Rottnest weekend

Travelled over to the island on Friday, but didn't get a run in. We were staying in Thomson Bay, right on the beach - and about 50m from the marathon finish, so it was a perfect spot.

Saturday we went out for a tour of the island - we started early because it was going to be a hot day. It was already 22° at 6am. We ran all the way up the middle of the island to Cape Vlamingh on the western end (map) and came back on the northern side straight into the strong NE, which at least provided some relief from the heat. This was a tough run. The hills on Rottnest aren't long but they are steep and unrelenting. There is not a lot of flat here ; you're either going up or down. Both of us really felt this one - it's only 22km but it felt longer. Sas is struggling with some sort of fatigue/viral thing so we kept the pace down to around 4:56 - I didn't feel too bad, but my HR averaged 149 which is very high for the pace. Anyhow, it was a shame because we both were really looking forward to what should have been a magnificent scenic outing and it turned into a real grind. It was good to get back and sink the legs into the sea afterwards and then indulge in hearty breakfast.

Sunday morning was marathon day and a spent a lot of it going hither and thither cheering on Biscuitman, Kate S, Claire W, and many others who were running the main event. Conditions were fairly warm and humid and the wind was quite strong out on the course (19.4° 84%, N33/41 at 7:30). Biscuitman had a tough day and really gutsed it out, but I'm sure he'll be putting a race report up soon. Both Claire and Kate managed big PB's which is fantastic for that course and conditions. Previous winner Mark Page had to pull out with a blown calf which was a real shame, and Stephen Courtney cruised to an easy win. Jon Pendse came second with a great effort after an injury enforced 3 week layoff after C2S, just missing 3hrs.

The fun run started late in very trying conditions - 21° 77% NW24/30. I made sure I was right at the front because the start is tricky - about 300m before a hard right turn with lots of kids under your feet ; managed to negotiate that OK and then headed out onto the course (map).. I felt pretty good for the first part few k (2k split 7min flat) cruising along with the eventual 5k winner. Bastard started drafting me along the causeway and because I knew Sandgroper wasn't far behind I was really tempted to put in a surge to get rid of him and make him deal with the wind himself. I'm glad i didn't because it was after the causeway we hit the first hill, and it's a bit of a doozy. This slowed the third k down to 3:48, but also seemed to slow down the third place 10k runner, who I overtook at the next hill after the 5 k turnaround, before the descent into bulldozer swamp. Managed to recover the tempo a bit with 3:34 being the next split, followed by a 3:40 but then came the climb to Armstrong point, at which stage I think the 22k on Saturday started to make itself felt (3:47 - 5k split 18:05). Went past Darryl Howe completing his final lap of the marathon (the man is a legend!) and had a brief exchange of encouraging phrases...

After Armstrong came the descent into the dead zone (no wind, with lung busting heat & humidity) but managed 3:35 before the climb up to Geordie Bay. I could see Roberto Busi and Mike Dymnicki in the distance - the first time I'd seen them since the 3k mark! The Geordie hill really killed my legs as I struggled to a 3:50 even with the slight descent after the crest, and then came the 'heartbreak hill' climb out of Geordie past the wind turbine - 2k to go sign being the only encouragement. There wasn't a whole lot of tailwind to make up for the headwind on the way out. Unfortunately with a NW wind tht happens because the northermn part of the course is protected from the northerly winds...

A bus went past coming the other way, just before the descent after the turbine, rather stifling the recovery as I was sucking in lungfuls of fumes. Could only manage a 3:42 even though the course flattens out for about a kilometer before the gradual climb into town. It was a relief to make the left turn up the hill because the pain would soon be over. I kept hearing footfalls even though 4th place was about a minute behind! It was nice to run through the crossroads in town with a fairly large crowd gathering to greet their 10k runners. Put in a final surge (I'm not actually sure where that came from) and crossed the line in 36:33 in 3rd place (more sunnies, yay!) absolutely spent, my clothes dripping with sweat. Gee, I'd better get used to running in the heat again....

Happy with the effort, not with the time... a tough course though, in tough conditions. Glad I wasn't running the marathon.

Well done to Biscuitman, Kate and Claire for their immense efforts in very trying conditions, and to Sandgroper who produced a barnstorming run to place second in the 5.

Monday I ran the 10k course again at very easy pace (10.38 @ 4:53 HR 140) and enjoyed very scenic course much more the second time around, in much cooler, running friendly conditions.