Yep - Its Flat

[co] Done and dusted!

3:29:47... so sneaked under my goal... but not quite my secret goal (we'll leave that hanging).

It was a great day as the gun went off... nice and overcast, as 4,500 of us got underway. Managed to find a good pace to start - felt 'quick' but decided to run by feel and the reality is I was going to fade (it is a marathon after all) and might as well bank time away if its feeling good.

So my strategy was keep it nice and relaxed - for as long as possible.

This lasted till kilometer 25... when the legs started to feel like they were cramping, but actually it was just the quads protesting to the fact it was a pretty flat course and they weren't happy... but kept it up till about kilometer 28 when went over the 5 min/km mark for the first time.

From there it was a battle of wills (with myself) to keep it up... make the goal.

At kilometer 29 I heard a massive stampede come up from behind, as the 3:20 pace group went past.. I tried to hang.. but to no avail...

Kilometer 35 (in the 'tan' - thats the botanical gardens for the non locals) sponge bob took me down... yes a chick in a sponge bob outfit... that one stung a little...

(can see here how it all started to go a bit downhill at 28 kilometers)

and then the slog into the MCG... but it was worth it (I think)... as I hobbled around for the rest of the day...

so:
good news: under the Boston qualifying time
bad news: Lisa was injured so only ran the 10 km
good news: still going for Boston - but 2012
even better news: my time counts for next year... so i don't need to do it again!

So Team Ryco on a little break... will update when we get back in training for 2012.

Till then 'over and out'