10K - 92 seconds away...

Evening all, Aussie here with another (yes, another) post race report. Today's race was only 6 days after the 8.2 miler and it's the 10K Riverside Run... a replay of my first ever 10K back in July where I managed a 1:07:24 in pretty hot conditions....

So - I know the course and I'm down there about 20 minutes before the fun begins... pick up my race pack, pin on the number (easy now - getting used to this) and then make my way to the start line... It's not really phased but we're going to be going off in waves today so looks like I'm in the third wave... no bother there, we're all looking for chip time here anyway (except the really fast ones)...

Bit of a wait and then before I know it, we're off down the towpath... and today I'm pushing myself a bit harder than normal... serious face on, heart rate up and away we go... it's warmer than I thought it would be today so that's making things a little bit interesting but nothing I can't deal with... lots of mud and puddles about and I just decide the best option is to run through them... too much messing about to dodge them! I've learnt now to use someone in front of me to pace myself and then if I feel they're a bit slower than I want to be going, I pull out past them... No point pacing too slow now if you want a PB...

The first 3km tick on by without much fuss (although I'm wondering if I have gone out too fast by now) and I'm letting Miss Garmin tell me timing information... 5k in and I'm at a 30 minute 5k... all I can think now is "negative split" and you'll get a sub 60 minute 10k Aussie... off we go!

Well, not quite the way it worked out... buoyed by my 5K time and my pushing to date, kilometers 6-7 saw me slow down a bit (not much, but "over 6min/km" pace) - not to worry... I was feeling quite tired at the 7KM mark as we passed the event village when I got a huge push from the 2 little Vegemites ... "Go on Daddy! 2.5KM to go!".... Onward we go then! Put the pedal and think maybe I can make up the time then... the encouragement from the crowds and the kiddos really does help and I push on as hard as I dare (knowing I've still got to head to Richmond and back yet)....

Alas, the tank is emptying quickly and I hit 9K at 56 minutes.... to pull out a sub 60 10K today I'm going to need a 4 minute kilometre... not today my friends, but maybe next time! I still did manage to pull the "Aussie Special Sprint Finish" today though and overtook about 5-6 people in the last 400m of the race... I still had a little bit left in the tank but I was on fumes!

I cross the line in a time of 1:01:32 with the Vegemites running beside me, almost a full SIX minutes faster than I ran the same course 3 months ago... If you ever need proof that pace comes by keeping at it and practicing - there it is...

It was a hard race today... I needed a few minutes post-race before I could talk to the kiddos, but I pushed myself as hard as I dared to and I ran the whole way... and 10K is a looong way!

Really happy with myself and so pleased that even with all the stuff life is throwing my way now (work, travel, stresses) that running is the one constant... it centres me, it keeps me sane and it keeps me fit... and I have the most awesome family supporting me out on races... it's fantastic!

Happy running y'all... Hope you Parkrunners had a top run today and good luck for all of you racing tomorrow!

PS. Mrs Aussie is about to embark on Week 5... she's not been as disciplined as she'd like, but she is getting there... won't be long and we'll be running 5Ks together...

[aliboo70]

Well done Aussie! great report as always and a great pace too! Lovely photo of you and the vegemites, that medal collection is building up fast! Congratulations and well done Mrs Aussie too! My OH didn't do c25k, but started running parkruns with me and we can now go out together sometimes, tho hes much faster than me!

[misswobble Graduate in reply to aliboo70]

Well done Aussie. Sounds like you really enjoyed that! Plus you got yet another medal!

Great news about the time! 6 minutes off your last 10 k time. Sheesh !!!!

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Yeah - was smiling a little bit at the improvement... something about the course takes it out of you in the last few kms... it's flat but I think it's the "out and back" nature of it that just saps the energy... you get a boost at 7.5KM, but then realise you've got to go out and back AGAIN to finish.... it's a bit of a mental thing but noticed it last time too...

Next time I'm going to try a single lap race of 10km... I'm going to have me that sub 60!

[Hidden in reply to aliboo70]

Thanks HenPen.... over 80% of the runners yesterday were faster than me...

I did wonder how many of them stepped out the door less than 8 short months ago though...

[Vixchile Graduate]

Sounds like a fantastic finish and an amazing time, you have inspired me to push myself in tomorrow's race. Yesterday I saw a couple run and their child was cycling along merrily too, it was so nice to see. Have a well earned rest and beer now

[Hidden in reply to Vixchile]

Some beer was had I must admit! Best of luck today!

[Hidden]

That sounds like you had great fun, especially getting the support of your family and such an improved time. Glad you have put your injury behind you and find the running such a positive aspect of your life. Good luck to Mrs Aussie on w5 !

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks... it really has changed my life this running lark... everything else around me is in a state of change now but two things are constant... my family and my running....

[AncientMum Graduate]

Congratulations Aussie, that's a great run report and a lovely photo too. I'm very very impressed with your time and the improvement you've made over the past 3months. Be very very proud of yourself

[Hidden in reply to AncientMum]

Thanks EpicMum.... it was a great race... I was chuckling to myself at how I'm now getting used to standing in the crowds waiting for the gun to go off... Back in March I couldn't run for the bus, then all of a sudden I could run for 30 minutes (slowly, on my own)... now I'm fronting up to races with over 1000 people in them to have some "fun" on a weekend...

Surely this isn't really me?

[poppypug Graduate]

Aw Well done Aus, hey that is very impressive taking 6 minutes off your previous time.

Another well deserved, well earned medal to the collection , theyre stacking up nicely.

Little Aussiettes look adorable and must be very proud of their daddy and Well done to Mrs Aus too xxx

[Hidden in reply to poppypug]

Thanks PP - it's so great to have left the injury behind and be out there again... Hope you're doing well! I don't get a lot of time to be on here but I will continue to try to get a weekly update in....

I just looked at the race results and the "Aussie Special Sprint Finish" was certainly worthwhile... one of the people I overtook was another male in my "Veteran" class... one more place up the age graded leaderboard! Ha! 36 out of 48... I'll take that after 8 months of running...

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Ha ha yep that sprint finish certainly paid off

Good to hear from ya Aus, keep on truckin' mate xxx

[Slookie Graduate]

What a great post Aussie. I do love a happy ending and the bit where the wee Vegemites run along with you was just lovely. How great will it be when Mrs Aussie and the little-uns can all join you on a 5k.

[teabreaks Graduate]

I love the pic, and another wonderful post race report

Tell Mrs Aussie good luck for week 5