56 replies to this topic

[stacytoby]

Well after having confirmed Influenza B for the last month and doing no training at all, I hardened up and did the half yesterday morning, and managed my best HM time this year

I like to weigh up all of the elements of each race I do, and now that I've done four HM's in four different cities I am finding out that they all work very differently!

Positives of the GCHM:
* The expo - I was in running heaven. My husband followed me around looking like I was dragging him through Myer (he isn't really a runner!), but I thought it was amazing. Definitely keep doing the expo!
* The pre-race Bus Shuttle; great idea! So good to hear all of the other HM'ers psyche up for the event. As I was a solo runner from Adelaide I enjoyed having the chance to chat to locals and other travellers.
* The racing precinct - very well laid out and amazing!
* Racing at 6am - seeing the sun rise over the Gold Coast in a race was a memory I won't be forgetting for a long time.
* The Medal - top notch quality. The SMH Half Marathon and Adelaide Half Medals pale in comparison to this one!
* The T-Shirt - I am still wearing it with pride and loved seeing others in them yesterday and today and giving them the 'nod' of congratulations!


Negatives of the GCHM:
* The course - it was a bit.... dull. I thought we would go somewhere near Surfers Paradise, and when trying to read the teeny map in the Race Guide I still had no idea where the course went until I actually did it. No doubt the full marathon course was awesome, but the HM one was very residential.
* Entertainment on the course - I saw one band. One thing I was really looking forward to in my 2nd race sans ipod was hearing a few cool bands along the way.

What does everyone else think?

[Iano]

Nice job on the time!

Agreed on the positives: t-shirt is actually something I might wear again, shuttle buses made getting in and out a breeze (especially for the non-locals!), and the expo was indeed everything you could ask for!

Course didn't have any landmarks did it? Not sure if it's just me but I generally like to have something in the distance to aim at rather than just more apartment blocks - the kilometre markers just add to the pain ...

One other negative I thought (though didn't affect me as I ran the HM) was the 7.10am start time for the full marathon. This meant the masses over 3 hours were hitting the 30km mark after 10am, by which time the sun was beating down with no shade and a decent incline ahead as they headed over the bridge. My friend and I stopped to help one guy who'd come to a halt and was "giving back" his energy gels to the world - gave him a bottle of water and got him moving again - and he would've been one of the fitter ones! A few we saw after that just looked broken ... think 42.195km is a challenge enough without being baked to go with it /

[RunningM]

Agree with all the positives and negatives and would add that it was VERY crowded...
I ran a PB of 1.59 and am thrilled with that - finally getting under the 2 hour mark after missing 3 race starts this year due to illness. I had a GREAT run but did suffer a little due to the heat (used to freezing cold winter Melbourne training runs in the dark before sunrise... and was sweating like a pig one km in!)

I have to say that I was absolutely blessed to head to the Convention Centre in a cab with Julia Thorn who was running her 108th Marathon (after her 100 she decided to run 10 in 10 weeks and this was number 8 of 10 consecutive marathons - one every weekend for 10 weeks... bloody amazing and I was pretty much lost for words when I realised who she was - so humble and so unassuming... What a privilege).

Needless to say I had a blast!  

[vat]

I'm really not a fan of the mass runs, so was quite surprised at how easy it was to slot into a decent starting position for the half - the self seeding seemed to be well adhered to.  The arrangement around the finishing area and getting back to the club tents was a bit less complicated than last year, and the walk from the club tents over to the other side was not as far as previously, but they could almost do with another bridge about halfway between the current bridge and the finishing area.

Some of the PA announcements out on the course (were they the ASICs Run With Me promotion) were completely garbled and annoyingly loud.

The finishing shirt is, as ever, excellent (I still have my '06 one) and it's brilliant that it's a running t-shirt.

stacytoby - yeah, that north half of the course isn't great.  It used to be further up on that side of the course for the marathoners with the 30k turnaround a long way up, and if you were having a bad one it could be a real graveyard up there, with nowhere to hide from the sun if it was a hot one.  Ideal for a fast half, though - for mine, if you're looking at the scenery you're not concentrating on your running.

[BigAl5000]

Just the tight gates to pass over the timing mats.

The sun got me s little but that was too be expected. It was an absolutely fun day out. The finishing area was well organized and all the volenteers were helpful and friendly. The medal and the Tshirt are top notch. At least it's not a little red golf towel.

[meinmuk]

I thought that it was run very well. I got the time that I was only whispering that I wanted to beat in what was my first HM, so my positive feelings may be tempered by my good outcome.

PRO

• Pre-race communication was highly professional
  
• Buses were great (I had taken advice from CR and stayed near the Convention Centre)
  
• The start time for the HM was great
  
• Hydration support was very good
  
• The musical duo were playing a Jamiroquai cover when I went past (I couldn't have asked for better)
  
• I was pleased that I was able to pick up my race kit in Brisbane so that I didn't have go to the expo (I don't like those kind of things)
  
• I've never tasted better tasting orange quarters (I was very happy with my time and to be able to stop running).
  
• The T shirts look good enough.
  
• I liked that there were so many people. The crowd thinned out quickly enough and there were so many people of different size, age and shape, taking different approaches to the race that it kept me entertained, just seeing how others approached the race.
  
• Like all out and back courses, I like seeing the elite flying towards the finish while I'm still heading out. I like out and back courses better than 2-lappers.
  
• While it was expensive, I feel that I got good value
  
• I went to the CR dinner and met Alison and co, Ivan and Cathy. I had a good time talking things running in a way I can't at home.

CON

• I don't think the "Run with me" thing worked as well as it might have. I wasn't prepared to "friend" the app on facebook because I worry about security enough not to list my date of birth on the site. Those who had left messages were all a bit "shouty", which was probably good for the recipients, but the rest of us just got yelled at.
  
• There were medallions - I just don't "get" them
  
• When you pass under the bridge at the end there are still 270 m to go - I wanted it to be shorter as I was pretty spent (this is tongue in cheek, btw)
  
• My legs are sore. Can something be done about this?

COURSE
The best bits of the course for me were when we were in sight of the water. Both for the views and for the hint of breeze. I didn't mind the residentiality of it. I liked the spectators - from those holding the GO DAD/MUM signs, to those lounging about in their slippers and PJs, and the bottle blonde asking when there was going to be a break in the field so she could drive through in her VW bug. I couldn't get over how flat it was, and feel that this itself is a real drawcard for the race as a PB course.
I can't comment on the marathon course as I haven't run it.

PACERS
This is the first time I've run an event with pacers and found it interesting to see how they went. I laughed when one of the 1:50 pacers was flying in the first few km and was between the 1:40 pacers. The 1:40 pacers went a bit quicker than I expected, but I was pleased when one (PC) waited for those of us who had left a bit of gas in the tank to try to blast in at the end.

[stacytoby]

meinmuk, on 04 July 2011 - 07:38 PM, said:

CON

[*]When you pass under the bridge at the end there are still 270 m to go - I wanted it to be shorter as I was pretty spent (this is tongue in cheek, btw)
[*]My legs are sore. Can something be done about this?
[/list]

That Bridge.... oh my god, by that stage I was knackered and thought 270m might as well have been 2700m!

My legs are sooooo sore today.... a whole heap of us getting off the plane this arvo went hobbling down the stairs, those of us who ran all laughed, everyone else was annoyed at us for taking so long!

[AthleticLisa]

I had an awesome experience too. This was my first HM and my first ever "race" so i have nothing to compare it to and i didnt know what to expect.
I thought it was well organised and i cant think of anything to complain about. I guess for me, i had a little trouble constantly adjusting speeds because of congestion of runners and people just weaving in and out of people and some people just stopping!! wtf. But that is what a race is about i guess, all races will be the same and thats just something i have to adjust to.
All in all, i had a great time and loved every minute of it. I finished in 1:57:04. I am very happy with my time for my first HM.

And yes... my legs are killing me also. They are a little bit better than yesterday but still very tender. I had the best sleep last night, which is just as well because i only slept about 2 hours prior to the race.

Im now planning on doing the Brisbane half in 4 weeks.

[stacytoby]

I saw three ladies start walking just after the 1km mark - what the ?!?  

[mgi11a]

I have to agree with the course being pretty dull, even with the full there is only a limited number of places you get to see the water.
Thankfully with the weather it was nothing like this morning, I checked out of my hotel at 10 this morning and walked outside and it was bloody hot.
WOuld have been a lot more carnage especially for the southerners who have been training in below zero temps.

mgilla

Oh and with the bridge, 2 years ago it didnt have the 270m to go on it and so many people myself included thought it was the finish line.

Edited by mgi11a, 04 July 2011 - 09:49 PM.

[SillyFatWanker]

Quote

I laughed when one of the 1:50 pacers was flying in the first few km and was between the 1:40 pacers.

I would have laughed at the 1:50 pacer but I was too busy trying to catch the bugger! I didn't get to the lead 1:50 guy till about 10k in. He stopped to egg some people on so I gleefully passed him and left him in the dust.

That 270m to go seriously crushed my delicate man spirit. I was so sure once we hit the team tents it was going to be a galumphing 100m sprint to the finish. I had to use a hard earned breath to let out a big F word at that point.

On the way out someone had sticky taped some paper to the ground with a series of pep talks on them, that was awesome.

[RunningScared]

I don't have too many negatives. Did my first HM (1:46) and loved it. Last 5 km was hard and the last 270 seemed liked it took 15 mins!

I ran with the 1:50 bus for a fair while and it was great. John (didn't catch last name) was the net time pacer and was great and the 1:50 gun time pace runner was even better. Full of energy and enthusiasm. Kept me going until I thought I could go a bit faster.

Expo was great, volunteers happy to help, baggage storage good, after race events enjoyable. Didn't get as much on course entertainment as I expected from the build up PR, nor as many gee ups from the late night/early morning party goers (read drunks), but that isn't a big deal to me.

I also expected a bit more of the Gold Coast scenery, but I'm flat out running, let alone enjoying the scenery!

The 200m dog leg at about 9km was a bit of a pain, especially since a lot of peole didn't round the mark. I wonder why you couldn't run a bit further north at Paradise Point and then turn, but there must be a reason.

I come from inland NSW and found the temp perfect for a half. Might have been an issue for the full.

I pretty much followed the intermediate program from the web site and it worked for me, so a big thanks to Pat Carroll and team for those and for the you tube stuff along the way. I would have liked to have been fast enough to run with Pat as pacer (1:40).

So for me as a first HM I give it 10/10!

[razorsgirl23]

stacytoby, on 04 July 2011 - 09:22 PM, said:

I saw three ladies start walking just after the 1km mark - what the ?!?  

Perhaps they were doing run/walk. I did 6 min run / 1 min walk in the 10km.

[AthleticLisa]

stacytoby, on 04 July 2011 - 09:22 PM, said:

I saw three ladies start walking just after the 1km mark - what the ?!?  

I know!! i saw a few people walking early on. Some even stood still to stretch in the middle of the road. I mean come on.. im new to this but even i know the race etiquette.. Another annoying thing was men spitting, and i mean hocking.. made me run faster just to get away from them.

[Jogjog]

I found the the HM course very congested for at least the first 10km which made finding a rhythm very difficult. I tried to keep up with the 1.30 pace group but found that compared to Melbourne HM, the pacing was a little erratic and they didn't quite get in under 1.30. Did anyone else find this? I applaud their efforts though and I feel perhaps it was just my inexperience over the distance that made my race seem very up and down. The 6am start was a killer especially seeing as though I got up at 4am to have a pre-race meal. I suppose it is still good to beat the heat. Congratulations to all the finishers!

[undercover brother]

it's a well organised event that's for sure.
with so many people it's amazing you can park a few hundred metres from the start and just pop into your 'self-seeding' a few mins before the gun goes off.
in the end i'm not much of a roadie and always have higher priority events and running weekends around this time of the year.
so if i want to do the half i get up at 3.30am which is a bit crappy for a training run.
and not in any shape this year to do the FM as a long training run.
i can't really justify it as a weekend away either (need to save the domestic tranquility index/points for other things).
also has become much less 'sociallly appealing' to me in recent years.
as vat said on the other thread less CR gear wearing/calling out, no CR cheersquad (ahhh those were the days) and to be honest there are just so many frigging people out there it's hard to pick anyone out, amongst the 'sea' in the HM especially.
i was specifically looking for about a dozen people out there and only saw 2 and one of those only after they called out to me.
then you muck around for an hour or 2 and don't feel like waiting for the nuts and bolts of the FM field to come by and just hop in the car and go home.
so from an organisation pt of view its mainly the start times that aren't so appealing to me: HM too early/FM too late.
may just stay at home next year...

meinmuk, on 04 July 2011 - 07:38 PM, said:

PACERS
This is the first time I've run an event with pacers and found it interesting to see how they went. I laughed when one of the 1:50 pacers was flying in the first few km and was between the 1:40 pacers.

pacing's a hard job and i should never criticise but yeah i had a chuckle at that too,
especially when one of the 1.40 pacers (who shall remain nameless) started screaming out to them in a somewhat humourous way
1st rule of pacing: it's never a good idea to pass a pacer from a faster group (unless they've hit the crapper of course!).

Edited by undercover brother, 05 July 2011 - 10:07 AM.

[RunningChick]

razorsgirl23, on 05 July 2011 - 09:05 AM, said:

Perhaps they were doing run/walk. I did 6 min run / 1 min walk in the 10km.

I think the point was that they really should have started further back in the field to allow the faster runners through!

[jojojogger]

RunningM, on 04 July 2011 - 06:57 PM, said:

Agree with all the positives and negatives and would add that it was VERY crowded...
I ran a PB of 1.59 and am thrilled with that - finally getting under the 2 hour mark after missing 3 race starts this year due to illness. I had a GREAT run but did suffer a little due to the heat (used to freezing cold winter Melbourne training runs in the dark before sunrise... and was sweating like a pig one km in!)

I have to say that I was absolutely blessed to head to the Convention Centre in a cab with Julia Thorn who was running her 108th Marathon (after her 100 she decided to run 10 in 10 weeks and this was number 8 of 10 consecutive marathons - one every weekend for 10 weeks... bloody amazing and I was pretty much lost for words when I realised who she was - so humble and so unassuming... What a privilege).

Needless to say I had a blast!  

aaah my first comment on Cool Runnings and I can respond to my favourite running mate!  Agree the course was a bit too crowded compared to my first go three years ago....now back in freezing Adelaide looking for a South Aussie training partner for the Melbourne Marathon....anyone know anyone?

[HillsAths1]

undercover brother, on 05 July 2011 - 10:04 AM, said:

pacing's a hard job and i should never criticise but yeah i had a chuckle at that too,
especially when one of the 1.40 pacers (who shall remain nameless) started screaming out to them in a somewhat humourous way
1st rule of pacing: it's never a good idea to pass a pacer from a faster group (unless they've hit the crapper of course!).

Perhaps that was the same pacer who was telling the pack that they were going too fast?

I ran within a 100m of the lead 1.40 Pacer for most of the race and could hear him telling the pack that they were too fast, not sure why he did not slow down? I was lucky enough to get a good starting position so my gun and nett were pretty close, I finished in just over 96 nett, so I would think that some of the runners who were aiming for a nett 1.40 and stayed with the 100min group would have done great times and the others most likely have blown up as the pace was just too hot for them.

[Brendan90]

Haha Meinmuk, i was with Pat when he was yelling to the 1:50 pacer to slow down, He had to tell him about a dozen times!

I was relatively happy with the experience, Was very well organized and the finish chute was absolutely amazing, everything I'd been told about it and my expectations were lived up to... Now i can agree with everybody praising the new MM finish outside the G where there will be a chute.. definitely better than the previous inside-MCG finish.

The expo was fantastic, and the medals, t-shirts and finish area were fantastic, i loved crashing on the grass afterward and leaving in my own time.

However i was very frustrated during the first 10 minutes of the race. I positioned myself with the 1:40 pace group, yet for the first 2kms i found myself battling through hundreds of slow runners who had not positioned themselves in appropriate areas, to the point where i was tripped up and fell down on my hands-However everybody around me were quick to help me up, to their credit.

Ended up finishing in 1:43. I was happy i broke 5 minute kms, but was a little disappointed i did not keep up with the pace group.

[Unlikelyrunner]

I ran the full, but can tell you that the reason why the race is dull is to allow the full to go all the way down to Burleigh and back and to ensure the faster runners dont get caught up with the slower half runners.

This is also why there was less entertainment for the half.  Most of the attention goes to the Full Marathon and so the bands/entertainment was mostly set up between the start/finish line and Burleigh.

And your shirts - I have running shirt envy.  The half shirt is once again much nicer than the full, although the medal for the full is a cracker this year where previous years they were pretty dull.

[Ayla2010]

I really enjoyed the whole thing. Disappointed in myself for slowing down in the second half and coming in at 3:03 and getting disqualified , but onwards and upward and more training to beat my time for my next half 31st july

[Brendan90]

Ayla, don't ever discredit your finish because of the DQ status.. you're still a finisher who's achieved something a lot do not.

[undercover brother]

razorsgirl23, on 05 July 2011 - 09:05 AM, said:

Perhaps they were doing run/walk. I did 6 min run / 1 min walk in the 10km.

in years past have lined up in the 1.40-1.50 SS area of GCHM and found many people walking 3-4 abreast in front of me.
correct me if i am wrong but its only a recent thing that they have started the HM on both sides of the road as well which helps.
however people walking in the first km i presume are walking the whole lot and should park themselves near the back as per the appropriate self-seeding (as RC says).
not sure what run/walkers are supposed to do other than self-seed according to supposed finish time.
so if thats 70-80mins for a 10km then i presume there will be some people around them plodding the whole way and others walk/running at different stages so i presume flow is a bit messy back there.
and in the 10km event run/walkers have a whole separate start anyway (>60min).
interesting that this is the first year i have seen the HM get congested (to the point of slowing) again around the 5km roundabout/dunny mark.

[Bellthorpe]

In the 10k I found that the separate start was very useful. I had a good start position in the first wave in any case, but was not impeded in any way during the race. It had thinned out nicely after just a couple of k and I was able to run my own race. Although I couldn't find the pacers ...

[HillsAths1]

I have run the half at the GC 7 times and in that time run both south and northern versions. I have not noticed that either way was dull. I spend most of my time concentrating on how I feel, the runners around me, the pace etc to worry about buildings the sea etc. In the last 4km of the 10 and half you are within sight of the sea and I dont remember spending too much time looking to my left.
I like this shirts much better than last years, at least I can fit into mine this year(although I find that there is something weird about the neck!)
I find that bands playing crappy music is not something that I enjoy so pretty happy that there was only on both the 10 and half courses.

[undercover brother]

i haven't taken a shirt or a medal for maybe 5 years.
they just end up sitting in my cupboard unloved for a while then put into landfill.
better i leave them in case they are short a few.

[EddieO]

Everything seemed well organized from the web site right through to the race finish.

I did have one issue though....

I thought I would go under 100 mins, so I had self-selected myself to the the 1:40 pace. It was a good start and not too crowded but just as I was reaching the start line I noticed a real commotion ahead and could see people bobbing and swerving around an invisible obstacle.

All was soon revealed. There were two tiny old chooks (both dressed in bright yellow) who were holding hands and jogging at what can only be described as a “hopeful pace”.  

Very cute but thts caused mayhem on the left side of starting area. I had to jump up on the curb to avoid flattening them but when I did I heard / felt a crack as my ankle twisted half-on-half-off the curb. It hurt immediately but adrenalin generated endorphins do magical things for the body and I ran 16kms before I was in real bad pain. My ankle was/is very swollen and today its very bruised and tender. I finished in 1h:39m thanks largely to the excellent pacers. One guy in particular did a great job of getting people around me in under 100 mins - many thanks to all of them!  

I am reading the local papers to see if anyone has taken up my “contract” on two geriatric runners dressed as canaries. I’m kidding of course, and in any other circumstances I’d have been the first to say “good for them” but it would be better if they had been at the right starting spot.  

All in all a good experience, a fast course and well organized. Thank you!

[redbackrun]

EddieO, on 05 July 2011 - 01:54 PM, said:

Everything seemed well organized from the web site right through to the race finish.

I did have one issue though....

I thought I would go under 100 mins, so I had self-selected myself to the the 1:40 pace. It was a good start and not too crowded but just as I was reaching the start line I noticed a real commotion ahead and could see people bobbing and swerving around an invisible obstacle.

All was soon revealed. There were two tiny old chooks (both dressed in bright yellow) who were holding hands and jogging at what can only be described as a "hopeful pace".  

Very cute but thts caused mayhem on the left side of starting area. I had to jump up on the curb to avoid flattening them but when I did I heard / felt a crack as my ankle twisted half-on-half-off the curb. It hurt immediately but adrenalin generated endorphins do magical things for the body and I ran 16kms before I was in real bad pain. My ankle was/is very swollen and today its very bruised and tender. I finished in 1h:39m thanks largely to the excellent pacers. One guy in particular did a great job of getting people around me in under 100 mins - many thanks to all of them!  

I am reading the local papers to see if anyone has taken up my "contract" on two geriatric runners dressed as canaries. I'm kidding of course, and in any other circumstances I'd have been the first to say "good for them" but it would be better if they had been at the right starting spot.  

All in all a good experience, a fast course and well organized. Thank you!

Q. So why did the chicken cross the road?

[Tangawizi]

I wonder if the event is now big enough for the Half to be run on a separate day to the Marathon?

I would have much preferred a 6am start for the Full Marathon rather than the 7:10am as it just got too hot out there towards the end.

[razorsgirl23]

undercover brother, on 05 July 2011 - 01:19 PM, said:

in years past have lined up in the 1.40-1.50 SS area of GCHM and found many people walking 3-4 abreast in front of me.
correct me if i am wrong but its only a recent thing that they have started the HM on both sides of the road as well which helps.
however people walking in the first km i presume are walking the whole lot and should park themselves near the back as per the appropriate self-seeding (as RC says).
not sure what run/walkers are supposed to do other than self-seed according to supposed finish time.
so if thats 70-80mins for a 10km then i presume there will be some people around them plodding the whole way and others walk/running at different stages so i presume flow is a bit messy back there.
and in the 10km event run/walkers have a whole separate start anyway (>60min).
interesting that this is the first year i have seen the HM get congested (to the point of slowing) again around the 5km roundabout/dunny mark.

Fair enough. I always self seed and stick to the left. I'm very aware of other runners and I always look behind me before stopping to walk to make sure someone isn't behind me. I must admit that I get annoyed at people walking 4 deep in the middle of the road - some girls were doing this near the end of the 10km as we ran up onto the bridge.

[Paul Every]

stacytoby, on 04 July 2011 - 05:48 PM, said:

Negatives of the GCHM:
* The course - it was a bit.... dull....

Iano, on 04 July 2011 - 06:43 PM, said:

Course didn't have any landmarks did it? Not sure if it's just me but I generally like to have something in the distance to aim at rather than just more apartment blocks...

mgi11a, on 04 July 2011 - 09:47 PM, said:

I have to agree with the course being pretty dull, even with the full there is only a limited number of places you get to see the water.

RunningScared, on 04 July 2011 - 10:27 PM, said:

I also expected a bit more of the Gold Coast scenery.....

Ummm, people, this is the Gold Coast Marathon!

There isn't a strip of coastline in Australia which has been as over-developed with high-rise shadowing the waterfront.

If you want scenic, choose any number of other races. If you want ugly, gauche and tasteless, (and maybe a PB), Gold Coast is it.

[stacytoby]

jojojogger, on 05 July 2011 - 11:35 AM, said:

aaah my first comment on Cool Runnings and I can respond to my favourite running mate!  Agree the course was a bit too crowded compared to my first go three years ago....now back in freezing Adelaide looking for a South Aussie training partner for the Melbourne Marathon....anyone know anyone?

Count me in! I'm training for my first official full marathon in melbourne need all the help I can get!

[Quinkin]

I like the shirt too, I will be able to train in it. Last years kind of shrunk even though it was a large.

I thought the ten 10km course in 2009 was pretty scenic, if you like the golden light of dawn shining into the windows of gold coast towers.

Persoanlly, I like the idea of the HM being a PB course, than it being a scenic journey. For scenic majesty I think the Coastal Classic is the go.

[Lotsahare]

Great result for your first half mara.Ayla We are & you also can be very proud of yourself.   You will breeze through on the 31st. Sorry we missed you at the after drinks . Lotsahare & Bert

[Spender]

A couple of negatives:

1.  Buses did not stop even though they were not full. We got to the Ferney Avenue stop when there was about 30 people. By 5 am there was a few hundred as no buses were stopping. We ended up walking to the start at 5 am. Not great

2.  Sorry pacers but the 2 hour bus went off well ahead of schedule. I was spot on 2 hour pace but after about 2 kms the black balloons were out of sight. I know they need to go at the gun time but after 2 kms to be so far ahead was a bit tough.

To top off the day I cramped up at 12 km - damnation but so happy my smashed her first half. We will be back hopefully with out the cramping.

[RunningChick]

I did the full marathon.  I would love to have had chairs and water in the grassed recovery area.  I'd finished a couple of minutes ahead of friends and wanted to wait for them.  However, the need for water won over.  It may not seem that far to many but after 4:13 of running it was a fair distance from the recovery area!!  Chairs would have been great too as I had no chance of getting up if I had sat on the grass!

[undercover brother]

so has anyone done the survey thingy yet?

[RunningChick]

undercover brother, on 06 July 2011 - 05:43 PM, said:

so has anyone done the survey thingy yet?

I have.

[HalfaJess]

One somewhat annoying negative.. My timing chip didn't work! My "finish" time registered but not my net time (there was about a 7 minute difference between them).

Did anyone else have a problem with their timing chip?

[vat]

undercover brother, on 06 July 2011 - 05:43 PM, said:

so has anyone done the survey thingy yet?

Yeah, a bit sparse since I didn't stay down there and didn't use many of the facilities.  Truth be told, I really didn't get far from the BRRC tent on Sunday morning, aside from little trips down to the PCRG tent to find the Wallies.

[undercover brother]

vat, on 06 July 2011 - 08:04 PM, said:

Yeah, a bit sparse since I didn't stay down there and didn't use many of the facilities.  Truth be told, I really didn't get far from the BRRC tent on Sunday morning, aside from little trips down to the PCRG tent to find the Wallies.

oh bugger! i forgot to mention the wallies in the survey!
yeah i didn't use anything either except a park at aussie fair.

Edited by undercover brother, 06 July 2011 - 09:48 PM.

[vat]

undercover brother, on 06 July 2011 - 08:11 PM, said:

oh bugger! i forgot to mention the wallies in the survey!
yeah i didn't use anything either except a park and a thing at thingie thing.

Ahem...the first rule of thingie Thing thing is you don't talk about thingie Thing thing.

Edited by vat, 18 October 2011 - 06:39 PM.

[razorsgirl23]

There was a poo on the floor in the women's toilets before my race. It was revolting. I don't know how you miss a target that big.

[undercover brother]

thats grose.
quick delete it vat!

[seris]

razorsgirl23, on 06 July 2011 - 09:43 PM, said:

There was a poo on the floor in the women's toilets before my race. It was revolting. I don't know how you miss a target that big.

That's why you go for the longer distance. No 21 or 42 km runner would do that.

[Jimmy4990]

I blew up with 12k to go & struggled home badly. The support I got from the crowd was fantastic. The people, it's always the people that make an event memorable. To the couple that handed me a handful of lollies with 1k to go. Thanks so much, the distraction of trying to chew them was just what the doctor ordered. Sorry I was unable to thank you at the time. We spent 8 days on the Gold Coast & noticed the friendly nature of all we met. Had a wonderful time .

[undercover brother]

seris, on 06 July 2011 - 09:59 PM, said:

That's why you go for the longer distance. No 21 or 42 km runner would do that.

it was probably one of those unsavoury trail runners.
they shit anywhere those people.
probably has never seen a toilet before.

[Jimmy4990]

undercover brother, on 06 July 2011 - 10:21 PM, said:

it was probably one of those unsavoury trail runners.
they shit anywhere those people.
probably has never seen a toilet before.

Probably a spectator given the form of the guy taking a squat in the bushes whilst I was trying to sneak in a last minute tree pee. This thread is becoming quite messy in a hurry

[Tesso]

Spender, on 05 July 2011 - 09:46 PM, said:

2.  Sorry pacers but the 2 hour bus went off well ahead of schedule. I was spot on 2 hour pace but after about 2 kms the black balloons were out of sight. I know they need to go at the gun time but after 2 kms to be so far ahead was a bit tough.

I was one of the 2hr pacers. To run 2hrs for a half marathon means an average pace of 5:41. But as it took one minute to get to the start line to run gun time meant that average came down to 5:38s. I just checked my Garmin. The first 3kms were 6:15, 5:37 and 5:39.