Another cracking day and very pleased with a new PB, if only by a few seconds.

Once again in early 2019 when I planned out my priority races for the year, City2Surf wasn’t high on the list. With Comrades in June I wasn’t  expecting to have the speed to nail a good C2S. However, as with previous years I couldn’t help but enter and be part of one of the best social run days of the year. City2Surf is slowly becoming my London Marathon ( I ran it 10 yrs in a row before moving to Australia), it’s the only race that has the numbers, the buzz and gets non-runners asking if you ran and how you went. The significance of the race continues to grow on me, especially having watched the footage of Deek and Mona in the 80s/90s.

This year it was again a ‘B’ race for me, meaning I wouldn’t train specifically or taper off but would run hard on the day and give it all I could. With Sydney Marathon, my next ‘A’ race, only 4 weeks away, I didn’t want to taper off and lose volume having just started to get back towards a reasonable peak.

Race lead up

Had some big weeks, racing Sydney Harbour 10km (33:24) then a big weekend of Striders 10km (33:40) followed by a 37km long run at 4.10 pace the weekend before C2S.

Race day

Up at 5.30am, 2.5km jog to Gordon station, train to Milsons Point and then jog over bridge and up to St Mary’s. Checked into the elite venue and shared some banter with Bruce, Tom and a few others. Such a privilege getting looked after in the elite start but there I spy a table full of Tim Tams and Chocolate Digestive biscuits- seriously takes a lot of will power not to munch on a few. Off to St Mary’s gates for some run throughs and catch up with a few more HuRTs boys and girls.

Take 2 CurraNZ tablets 60 mins before the race and a gel and Revvie 30 mins out.

Love the buzz on the start line, some excited faces and some nervous ones too. Gidon wearing an ‘old’ shirt over his singlet that was better than many of mine and all of Timmy’s ! hopefully someone made use of it once discarded and collected.

Off we go, solid start but not too fast as still a bit nervous about my hamstring. Watch CT disappear off and then Lachie and Travis cruise past. Sat with the leading lady and a decent group of 5-6 for a bit. Running to feel but pushing the pace.

On to Rose Bay where Phil Dove shouts out that I’m in 58th and I feel that’s a good platform to push into the top 50 again.

Before you know it we are on to Heartbreak Hill. Hold position, and reel in a few others. Push on again and up to 10km, legs holding up ok given no taper but couldn’t go any faster.

Gaining ground on CT and Neil who I can see up ahead. Through 10km in around 34:45 ish from memory.

Push on again, reckon I’m about 51st now and only one runner overtaken me. Just focus on the guy ahead and try to slowly reel in Neil, then CT.

Hills behind us and tell myself to push again. Have to say the Nike 4%s still feeling good despite the 250km or so in them now.

Slowly reel in CT and hand on to him, quick exchange of words as reckon we are in the top 50 or so. Time to push down the hills, nervous about my hammy but no signs of any flare ups so commit. Nasty head wind in Bondi but tell myself it will be behind me when we turn. Check behind me on switch backs and have a gap and unlikely to be over taken from here. Around the final bend and see a PB is on.

Over the line in 47:43 (gun) net of 47:36 and a few secs off my PB, stoked given no taper and a sign of a return to form. Legs held up well, aided by the Nikes.

Keep moving

After a good chat with the HuRTs contingent and congratulations on some great runs I grab my bag and set off on a recovery jog. Head back into the city with Brendan Davies, starting slow but legs soon loosening up. Brendan and I have just been picked in the Australian 100km team again and so started making plans for the team and race, scheduled for Jordan in November.

Parted ways with Bren as I cut across from Paddo to Rushcutters to join the course again and rendezvous with Courtney (wife) and Cadence (10 yr old daughter) who were in the yellow group. Finally caught them up after weaving through a few thousand runners and completed the course again with them, racking up 18km to make it 37km for the day and certainly earned a bacon and egg roll and beer courtesy of Tom and Allen’s. Was great experiencing the atmosphere with the fun runners and seeing the sheer number of them enjoying the event.

Another awesome day, love hearing the stories, lots of new PBs , and so proud of Cadence completing her first C2S with no complaints. What a great experience for a 10 year old. Great end to a good training block (400km in 3 weeks including some great quality) and laying some solid foundations for the Sydney marathon in Sept and Asian 100km Champs in Nov.