1.02.33

If you are wondering how I went with my 10km run during the Melbourne Marathon earlier this month, the answer is that I did really well! I was very happy with my time. This has got to be one of my favourite running photos of me taken by Grumpy.

As mentioned in the previous post, I was nervous the entire week. We are usually out on Friday and Saturday nights, wining and dining. But during that weekend, I stayed home both nights, went to bed early. Most marathon runners eat heaps of pasta the night before the run, to load up on carbs. I decided on pizza and garlic bread instead. Greasy and cheesy.. hehe it was so yummy, but it got my spirits up as I was determined to burn all the calories away the next morning.

Finally the Sunday morning came. I woke up at 4am, only to discover Grumpy still awake, watching Foxtel. Oh my.. I sent him off to bed, for at least a 2 hour sleep. I needed him to drive me to the run, and to cheer for me at the finish line! It was pouring rain, NOT A GOOD SIGN. But it was still early in the morning... I had two slices of toast with peanut butter, a cup of tea, and then drank plenty of H2O. After breakfast, I took a hot shower, got changed.. and then pretty much just waited til 6.30am. In the mean time, I started doing yoga, to relax myself and stretch my muscles. Even the dog chose to stay in bed and sleep in the entire time.

By 6.30am, I was able to get Grumpy up and ready, we headed out to my old boss' apartment in the city. Belgian Chocolates. The rain stopped by 7am.. but even Belgian Chocolates complained it was cold. I reminded him that he was European (i.e. should be able to tolerate extremely cold weather). Belgian Chocolates and I started to walk towards the MCG. Grumpy decided to get the car washed instead and assured me he will be waiting for me at the finish line. The run starts at 7.30am. 

Grumpy asked "So what time do you think you will finish?" I said.. "Hmm... 8.30am?" 

He went "Are you sure?!? How about I meet you at 8.45am?". Clearly, he did not think I could finish the 10kms in an hour :(

FINE, 8.45am it is!!!

The full marathon runners started at 7am. The 10km runners at 7.30am, and the half marathon runners at 8am. There were tens of thousands of runners. When the 10km race started, I was running at a very fast pace, just going along with the rest of the crowd. By the 2nd and 3rd km, I was struggling. But I did not stop. Belgian Chocolates fed me some energy tablets, in between... we hardly even stopped at the water kiosks, we just kept going. I was better by the 5km mark, slowing down a little bit, but still at a pace faster than my usual speed. At the 8th or 9th km, there was a bit of an incline, and I struggled even more. Still did not stop, just kept going. And finally, light at the end of the tunnel, I see the finish line! This photo here, is Belgian Chocolates yelling at me to run even faster, we were nearly done! I increased my speed, sprinted all the way to the end of the line, with the little energy left in me.

I could see the clock. '1.02.33'. 1 hour, 2 minutes and 33 seconds! Even though the goal was to do it in an hour, I went 2 minutes over, but I am not going to give myself shit for the extra 2 minutes. Hehe This is my best time ever for the 10kms. 

When Belgian Chocolates started training with a friend/mentor for the marathon a few years ago, at the finish line during his first marathon, his friend/mentor gave him the opportunity to finish first at the finish line. And so, as he was training me this time round, he did the same for me. He made sure that I went across the finish line before he did. I told Grumpy that his goal was not to beat me, but to make sure I finished the run in a decent time. Belgian Chocolates could easily do a 10km run in 50 minutes or less on any normal day, but since he was running with me, he ran at my pace. 

After I crossed the finish line, I was looking out for Grumpy. I could not see him. I was worried that he was still out somewhere, missing all the action. DAMNIT, he would have missed taking my photos too :( 

But little did I know, he did wait for me at the finish line. He was early. He took some awesome photos for me. Yay! Even he was happy that I finished it in an hour! And two minutes....