Here I am at (on left) 37km with my running friend. Some pain going through my body!

The Marathon......long bloody way!

The trip to Melbourne was fantastic. I had a blast.
I went down with Tara, Michael & Richard
We stayed out at Frankston in this 2 bedroom apartment. It was a really nice place.
Went for a run when we got down there on Friday. Went for another run Saturday morning & must have walked 42km on Saturday going up & down Chapel st.

The race

The race started off 10min late & was just starting to rain. The rain was with me for only the first 500m.
Now each km
1km - 3:53 - Just trying to find my pace. All good

2km - 3:54 - Thinking I'll try to stat between 3:50 & 4:00 for the first 10km. All good

3km - 3:50 - This was my fastest km. Not sure why I went quicker here. I was just feeling good running with a small group of guys

4km - 3:54 - Still on target. I'm just starting to sweat...but I could feel at this stage my legs slightly heaver than they should be. Still all good though

5km - 4:00 - I decided to slow the pace just a little. Staying on the safe side. I dropped off that bunch I was with & was running on my own. Mabye not the best idea.

6km - 3:53 - Better pick up the pace again. Start running with this guy. I ask him what time he's going for. 2:50 he tells me......mmmm.....I'm going slightly quicker than I should. I'm feeling a bit too heavy in the legs than I should be at this stage

7km - 3:56 - Just slow down a bit. I want to hang on to this pace for the next 3km then I'll slow just a bit more. Legs have come good again

8km - 3:58 - Still hanging under 4min. I let that guy go ahead of me.

9km - 3:55 - Wow I'm feeling pretty good. Need a drink though

10km - 3:57 - First 10km done. So far so good. So far nice & flat. So far great tail wind. Is this going to last???

11km&12km - 8:01 - I missed the 11km marker. My next goal is to run between 3:55 & 4:05 to the 15km mark. Legs getting a bit tired but still on track

13km - 4:05 - Ummmm bit slower on this one......Had a bit of cross wind but the tail wind is still strong

14km - 3:56 - Now this pace was better. But I had to pick it up at the end of the km to get that time. The head wind is just starting!

15km - 4:08 - Head wind & a hill. Legs starting to get even heavier. I'm still feeling stong

16km - 4:10 - I thinking those sub 4min are gone so I decide to try to go for 4:05 & 4:15 pace.
The wind is kicking along now and I'm in among the hills.

17km - 4:10 - Damn it is windy. I'm still doing ok on my splits, but it is getting hard!

18km - 4:16 - Ohhh dear.....that was slow! I'm thinking to myself that I need a sports drink. I get one around this stage

19km - 4:20 - Quite hilly here & the wind is killing me! Hang in there Darren...It will get better. I decide to stay at this pace for a bit. I need to get some energy back or I'm gonna be in the shit!

20km - 4:22 - Hills, wind, hills, wind!

21km - 4:16 - Bit of flat & slight tail wind back....phew! Starting to feel bit better. Also 1/2 way there!

22km - 4:12 - Find someone to run with. No talking done, but we get along like a house on fire. We help each along just picking the pace up slightly

23km - 3:58 - That was a better km.....good tail wind & a down hill

24km - 4:32 - I did that km slower than I wanted to. I knew I had to slow but that was too slow. I decide to pick up the pace again. All muscles feel good, just heavy

25km - 4:14 - Start to get a stitch...damn!

26km - 4:07 - Run through the stitch & have that tail wind behind me. Karen the leading female has caught up to me so I run with her. We get chatting. It's her first marathon & she's only 28. She has a few guys pacing her along

27km - 4:13 - I'm still running with Karen & her crew but not sure If I can hang on for to much longer. She's cruising along & I'm in a bit of pain!

28km - 4:07 - Still with her & the pace picks up a bit. I decide I'll stay with her for one more k then let her go

29km - 4:16 - I let Karen go. If I keep up that pace I'm gonna suffer very soon.
I'm feeling tired now & I'm back to running on my own. People are starting to pass me. I have heaps of petrol left in the tank but need to get my energy levels back. Time to slow a bit

30km - 4:15 - That km was better than I thought. Only 12km to go. Other than feeling tired I'm doing ok

31km - 4:18 - Still on my own & now feeling buggered...can I hang on? I start to worry. This Is where the race really starts. Have I done enough long runs? I'll soon find out

32km - 4:20 - I want to stay under 4:30 & say to myself only 10km to go.....people are passing me & I need someone to run with. This guy passes me & I ask him how he's feeling & he tells me he's stuffed! This guys passing me!!!

33km - 4:25 - This guy catches me & I decide to try & stay with him. We run together....I have a new running partner! My legs, feet, toes, & toe nails are starting to hurt!

34km - 4:31 - Only 8km to go I tell my new running friend. What time you after I ask him....he was hoping for around 2:50...I tell him I was hoping for under 2:55........we know both those times are out of reach. How many marathons you done I ask him & it's his first!

35km - 4:29 - I NEED FOOD! I run past the coolrunners tent & grab a snake. I also had a gel with water & i"m feeling good again

36km - 4:23 - We pick it up a bit, but think that was a fluke........not only is my whole lower body in pain but now I have pain in my arms.
I cough & could feel my head explode!

37km - 4:32 - Bugger!....why do I do this......The crowd is keeping us going.....I',m still with my running friend but am in agony!

38km - 4:33 - I can feel my hip flexors, quads, glutes & hamstring saying SITDOWN!!!!!! I tell my friend only 4k to go. I try to surge but that only lasted for around 50m then back to a slog!

39km - 4:34 - The crowd is cheering us, but I've had it...must keep going

40km - 4:47 - I'm gone. The only thing keeping me going is???? I have no idea. Just keep plodding to the end

41km - 4:58 - ALMOST THERE! 1.2km to go. Bugger it. I put in all I have

42.2km - 5:01 - OVER & OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

all done WOW what a journey!

There you go..all over. What an experience it's been! Have to plan the next one now.
I done the marathon in 2:57:56. I wanted to finish under 2:55 but still happy with the run.
I'll post the race in detail tomorrow & the trip to Melbourne.
I'll put in detail how I felt for every one of those 42km.
I came 73rd out of around 1300 people, so not a bad effort

easy run, long drive

I'm writing this ver early on Friday morning (3am) Stupid bloody dog next door decided to start barking now I can't get back to sleep!
Anyway since I forgot to write yesterday I may as well do it now.
Plane leaves soon & I had to get up at 4am.

The run I did yesterday (Thursday) was a very easy, flat 14k from Belmont to Blacksmith beach then back. I really took my time. I ran without a watch so I have no idea of the pace.
Legs were good, slightly heavy though. I'm hoping it will all come together on Sunday & they will feel like they have an extra spring in them!

I dropped my girls back. Long drive from Newie to Uladulla. (spelling??? They have a van down there) then drove back to the Central Coast.

It was sad to see them go again. We had such a blast these holidays.

Friday will be no running, just getting my way to Melbourne.

4 days to go!

Tiff getting all buried!

Kenisha your looking so grown up!


Not long now!!! No running today, just spent it with my girls.
Took them shopping then to the beach.
We spent around 2hrs at the beach
Thats pretty much my day. I decided to shave my head....(might make me run faster!) I haven't shaved my head all year.
tomorrow I'll do an easy 10-12k in the morning. I have to drop my girls back tomorrow:( how quick the week has gone