The Horrie and Belinda Show

4/2/06

I knew when we turned up and had to keep driving well past where we usually park our car that we were looking at a big turnout. Then when we had to line up to get our numbers and then being told that we were running out of Striders numbers, this only confirmed it.

As usual, Cool Runners galore including a few doing their Striders 10km debuts including Dash Incredible and Chunderbolt. When it took us 13 seconds to cross the start line, I joked with the 55 minute train that we were already 13 seconds off the pace. We had halved that time off the pace by the time we got to 1km. We were back on track at 2km, then came the climb and descent of Scribbly's and we were starting to put a bit of time in the bank. Another quick km for the 4th km saw us now have around 20 seconds in the bank. But as the majority of 4-6km is uphill, I knew we would need it. I let the runners at the front of the train go ahead while I doubled back and tried to round up the runners at the rear, trying to encourage them up the hill. I ran with Kanser's wife for a while but as her breathing got heavier and the runner up ahead started to walk, I knew I had to surge back up to the lead runners in the group to get back on pace. I was happy when we reached 6km about 25 seconds behind the pace as I was confident we could make this up with a majority of the last 4km downhill. Belinda had been running a very controlled race up until this point and I was confident she could come in under 55 minutes, while quite a few on the train started to fall off the pace. Then as we run the few uphills in the 7-8km, Belinda started to fall off as well. Then she made a surge on the downhill to 8km and jumped back on.However, when we reached 8km and we were still 20-25 seconds off the pace, I was a little concerned. The 9th km was a good one and we started to pick off tiring runners but Belinda was starting to really feel it here. I told her and another woman who I had picked up who had started to tire that we would run sub 55 if we ran 5:15 for the last km and that as it is downhill, we could do it. We opened up the stride and started to pick up momentum. So much that they were both really struggling to keep up. Then a check of the watch told me I was running at 4:45/km pace, I realised I opened the stride up a fraction too much. I then slowed and ran with a couple of runners who I had picked up. Realising I was still ahead of schedule, I stopped and told the woman to keep going as she would be well under 55. Belinda was then surprised to see me, thinking she had blown the chance. I told her to come with me and she would finally get that sub 55. Coming across the weir, hearing the cheers from people at the finish, she really opened her stride up and finished in 54:54. She was ecstatic but only about half as excited as Kit, who was going off big time.

A quick catch up with a few after the race before we headed off. It was a great way to finish off a great race, very well organised by all the Striders volunteers. We're champing at the bit to run at Homebush next month. See you all there.