Up to the Gold Coast for the half marathon and Timmy's birthday. Stayed in Broadbeach, like two years ago, with Taffy James and Tim. Didn't make the mistake of driving to the start this year, but did make the mistake of letting Taffy dictate timings in the morning. The man is a planner by trade, but honestly I've never even seen him plan his breakfast with any distinction. So late onto the tram for the eight kilometre trip to the start and then had to do the warmup running around trying to find the Strider's tent to leave our stuff. Timmy reckons he's never found it in the ten years he's been coming up and this time was no different. Whilst he was negotiating real estate at the Running Mum's Australia tent, Taffy and I found an alternative universe Striders tent (Swindon Striders or something) who let us stash our bags.
Only ten minutes to the start and a good 500m back to the start meant more "warm up". Got a break and spotted a little gap in the fence where A group where so slipped in and found myself perfectly positioned between the 90 minute pacers and the 84 minute pacers.
Plan was to give 85 minutes a crack (4:02 pace or thereabouts) which I reckoned was probably a bit faster than I was capable of, but Gold Coast is the quickest course I'll be doing this year so thought I'd give it a shot and accept the high risk of glorious failure. Gold Coast is pancake flat and essentially runs straight 10km north and then back south, with a short foray west around 6km to add a kilometre.
Also had a four minute start over Timmy, who I felt would likely go 82:xx or 83:xx.
Set off and was quite surprised to find a lot of slower runners ahead of me. Never understand why people position themselves so far ahead to then only go slow. A few must have been going over 4:30 pace and I couldn't help but knock one or two as I got up to speed. As I knew margins would be tight I really couldn't afford to ease in and lose time at the start and I heard a few cross words from the people I touched. They had worse to come though, as Darren Jordan was also late and he was coming through from right at the back of A group at 3:30 pace. And he's a very angry man.
The congestion eased after the first kilometre, which I thankfully covered in four minutes, and I settled into 3:58-4:00 pace. A little quick, but I felt pretty good and decided to try and hold that throughout.
First sight of Timmy at the short out-and-back around six kilometres. He was ahead of the 84 minute pacers in a fairly sizeable group including Alana Plymin (who paced me to sub-90 at SMH a month or so ago). He seemed to be running well, despite whinging all week about a cold he was suffering. Looked like I was going to have to work for my $20.
Back heading north soon after and it wasn't too long before the leaders were coming back the other way. Passed Alana who had pulled up on the side of the road, who then came back alongside me. Said hello before she went ahead, but again had to stop at the side of the road. Later found out she had to pull out which was a shame.
Dave Criniti was the first person I knew up front coming back the other way (ended up fourteenth or something, in a near PB time. Incredible), and also spotted Nick Roberts, Jeet, and then Timmy just before I arrived at the turnaround (around 11km). Timmy was now on the 84 minute bus so I knew he was going backwards. Realised there was a chance I might take him off scratch.
I was still on pace and feeling ok. 12-13km was where the wheels fell off at Canberra, but no such trouble here. Actually noticed my lap pace was going into 3:4x and had to consciously slow down. Effort was hard, but comfortable. Legs felt ok.
Could see Timmy ahead of me, who had been dropped by the 84 minute guys, and knew I'd be passing him with about six kilometres to go. He knew it too as I could see him looking around whenever somebody came up on his shoulder (he'd seen me at the turnaround so knew I'd be close if I'd managed to hold pace). I'd dreamed of this moment, and had always thought I'd laugh my balls off, but as I came up on his shoulder I actually felt a little awkward. I knew he wouldn't like being passed by me, having used to coach me and always having been significantly quicker, and I didn't know how to acknowledge the occasion. In the end I just came up next to him and we looked at each other. I won't forget what he said to me and it sent shivers down my spine; "go on Craig, finish it off. Smash it". What a guy. Not a hint of disappointment, just really wanted me to do well.
It spurred me on, not to beat him, but just to do him proud. I quickened my pace slightly, despite a headwind making an unwanted appearance, and ran the last five kilometres in 19:40. Coming under the pedestrian bridge, which marked 250m to go, I realised I was actually on for sub-84 and floored it (running 3:20 pace) to finish with a net time of 83:51.
Absolutely chuffed with that. Almost exactly a five minute personal best (SMH half in May in 88:52).
A lot of PBs elsewhere (Nick Roberts, Jeet, cab mate Bruce Lambert, and Darren Jordan...who I didn't spot passing me, but Timmy said was still effing and blinding as he passed him around 7km. All did sub-80). Timmy came in in 84:xx, which is slower than he'd hoped, but he was pretty pleased given his week on the death bed. Barts and Scotty, doing an easy run after their 10k PBs the day before, formed an arrow formation (Breaking-2 style) and paced him home...I'll be speaking to the race director about getting him disqualified for using external pacers. Erika Jordan had to pull out unfortunately and Taffy ran a 92:xx, which, given is almost 15 minutes slower than his PB, should put him in good shape for underperformance of the year at HuRTS' awards night. He seemed oddly pleased with himself. Jac ran sub-90 as well which I think she was relatively pleased with. Neil P did a 72:xx, which isn't a PB but still bloody fast.
Cleaned up on the betting, $20 from Timmy and $50 from Dave Kane (the bet being Taffy not going under 3:20 in the marathon. He wasn't even able to start it and dropped down to the half).
Multiple coffees later and a spot of marathon spectating and we were back at the apartment getting dolled up for a night on the tiles at Southport Surf Club and then Waxy's. Timmy had a lovely patterned shirt that Birchy wanted to know if also comes in a men's version.
A lot of shite spoken with the last men standing being myself, Birch, Timmy, and CT. Celebrated Timmy turning 50 at the stroke of midnight. Nick Roberts got taken home by Lizzy after he bought himself two pints and refused to let them go, being unable to speak at this point. Birchy "pulled", getting a cab with a nice girl, by his standards, and getting her a coffee...although missed out on the important part!
Timmy and I had a little cry when discussing me going past him and what it meant to me. Couple of sentimental poofters.
