverse direction will be faster or slower than the old course?
Do those who have run the race before think that racing the reverse direction will be faster or slower than the old course?
Edited by Jimboy, 02 April 2008 - 10:37 AM.
#11
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Posted 02 April 2008 - 11:01 AM
Jimboy, on Apr 2 2008, 10:35 AM, said:
Oh! sorry,I did have one other question.
Do those who have run the race before think that racing the reverse direction will be faster or slower than the old course?
Do those who have run the race before think that racing the reverse direction will be faster or slower than the old course?
Jimboy
I don't think it is going in reverse - just a new starting point (Hyde Park instead of Hickson Road). They used to start it in Lower Fort street but worked out that was a bit crowded.
College Street should be a good starting point although as someone mentioned in another thread there will be alot of pumped up legs bounding down Hunter Street early in the race.
Personally I think the finish is a bit tougher with the 2nd run up Hunter Street closer to the finish and a climb out of Mrs Macquarie’s Chair right at the end.
