The Horrie and Belinda Show

22/4/07

Very happy and very surprised to smash through the 90 minute barrier today. After seeing Sarge's post leading into the event, I thought a solid 95 minute effort would be good after the 50km last week. After going through the first km in 4:23 in a fairly big pack, that looked the way it was heading. Before long, Sailaway and Blue Dog were taking the pack forward and when the garmin beeped at 2km I was surprised to see a 4 minute km. I made a remark between there and the drink station at 2.5km that we were running a bit quicker than planned. Professor, who we had reeled in that 2nd km told me that we were full of sh.. After seeing an average of 4:07 per km when the garmin beeped at 3km, I thought I would just sit behind Blue Dog who was just sitting in behind Sailaway. I reached 5km in 20:43 and I was now starting to think a sub 90 might be on so I just kept chasing. I caught up to Blue Dog at 8km and he asked me how I was. I responded I was happy if I could stick with him. He told me he was starting to struggle and that I should just chase Sailaway. This is what I did for the next 13km. There were times I thought I was gaining on him but then I would check and he just kept edging further ahead. A runner caught me from behind on that last hill and I just tried to go with him but that attempt was as futile as trying to chase Sailaway. So I just worked hard on maintaining my form and rhythm, realising that the pace from early in the race had left me. When I hit the 1km to go sign at 85, I knew I had the sub 90 in the bag so I just held it firm and gradually started to pick the pace up. I love how you are able to find a bit extra when you realise the finish line is in sight. Stopped the clock in 89:02 and then heard the finish announcer call out the same time, I knew that I had done it. I had to pinch myself to make sure I did. I was amazed to carve 3:47 off the old mark when a PB attempt wasn't even in the equation.