12 replies to this topic

[Niftyone]

So thats it for another year.Didn't go as fast as I thought but still had a good run.Probably spent to much time talking to other runners,and having fun.Weather was good,not as cold as I expected and not much wind either.Didn't get to met any CR's and I did wear my t-shirt.The marathon winner was impressive(2.12 is pretty good anywhere),5mins in front of anyone else. The 1/2M winner was O.K.too.Passed me at the 8k mark and he was going the other way,so he wasn't mucking around.Anyway congrats to all who competed and finished the events today.P.S.The T-shirts weren't too bad and the organisation was well planned for a nice day. Keep on runnin'        B)  runners

[PJ]

4.49 seems a long time to be on your feet running/walking. Well, it is a long time, but the investment was worth it. For many years my older sister has spoken longingly of running a marathon. When I told her I would come up to the Gold Coast to run one with her, she decided to give it a go.

We started at a reasonable 5.30 K pace and felt very comfortable. About the 15K mark, however, various niggles that my sister had been dealing with in training started to take their toll, and we got progressively slower.

Though we had to walk a few K, she toughed it out and I was very proud to run on her heels for the last 100M, urging her to put on a good show for her family and friends in the crowd.

This might be the slowest marathon I ever complete, but the satisfaction of helping someone else realise a dream was truly rewarding. I will always remember my sister's elation at having completed the race.

I really liked the course, especially the parts where you run along the beach. The organisation was very good, especially with so many events being scheduled for the same day.

Some of the beginning sections were a bit narrow, and I was glad that I was not trying to make my way through the traffic, content to run along with the pack. I was surprised that sponges were not on offer anywhere, having found these to provide a great pick-me-up on other runs.

I'd like to come back again some time. When and if I'm ever ready to have a go at sub 3, this course would be a good one to give it a go.

I did not see any other cool runners. Can't wait for the gear to be available so we can spot each other more easily.

Congratulations to everyone who competed and won.

Cheers,
Phil.

[NoSeven]

Completed my first marathon at GC over the weekend and thought it was a great day - very slick organisation and perfect weather. My goal was to run under three hours and I was well ahead of pace to 35km when my calves cramped (those who say a marathon starts at 32km are not joking). Walked, hobbled and sort of ran to the 42km mark where I figured I had about 50-60 sec to finish in 3 hours. Someone in the crowd yelled out 'go for 3 hours mate' and I managed to increase the pace to a very ugly pseudo sprint. With time counting down and facial expression getting worse I dipped (apologies to PJ et al) at the line as the clock ticked 2.59.59....3.00.00. The crowd definately got me going big time, I wanted to run as hard as I could because of all the cheering (many thanks go to spectators, half finishers etc who cheered). I will have to wait for results to see if I got there. Overall a great day but the legs today are RS.

[bear]

I had 2:55 as a goal but on all weekends I managed to get a bad case of gastro on Fri night, and wasn't very well on Sat.
Was running well until 28-29K around 3:58-4:05min pace then the sickness hit in and had the toughest 13K of my life. From doing 4mink to all of a sudden 7min, 8min & even 10mink's managed to pick up the pace again in the last 3ks doing the last k in 4:18

Still had a great weekend
Saw a guy finishing with no shoes on!

[fabforty]

Well I finished. Just.  Going great until the 32klm then took 70 minutes to get home.
This being my second marathon I was hoping to
beat my first time of 3.57 but could not do it. Net time 4.10. I did not hit the wall in my first one but now I know what people are talking about.
I can't understand what happened. I had done all the training my longest run being 36klm on a hilly course and finished fine.  I have a feeling that it was a little bit to hot for me and I think I must of been dehydrated.
Just a question did anyone else find the race started late and it got hot or was that just me. Would like to see the race start at 6o'clock.

[FIL S]

The results are now on the website for your info !!!  :)

[JC]

Hey fab,
It did get warmish.  I think they'd have a logistical problem with bringing the time that far forward - just because of the number of events they're coordinating.  Maybe they could bring all the events 1/2 hr earlier - I ran the 10k last year and it was HOT!!

[laotze]

So now I really know what happens when you go too fast early and get to that magical 35 kilometre mark and suddenly find you are running on empty.  I told myself I'd give a marathon a real go sometime and see if I was fit enough to hang on to the end.

Well, I'm not doing that again.  I got through the first half in flying time for me - about 1 hour 42 minutes - and reached the thirty feeling good and still travelling at a good pace.  Got around the final turn still feeling ok, but there were already signs of the coming fade.  And then after the 35, almost within one hundred metres I slowed to not much faster than a walk.  And the last six kilometres were agonisingly painful and painfully slow.  I Finished in 3.32.  Slower than Canberra where I still had another eight kilometrees to go!

I had the blue tape on my wrist, but did not see any other recognisable coolrunner - did see some Vic Road Runners and a chap from Port Moresby I saw at Canberra, and even Bill Richardson from NZ, who I first met at Boston in 2001, then again at Canberra.

Next time Shepparton, I'm going out very conservatively, and then I'll see what I can finish like.

Still, It was a good course and lots of fun (well for most of the way anyway) and a fine excuse to get up to Brisbane and some warmer weather.

Maybe next year...maybe

[Bails]

I agree with PJ (and congrats to your sister) that the organisation was excellent. Also, like PJ. if I had a complaint, it is that there were no sponges.

Obviously the weather conditions were pretty good despite being pretty hot at times and pouring a cup of water over one's face is not as satisfactory as using a sponge.

The head wind after the 34km turn around was a pain but not much we can do about that.

All in all 95/100.

[Freerunner]

Congratulations NoSeven from looking at the results you just made it. Excellent result for your first marathon.
I on the other hand just missed my goal in the half.......saw the clock ticking over as I also was in a desperate sprint to the line....was really the whole race trying to break 70min and according to the results and my watch did exactly 70min 00sec, dam I didn't think 1 sec would me so much to me over 21.1km.....oh well I live to fight another day.
Despite what someone else stated in the other GC marathon thread I really liked this years T-shirt.
Freerunner.

[PJ]

As always, some great stories from the day. Well done NoSeven and FreeRunner on some outstanding efforts. It's amazing what a difference a second can make, in everything we do in life. That said, I fantasise about being able to run 70.01 for a half.

Sorry NoSeven, you've got to help me. What is the apology for? Was the look on your face that bad?

[NoSeven]

One second is a long time, very well done Freerunner, 70 is awesome. I think next year I might apply for Pat Caroll's job.  

PJ, I thought I may have accidently caused confusion after I posted. My 'dip' at the line to get under three hours was a bit ugly, and I was appologising to Patrick Johnson and other sprinters who dip for a living for totally botching the forementioned art, not your good self.

[PJ]

PJ is an old nickname I plucked out of the air when registering on CR. I sometimes wonder how other cool runners came up with their names.

I certainly don't want to tarnish Patrick's image with my exploits. Maybe I will apply to Kevin for a name change.