Sunday 7.00am Caloundra Foreshore 10KM 3rd (1st Cat) 32m58
Beautiful beautiful day! What a setting to run a race. Start is by park between Pumistone Passage which separates the Sunshine Coast beaches from the Northern tip of Bribie Island. The course basically follows the coastal path North up through the beaches as far as Moffatt Beach. Though sunny was toying with the idea of wearing a long sleeve as was a chill in the air but seemed to be getting warmer and 2 KM warm up felt OK vest it was!
Prize money being offered this year managed to bring a few good youngsters up from Brizzy, backing up having run the State 12KM CC Champs the previous day.
I went straight into the lead and led out the first few K's with Aidan Hobbs alongside on occasions and Neil Labinski stuck in behind us. These two hadn't run the course before - I'd done it twice. Went through 3KM in 9M47 and 5K in 16m04.
Running the coastal path meant we had quite a bit of pedestrian traffic to negotiate and it it always hard to determine what your going to do about getting past (specially people with dogs on leads) if you startle people before you pass they are just as likely to get in your way. Neil was making me laugh be doing these loud claps to alert people of imminent passing. When I feel the need I normally SHOUT "TRACK!" Anyway, the race was really us three up to the 8KM point. I felt quite good, was even enjoying the scenery enough to say to the guys how Beautiful it was! - Didn't get a response which made me tickle as they might have been feeling it and not disposed to pass comment on the scenery. At 8K the course rises up over the heads at Golden, Dickies and then Moffatt. Aidan kicked on and I didn't! Neil came past and I was resigned to 3rd. Though at one point as we climbed the steep head to Moffatt I felt that Neil was coming back to me.
Unofficial results, Aidan 1st 32m40, Neil 2nd 32m50, Me 3rd 32m58!
Very happy to get under 33m as hadn't managed it since 32m12 on the track back in April 2007. I believe the hills cost about 20 seconds so maybe on a flat worth close to 32m30. Last year I ran about 34m20 by myself, so still improving!
$200 prize!
Young Roxie beat Helen Stanton in the Ladies 10K.
I have a cupboard full of medals that never see the light of day, I thought it might be nice before today's trophy goes to a dark place to put on display in cyberspace for immortality!
Might be a nice idea for you Geoff - take a photo before Nicole throws it away!!
