In 2007 I entered and ran the Melbourne Marathon in 4hrs 10minutes. This was a great return to form for me, and my best time since 2005. The incredible excitement of this event, recharged my enthusiasm for chasing a PB, and getting my training back on track, despite the daily challenges I face to stay motivated, and keep training and racing. I dashed over for one night only on my own. Was excellent, but I missed not having my wife and child there, even though it is more of a challenge to get organised when they are around.
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In 2008 I DNFed at 23km due to hurting my ankle badly in the first 1km, and it swelling up like a duck egg so I couldnt even walk anymore the pain was so bad.
Was very disappointing, as my resting heart rate was under 45 on race morning, and after a missing my PB by 8 seconds with a 3.55.10 in the Perth Marathon in July 2008, I thought I would be a big chance of the PB in Melbourne. To compound the disappointment, my wife Kathryn who struggled along with 1 year old Jacob in the 5km, couldnt find the right gate at the MCG, so none of us made it to the finish. A good learning experience looking back, but very painful,agonisingly disappointing at the time. About as demoralising as the 2007 trip was encouraging. More about this trip HERE.... ----------------------------------------------------------------
In 2009 I ran onto the MCG in the Marathon after 4hrs 11min 33 secs. (this included a 16 minute toilet break, and a 4 minute blister break, so once again the PB escaped being beaten somehow.)... My wife Kathryn and 2 year old Jacob made it onto the MCG in the 5km, and overall as a family event it was a lot of fun, and a big success, which was very encouraging, and most importantly erased the disappointment of the previous year. However while very happy with the whole time, I still felt like there was unfinished business with the PB not yet smashed. Especially as my training was very focused, I hit a record low resting heart rate of 41 beats per minute a few days before the race, my RHR was 43 on race morning, and I went through 5km in 23min 21, 14km in 68minutes 39 secs (about 3hrs 28min pace), and despite the blister slowing me down still managed to get to Halfway in 1hr 47min 01 secs. (3hrs 34 pace)...I felt I was capable of 3.30's to 3.50's on that day. I made the fatal mistake the night before of eating a massive pasta and beans meal at 1am, only 6 hours before the race, which meant I had trouble cleaning my system of all solids in time for the 7am start. After two toilet stops on race morning (one at our apartment, and another at the MCG) I thought I would be right, but by 24km I needed another (and it was a long 16minute one.), and this killed my PB chances. next time i would make sure I don't eat after 6pm the night before. Again a good learning experience and I was very proud of my wife and 2 year old especially, and it got me back on track racingwise after a terrible slide into bad health at the beginning of the year. A special memorable and happy trip, despite the PB not being beaten. Video and photos on my blog and follow links from HERE.... -----------------------------------
In 2010 I arrived on the MCG for the 3rd time in 4 years, in a time of 4 hours 05 minutes and 21 seconds. Half splits were 1.46/2.18. Calf strain at 20km destroyed my race and almost forced a DNF. Resting heart rate of 35 on race morning, and the ease with which I hit 2km in 8.46, 5km in 22.40, 10km in 48.00 14km in 68.08, and 20km in 1.40.50 suggested a big PB was likely, but then the calf strain/tear hit and the battle to finish was very significant, due to having to nurse the injury for about 22km.
More on that @ HERE......
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In 2011 I improved my Melbourne Marathon time to 4hrs 2 minutes. Half splits 1.47/2.15. Got to 1km in 4.07, 2km in 8.42, 3km in 13.10, 6km in 27.40 10km in 47.35, 14km in 68.31, 20km in 1.41.06, Half in 1.47.35, 28km in 2.26.56 and 30km in 2.38.49. Due to too big a gap between drinks at 25km and 37km, and need for an extra gel into the headwind, I badly faded out to 7min 30 K's using a walk jog strategy to survive to my drinks at 37km in 3.31, and then came home ok although battling severe cramps after getting to 39km in 3.45. PB chance wasted! ----------------------------------------------------
