Run Melbourne Part 2 (After)
I DID IT!
According to my Runkeeper iPhone app, I finished the 5km course in 29.04.
YEAH!
My fastest time before today was over 32 minutes, so I was really stoked.
Especially considering that there were three absolutely MASSIVE hills throughout the run, which I wasn’t expecting.
My original goal when I first signed up for Run Melbourne was to finish the 5km course without stopping to walk, which I did.
I had also originally expected that it would take me around 35 minutes, so I am one very happy runner today!
I started the day with my super dooper energising almond butter oats:
Mr and I then jumped on the train and headed into Federation Square. It. Was. CRAZY:
We avoided the aerobic warmup and went straight down to the starting line. Although I had signed up for the 30-35 minute wave, we decided to start right up the front in the under 30 minute wave – for extra motivation.
Imagine how we felt when the announcer said ‘Ok folks, 1 minute until the under 25 minute wave starts!’. Uh-oh. Do we move or do we go? DO WE MOVE OR DO WE GO!?
We went.
And boy was it fast. Usually I like to run my first kliometre at a nice easy pace, around 7 minutes per km. My first kilometre was over in 5:50. YEAH! I had to be so careful to pace myself and not run too fast – I knew that if I went too hard at the start that I would have to stop and walk.
The course was a lot tougher than I had anticipated – there were three huge hills: Anderson St, the footbridge and the William Barak Bridge. For the last few months, I’ve found that my second wind kicks in around the 3km mark. Didn’t happen today, and I blame the giant hills! Huge thank you to the group of lovely people cheering us on holding up ‘Smiling makes you run faster’ posters – it’s true!
I had been planning to sprint the last kilometre, and knew that I would be annoyed with myself if I didn’t try, so off I went, up the last hill. Suddenly the finish line was in view, I could see the crowd cheering, the timer was under 30 minutes and I RAN FOR MY LIFE!
29.04! Average pace 5:49 per kilometre. And Mr finished one minute before me in 28 minutes exactly.
Despite finishing one minute apart, we lost each other. When I finished the run I looked around and couldn’t see him. I kept moving with the crowd, collecting my Powerade and The Age tote, got my timer tag cut off and collected my bag, assuming that Mr was doing the same. HE was at the finish line waiting for me to cross! I had accidentally crossed the finish line under the half marathon time display (heh heh heh), and he missed me. He sat there, waiting. 35 minutes. 40 minute. 45 minutes. At 48 minutes he decided that I had either
1. Tripped over and hurt myself (likely)
2. Tripped over and hurt someone else (also likely)
3. Had an asthma attack.
He then came up to Federation Square, collected his bag and saw the 10 missed calls from me.
Next year, I think that we will organise a meeting point.
Off we went back home with our medals and feeling very proud of ourselves. Our reward? Homemade pizza!
After competing in Run Melbourne today, I am hooked. I am already looking into other events that I can compete in this year, and contemplating whether to try a 10km run.
If you’re reading this and thinking about entering next year, DO IT! Then you can look as happy me:
Food gobbler. Wine lover. Kitteh keeper. Gen-Y. Fiancée. Twitter addict.
Fighting the war against Leggings As Pants one fashion victim at a time... 
WOOOOT!!! congratulations!!
I’ll see ya there next year ;)
How good does that finisher’s medal feel? I’ve got a collection of them and they all have great memories attached.
It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement, isn’t it! The first 10k of a 1/2 marathon I did is still my PB over 10k (I won’t tell you what the rest of the 1/2 was like).
Well done!
Omg, good work! :D No wonder you look so happy – that is a fantastic result.
YAY!!!!!!!! You did well :D Sprinting the last K- that is massive! I hate the singing bridge! Will you be doing the Yarra Valley run then? It has 8 ks!
Shelly: I’m going to hold you to that!
Nick:probably best that you don’t tell me. Thank you. :D
Agnes: Thank you! I was really happy with my time!
Piggy: I was thinking about doing the Yarra run – are you doing it??
I did mothers day classic in march.. I too, am hooked.. So I am now off to do the half marathon in October… Will I be ready..?
Hey Miss Melbourne
Nah I probably won’t do the Yarra Run :( It’s too far… Hubby doesn’t like driving too far LOL City grid = too far :P
Em – I can’t believe you’re training for the half. You’re amazing.