Fastest k 4.37
Fastest mile 7.54
Fastest 5k 26.16
Fastest 10k 53.07
Fastest half 1.54.29
Fastest marathon 3.53.35
My alarm went off at 5.25am on a Sunday morning!! So my first thought was to hide under my duvet & dream on. But then I remembered I had to get up for my marathon, that my Freddie Mercury inspired pink super power cape was ready to rock & run.
So I reluctantly rose & got myself race ready = vaselined against the chafe, put on all my fave pink running gear, skins, sneakers & said cape, had my vital greens shot & some electrolyte hydration.
I had a 20 minute walk to the MCG on this mild morning so boosted my energy stores with a banana & was there with 50 minutes to spare before the start at 7am, I was eager and excited!!
When I got to the start area one of the motivational speakers was talking about personal bests, at which I thought 'well that won't be me, just taking it easy' & then plonked my place at the 4 hour marathon pacer, I would just see how I felt & go with the running flow, kind of with a mental challenge in mind.
I had my new garmin programmed to 5.40min k's, 4 hour pace & that felt good, easy for the first half of the race, It kept beeping at me that I was 'ahead of pace' so I would slow & ran my first half steady in 2 hours on the nose. I loved the novelty of my new running technology & it kept me entertained but most importantly paced to perfection.
I got thinking & visualising... I was feeling pretty awesome & strong, I started to really believe I could finish around the 4 hour mark. I started picking up my pace ignoring my garmin telling me I was running too fast & started running just that, fast! Mostly around 5.30min k's give or take a few seconds. My fastest k (sorry garmin for ignoring your pacing but I have fallen in luv with you really & your vital statistics are second to none!!) so my fastest k was at kilometre 36! A 4.47!
That may have been when I got a super boost seeing my beautiful support girls bouncing along beside me & cheering & giving me much luv & luvly energy. By this time I knew I was going to make it in under 4 & running a PB was looking likely if I could just keep it up for another few k's. I passed the 4 hour pace group with a spring in my step & I now had a new running friend, Liz, & we ran the last leg (literally) together which helped me through the tightness & toughness. I did it & though the last k was pretty hellish when the heavens opened & my legs locked but I still managed a last 5.10k ;) & finished in my fastest ever marathon time 5.53.35.
Happy beyond with my effort. & I was just taking it easy! In recovery = vegan nachos & cacao mousse + stretching out & sleeping. & dreaming of my next running adventure.....
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