Sydney Half Marathon – sweet 72 after a 14 year wait !

After Comrades back in June the Sydney Half was my next planned ‘A’ race, I figured the 10 week gap was enough to recover and then sharpen up again.

 

I first broke 74 mins for a half in 2004 and ever since have been trying to break 73 mins. I came agonisingly close in 2005 and 2006 running 73:05 and 73:05 in Milton Keynes and Reading before my move to Australia in 2007. The focus on ultras since 2009 has meant not targeting many half’s as ‘A’ races until last year when I ran a mid 73 up at the Sunshine Coast.

Having recovered from Comrades and with no sign of the Hamstring injury re-surfacing I decided to race myself fit and raced 3 weeks in a row at the Harbour 10km (33:24), Striders North Head (33:40) and City2Surf (47:36). Not sure a coach would suggest that but I don’t have one and I felt great and my confidence was returning.

Over the past 24 mths I have broken all my target time barriers (sub 16 5km, sub 33 10km, sub 18 JP Morgan and sub 48 C2S) except for a sub 73 half. I wanted that 72:xx badly and knew there many not be many opportunities left.
The week leading into the race I felt sharp on Tuesday and tapered off from Weds. I was leaving nothing to chance and had bought a new pair of Nike 4%s for the day.

Having run the Sydney Half the past two years I had a decent idea of what to expect, except that the course had been changed to 4 laps of 5.275km. All I needed to do was hold 3 mins 26 per km on the flat and fast course. My only concern was the 8 u-turns which would cost valuable seconds.

I love the Homebush venue because it makes for a relaxed build up, easy to park, easy to warm up on the course, easy to find a loo etc

Warmed up with Stromie and soon bumped into Sammy, Gidon and lots of usual suspects. Followed my ‘A’ race routine, CurraNZ 1 hour pre race, revvie and gel 30 mins pre race and as an added bonus a 4-5km warm up in fresh shiny new orange Nikes !

800 plus on the start line and line up alongside Aussie 100km team mates Gary and Brendan. Nice smooth start, ideal 12 degree temperature and its game on, no excuses. First km in 3:25 and straight into rhythm. Soon through the first lap in 18:08, just need 3 more of those ! Quick chat with Gary and confirm we will both push for our first sub 73’s. Only concern is that there is no-one else close by to help, there is a decent pack around Benny Saint ahead but they are too fast to contemplate chasing. Lap 2 passes by with no issues, 36:20 ish and on target. Gary as always starts to push on and I stick with him but we are starting to lap people and get split up and he gaps me.
Now it’s a time trial but I just tick off the kms one by one a few 3:27s and 3:28s on the slight inclines but 3:22 and 3:24 as we sweep around the stadium and down Olympic Blvd. Average pace remains spot on.
Legs feel good but got to keep pushing through the back markers. Got blocked a few times and zig zag a bit but try to be as efficient as I can and run the racing line where I can. Lap 3 done and the PB is on, legs feel good, breathing under control, pushing it but feeling pumped. Push around the stadium and down Olympic Blvd for the last time, watch bleeps a 3:19, don’t get carried away, 3:28 with the u-turns and heading for home. Mental battle is on, tell myself I will never get a better chance of breaking 73 and shout at myself ‘Fuxking come on’ (very unlike me !). pushing through the field, 3:27, 3:26, 3:26- perfect. One final push back up to the finish line and a 3:23 to end up in 72:31 ! Boom a 32 second PB, 9th overall in the NSW State Champs. Stoked to hear Gary has gone sub 72 !

Great event again although getting too busy for that course. Flat but not perfect with the 8 u-turns although 4 were around a softer long curve.

Racing plans paid off and the mix of endurance and speed was about right.

Love ringing the PB bell. Warm down then soon time to join the kids in the 2km fun run. Run with 10 year old Cadence who has challenged me that I can’t keep up with her after my race ! Stoked to watch her push through the field to finish 7th overall and 2nd female in 8:24. I nearly didn’t keep up after all ! Watching her receive her silver medal capped off an awesome morning. Next up the Sydney marathon……