Flew out to Brisbane with Aldric on Thursday night for the race. Actually, we signed up for 2 events, the 10km on Saturday and of course the full marathon on Sunday. Crazy? Sort of...
Saturday. We arrived at the race site at about 6am. It was cold and the wind certainly didn't help. We bought ourselves a cup of hot coffee. It helped, but it was still cold. Wave 1 was due to start at 7.15am, and wave 2 at 7.45am. We had originally planned for wave 2, so that we can take our time to complete within the 1:30 cut-off; wave 1's cut-off was 1hr. (yes, they impose cut-off times.) In the end, we changed our plans and decided to go for wave 1, on the reasoning that we would have an additional t-shirt at the end of the race to protect ourselves from the cold.
The atmosphere was fantastic. People lined up at the side of the route cheering the participants. Running past the residential areas, the residents were also outside supporting us. Very unllike local races.
We kept strictly to a 6min/km pace, and time-checked ourselves at almost every km marker. Also we did a taste-test of their isotonic drink - theirs tasted even more diluted than those provided in local races. Just after the halfway mark, I had confirmed that the colder temperate is helping me dissipate the heat generated by my body. At about the 7km mark, we turned to run alongside the shore. The wind was strong. Aldric complained of the cold, while I simply enjoyed the breeze.
We safely completed the 10km within the 1hr cut-off.
For the rest of the Saturday, my arch was pulsing with pain. Very worrying. Not sure what caused it. The 10km was completed at a leisurely enough pace. I was wearing my Kayanos for the 10km. And my last run prior to departure was the Sunday before. Not enough support, not likely. Not enough rest, not likely.
Perhaps due to the combination of a swim in the *cold* swimming pool, plus soaking my feet in the bath tub of cold water, the pain was finally numbed and subsided by the evening. (oh yes, we were the 2 crazy guys swimming in the gold coast winter.)
Sunday. We were all arranged to set off from the hotel at 5.15am, earlier than the day before. Race was to start at 7.10am. Oh well, we were early enough to take several group photos right in front of the start line. Then, somehow Aldric and I lost the rest of the folks. We ended up having our hot coffee to warm ourselves again.
Soon after, we made our way to the start pens. Aldric parked himself in one of the sub-4 pens, while I proceeded to between the 4:15 and 4:30 markers. The 4:15 pacers carried yellow balloons, the 4:30 black balloons. The plan was to overtake the 4:15 pacers at some point, and made sure I would be in front of them for the rest of the way.
After all the training, it is already an achievement to be there at the race start; the race is just a formality - a nice reminder from one of the elites at the Carbo-Loading lunch on Saturday.
It starts.
START-10km. I overtook the yellow balloons 2km into the race. Nicely on pace and built up a 1:30min buffer. The weather was cooling and good, my body is dissipating the heat it generates. Ran past someone with "Ironman: If you have to ask why, you will never understand." printed on the back. Cool. I want one too.
10-20km. I started to choose people to pace. First it was a bunch of ladies dressed in bright red, easy to spot. I think they are from some running club. Then I spotted a man, perhaps in his late forties or fifties. His top was printed with some super-duper ultra of 1000+km that I believed he did. Respect. Paced him for a few kms right up until the U-turn point, then I pushed forward. I knew I just had to just maintain the buffer, which had increased to 3mins.
20-30km. The distance markers were pretty small and hard to spot actually. I managed to spot the "Halfway" marker, and time-checked. It was a low 2-hr. Was that a PB???! Well, although I had already been doing such times during training, (unofficially) breaking it during a Full just seemed too crazy. Ok, let's concentrate on the bigger picture. I was still on pace and all I had to do now was to ensure I maintained the buffer. Started to pace a Japanese. He looked fast, and I knew I need the speed to keep pace. Barely 1km, I lost him at a hydration station.
Passing Surfer's Paradise, there was a stretch where there were no shade and the sun was just beating down. Reminds me of Singapore's tropical climate. I *really* appreciated the cool weather here during the race.
30-40km. Returning back to the start point for the final 12km, I knew I'm slowing down. The buffer was now down to 2mins. Took a glance backwards, and I could see the yellow balloons nearer now. Alright, ignore the balloons and focus on what I needed to do, because the bridge is coming up. It sapped much energy from me. The start point was just ahead, and the Japanese drummers were still there. I tried to absorb some sound energy from them. Then, another up-slope. A climb up to the 10km start point. I thought I would walk. "But how can I walk with all the supporters lining both sides of the road cheering everyone on??!!" Following a fellow runner just ahead of me, I started hi-fiving the people along the barricade. It was a miracle. I found myself at the top of the slope without knowing I climbed it.
The yellow balloons had caught up with me. I tried to keep to their pace, only successful for just 1km. The rest of the route traces the 10km that we did the day before. Good, because it helped me to visualise the route. What didn't help was the cramps that is developing in my quads at the 33km mark. What went wrong? Why the cramps? My hopes of meeting my target were slowly dimmed as the yellow balloons disappears in front.
Many thoughts ran through my mind. To walk most of the way and not even bettering StanChart's time was one of them. I remembered a guy on the centre divider giving out beers! A part of me wanted one and hell with the rest of the race. Again, the spectators helped. Be it the hi-fives or just the words of encouragement, even if they were not for me but for others, all these helped heaps to take my mind off the pain and suffering. Subsequently, the negative thoughts went away.
Just before the 40km mark, I remembered doing mental sums that if I could complete this last 3kms under 20mins, the timing would still not be too far off my original target. It is not easy to describe the situation at this stage: I was running as much as I can, and also walking a little here and there to relieve the cramps. I would have to rely on my final acceleration at about the 41km mark. Realistically, I know the last burst is not enough to make up for the difference, but it is always a nice way to deceive yourself so as to push further and to go faster. No matter what happened, I'll not allow the black balloons to come anywhere near me.
40-FINISH. The supporters at the final 1-2kms were just fantastic and atmosphere electric. Lots of people lining the final stretch cheering and providing the much needed support. I would certainly remember this as my first race being able to enjoy my final burst from both the speed and the cheers!
Yes, I did not hit my target completion time. Yes, I was hit by cramps. But yes I achieved 2 PBs on Sunday. And also yes a pat on the back for a nicely executed first 30kms. They say the marathon doesn't really starts until the 30km; it's so true. It is bittersweet; sweeter than it is bitter, I think. Thank you Gold Coast for all your support.
And the 2 crazy guys went swimming again... on Sunday and Monday!
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