running race (McLaren Vale Half Maratho) 1:37:04 [5] 21.1 km (4:36 / km)
shoes: Asics Gel 2140
This new run goes from McLaren Vale to Willunga and back then for a couple km out to the west and back following the bike path which is the old railway line. Don't know why I thought it would be flat....
Figured that if I was going to do under 98min then each 3km split would need to be 14 min. Took off a bit slowly because I was reminding myself not to do City-Bay pace. It's actually downhill to Willunga, but I was plodding a bit because of the sun on my back. After the turnaround at 8km I felt better and was faster back up the hill with the breeze in my face. Hit a small wall at 15km and managed to drop half my jellybeans, wished I'd had a drink earlier, but figured I just had to manage the next 4km and the last 2 would run themselves. Out to the west it was quite warm, a slight uphill in a railway cutting. There was debate afterwards about whether the turnaround 2.5km from the end was actually in the right place - apparently the 10km ended up about half a k longer than it should have been. Anyway, the last 1km was downhill - woohoo - and it took me 4.12, so I just snuck in under 97 min by my watch. 6th woman. And it took me less time than the Aust long champs, so I was happy!
3km splits:
14.14
28.05 (13.51)
42.06 (14.01)
55.43 (13.37)
69.14 (13.31)
73.16 (14.02)
96.59 (13.46)
Lauren, after impressively running the 10km in 41 (1st woman, 5th overall?) kindly escorted Zara the last 5km; Zara finished in 102 min which is pretty good for not having raced recently.
I was talking afterwards to Ben Hockings who was the overall winner in 76min. He said this was 16 sec slower than the Greenbelt Half for him, and I realised it was for me, too. Felt a lot tougher though, but I definitely wasn't as fresh going into this. So I guess I'm satisfied. Ready for a nap now...