23 April 2017

Sandgate parkrun 16:48 5th

Rain greeted us for the start of this one but it was a bit cooler and the wind wasn't too bad. Hoped to run around 16:30 but was unsure how 105km in the 5 days prior might impact. Went off easy enough, initially in 3rd behind young Peter Bracken and even younger Adam Foggy.
Bracko had invited his BERTY Squad along to pace him to a sub 15:40.
Those two swiftly gapped us and I was briefly joined then gapped in quick succession by Elliot Carr, Jee Ming Leung and Craig Macklin who is in the M45-49 age Cat.
I was uncomfortable with what should have been easy enough pace. The rain didn't help specially on the turn onto the pier, at the head of the pier and off the pier.
Huge numbers of runners were straying into our path as we head back to the start. A record 456 took part! 456!!
We also had to look out for your everyday dog walker, walker and jogger just enjoying the public footpath as is there right.
Coming back along the pier I managed to catch Craig and we ran together back to the finish. I was listening to his breathing and at times he sounded really easy. Though we got to a K to go and he went through a bad patch and I hit it hard.
Disappointed with 16:48 but that was still good enough to give me 1st ranking in Australia age grading for the day (33,195 runners!!!)
During the week I'd had a flu vaccination and think that along with the mileage had an affect. Last time I ran a parkrun following flu jab 26th April 2015 I ran about 27secs below par see herehttp://runningmasters.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/sunday-run-callahan-road-24km-14441.html.
Keith Bateman holds the Australian M55 Cat parkrun record at 16:27 so I need to have a proper go at that before I get too old too slow or injured. Did I really run 15:48 at Sandgate in 2014? Seems long gone, out of sight, today - a full minute slower!
My blog has now logged up 300,000 hits since it's inception! Not bad considering the drivel I write about myself 🗣🏃🚽
Looking cold and wet!

I managed to catch Craig. Yes I'm going bald 🤖👨. Wet wooden pier.

High arms indicative of me uneasy feeling!
Top age grading in Australia 33,195 runners!!!

3 comments:

coach dion said...

BUT YOU WRITE ABOUT RUNNING AND WE ARE RUNNERS WHO JUST WANT TO TALK RUNNING SO THAT'S WHY WE READ IT.

THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE DOWN IN NZ FOR TRACK CHAMPS?

Good Karma said...

It was the surprise of a lifetime when Naidu Dumbbiriyani from the obscure and remote Indian Village of Bhabua Bihar was officially named the 300,000th person to visit the Garmin Lama's hallowed blog , Running Masters . Naidu became an instant overnight celebrity in his native India when Garmin officials notified him of the prestigious landmark that he had unwittingly surpassed . Speaking through an interpreter the euphoric farmer,from the much maligned untouchable caste , said that he owed this honour to good karma . " Everyday when I go to the fields to labour I pass by the billboard of the Garmin Lama smilingly benignly down on me and I pray to Shiva that I to can follow in my Guru's footsteps . Oh yes I'm a big fan of the Garmined one ." Naidu's simple mud hut where he and his wife have raised their 16 offspring has become a shrine to the irascible Scotsman who's recognized the world over as the official face of Garmin . When asked how he manages to follow his hero in such a remote and satellite challenged local , Naidu says the reluctant sale of his mother in law was able to fund his ambitious Internet enterprise . The tenant wheat farmer was able to quote a vertible treasure trove of statistics in regard his hero , including his defeating of 33,195 runners that weekend to claim the coveted number 1 Australian age grading performance . It remains to be seen what material rewards will go with this honour but the Garmin Lama is renowned for his benevolence of heart and generosity of spirit . Certainly Naidu's life has changed forever and for the better . In news closer to home the GL confirmed he has accepted patronship of the BERT running team and has appaulded the appointment of Peter Bracken as chief executive officer managing day to day business as a sensible and logical decision . "Bracko reminds me a lot of myself at that age ." Glowing praise indeed from the iconic Scotsman who's made park running his personal fiefdom and excellence his personal signature .

Unknown said...

You're ahead of me on Blog hits! You must check yours more frequently..
Nice run mate.