I woke to the alarm at 4:50am, the sun still asleep and the air crisp. It was race day and the time had come to see if all my training had paid off. I went through the game plan in my head as I threw down some coco pops and a banana in nervous anticipation of the day’s event to come. The plan was to beat the 75min 11km cut off with me and Brendan running together making sure we both made it (well me really J ), aiming for a first lap time of 70mins. We would go our separate ways after that and let what happens happen.

It was about 6:30am when we arrived at the start line, which turned out to be about the right time if you wanted to avoid the queues for the 50 portaloo’s that lined either side of street. Having hydrated up on the way in I made use of the facilities. It wasn’t long before the crowds started to swell and the lines to the portaloo’s grow. It turns out we are not the only ones crazy enough to think that getting up early on a Sunday and running 21.1km’s is a fun thing to do.

There were super human beings and not so super mortals moving around like water making its way down stream. People all around talking strategy, how there training has been interrupted and they are not going to post a good time, catching up with old friends as we stood in the middle of the crowd back from the start line taking it all in. There were all sorts of running get ups around, a guy in the monkey suits (he actually ran a good time), prisoner outfits and some really funky throw away out fits.

The crowd began to surge forward as the announcer could be heard starting to talk over the chatter. The race was about to begin. “Good luck”, “see you at the finish line”, “Only 21kms to go”. Old throw away clothes started flying left right and center over the crowd, some making it to the side some landing on unexpected heads.

BANG the race was on. Here we go, stick to the plan, don’t go out to hard on the first lap.

The crowd slowly surged forward as the gun was heard, not hitting running pace for a few hundred meters down the road where space began to open up in front. We ran into the Rocks and got the first 1km under our legs. We ran under the Harbor Bridge the morning sun shining on the light poles rapped in old mattresses, the harbor in full view. It was a perfect morning for a run. It was a relatively easy run with a slight incline up Pitt St until we made a right turn and headed up Hunter St hill, the challenge had begun. We ran a pace slightly slower then the masses making sure we left enough energy to beat the clock at 11km 75min cut off. The course weaved its way up to St Mary’s out and back along Lady Macquarie chair back down to Hunter Street, through Circular Quay and up Argyle street before finishing back down at the beginning of the rocks.

We ended up making the 11km mark at just under 70mins as planned. It was from here that we went our separate ways. Brendan powered off as I struggled around for the second lap. It was clear that I was not ready to run the full race, but I had always known that. The second lap was going to be all mental. I made my way around the course getting over taken continually. I remained focused and narrowed my goals to the second street light, that tree, the drink station, St Mary’s, the Campervan (park in the wrong spot), down Hunter St Hill (“Go Ian yelled mum and Dad”), circular quay, don’t die going up Argyle St, the St Johns Ambulance, the bridge, the race clock, the finish line.
Done! Finishing in 2hrs 35min and coming 4611th. Nothing flash in terms of speed but one needs to set easy PB’s to beat. Brendan managed to power on and finished 30mins in front of me.

• Gun Time: 156.58min
• Net Time: 155.36min
• Place: 4611