Jenn on the Run: 2013 10Oct13 - Melbourne Marathon

Crappy sleep due to noise situation at the lodge.

Even KS felt crappy.

Dress up in warm clothing and took a final photo before departing.

Ben from Nike Rundle Mall run group's, advised to me.

Sternly looked at me and said 3 important words

DO Not STOP!

My first thought was, u think easy ah??!!!

But the next time reassured me.

A slow job is still faster than walking

He told me to write it on my hand.

Well, KS did that for me =p

*In truth, in the middle of the run, only my right hand was cold, i kept rubbing it to keep warm.

Next thing i knew, the whole thing was smudged off =p*

It's the thought that counts

Starting time was 7am, we started making our way at 6am.

I would like to say the quiet streets greeted us, but it was Saturday night in Melbourne CBD.

We weren't the only participants making our way.

I thought there would be a huge traffic getting there.

MCG in sight.

KS trying to see if he could blow mist due to the cold

Ok, route review.

Starting off at Batman Ave. There weren't that many runners for the full marathon event so there's no pushing or fighting. It's always wiser to start off on a main road than the stadium.

*photo by Felicity*

Up from Batman Avenue towards Flinders Street, and turning left at the Federation Square (1km mark).
Head downwards along St Kilda Rd. Slight downhill put don't push it (5km mark).
Turn right towards a park with the lake on your left. Nice & flat surface. Getting out of the park towards St Kilda beach was winding with uneven road surfaces.
Beaconsfield Pde at St Kilda beach is a looonnng road. You will see runners on the opposite side.
If you are a leisure runner, stick to the middle & cheer on your friends. If you are chasing for time, keep away and focus on your pace & road. There will always be the thought of "where's the bloody u-turn point?"
A difficulty for 4-eyes (glasses) wearer when it rains. Where do you wipe the moisture off your glasses when your apparel is already drenched?
The route back on St Kilda Rd seemed faster then coming down. I was trying to catch a few runners to pace with.
Getting back was not as straightforward as coming down.
We had to go underneath a flyover, then back up again towards Domain Rd (500m uphill then down again).
At this point, I had reached my limit. I was looking at anything and everything. Noticed another group of runners on the other side of the road, and I was questioning myself if i was running with the correct group.
Even once we reached Federation Square, the other group turned off towards the footpath while I'm still on the main road. Found out that that was the 21km runners route.
Another 1km towards MCG, I gave my all. Sprinted thru the wet roads, I felt goosebumps popping.
Supporters on both sides cheering. I saw the gun time on the board as we entered the grounds 3hr 55mins ??secs. Just another 200m around the grounds to the finish arch. KS asked why didn't I cherish the moment. In my mind, every seconds count.

*photo by Felicity*

I wanted to cry when I ran pass the finishing arch but I remember I told KS to return to the hotel first. I didn't want him waiting for me so long.

I hobble to the luggage area to change into warm dry clothing. Then, I realised that I had to walk the longer way back coz the shortcut was used as a race route.

Passing runners along way walking back to hotel

I'm still alive!!

*Plastic bag covering my head coz it was raining*

Participant shirt

Once I got back to the hotel, I didn't say anything to KS.

I just showed him my watch and CRIED!!!

Laguna Phuket Marathon 2009 - ??? (forgot to record my time)

Macau International 21km 2009 - 2:04:33 hrs (21km)

Sundown Marathon Singapore 2010 - 5:01:58hrs

Penang Bridge Marathon 2010 - 5:06:01hrs

Taroko Gorge (Taiwan) Marathon 2010 - 4.28.41hrs

Standard Charted KL Marathon 2010 - 4:51:32hrs

Singapore Marathon 2010 - 4:59:22hrs

Hong Kong Marathon 2011 - 4:18:07hrs

Putrajaya Night Marathon 2011 - 5:06:57hrs

Seoul Marathon 2011 - 4:24:10hrs

Tokyo Marathon 2012 - 4:37:22hrs

Rotterdam Marathon 2013 - 4:26:22hrs

Melbourne Marathon 2013 - 3:54:23hrs

*photo taken by Sarah*

Timesplit (avg 5.38m p/km)

sub1hr - 11km

sub2hr - 22km

sub3hr - 33km

With Felicity, fellow Lakers

*photo taken by Sarah*

I knew that once I hit the 33km mark in sub3hr, the max avg page I can do was 6min pace. No slower than that. That really helped me alot because once the legs hit >35km, it automatically started slowing down.

There came to a point that I didn't know I had slowed down to 7min pace.