You Can Run Faster Than You Think

City2Surf 14 km Finisher at 74 Minutes

I was entered in this year's City2Surf 14 km race and I was not prepared. This was my third year running the race. The first year, my goal was to finish. My second year, I was running it on the back of completing my first half marathon in May and quit training after. I surprised myself with an 81 minute finish. This year, I had no preparation except for 4 km morning runs around Rushcutters Bay, the occasional 5 km run from Milsons Point to the Sydney Opera House and back and playing soccer. I was hoping I would get to the finish line under 80 minutes.

The night before the race, my colleague Jess invited us to her new apartment in Rushcutters for a pre -race pasta party. I couldn't avoid having wine, but I only had a small glass. Dave and I left at 9pm so we could get to bed at a decent hour. After all, we would have to be up at 6am.

We met Jess and Dave's colleague Zach with the other Green group starters (sub 90 minutes). At 8:05 am, we began walking towards the start line and decided we would all run separately - I have huge anxieties around running with people. After the first kilometre, Dave and I began the gradual incline at Edgecliff. This is where I thought to myself, "Next year, I'm wearing a costume and walking it." As much as I convinced myself that I wasn't ready because I hadn't done any proper training, it was too late now. I was jogging through Edgecliff, Double Bay, Rose Bay and meeting the course's biggest challenge: Heartbreak Hill in Vaucluse. I knew that once I was done with Heartbreak Hill, the rest of the course would be mostly downhill and manageable.

The one thing that I had this year that I didn't have in previous years was a new pair of running shoes. Dave had worn down his Asics running shoes playing indoor volleyball, so two weeks before the race, we went to Rebel Sport. Running shoes, well all shoes and apparel, are overpriced in Australia. We instead went for the bargain bin and found two pairs of his and hers Brooks trail running shoes for $80 each! They aren't meant for running on pavement as you would in the City2Surf race because they have minor spikes. They were bouncy and made us feel light and fast, so we decided to run in them although we hadn't properly broken them in. I would pay for them later with a sore foot preventing me from running again for a week!

We blazed up Heartbreak Hill (I give credit to the trail runners). My biggest struggle was recovering once I was at the top of the hill. For the rest of the race, we knew we wouldn't stop and finish this race with confidence. Afterwards, I signalled to Dave to grab a Gatorade out of the hands of the volunteers. This was the first time I had ever taken a drink during a race. It sounds crazy, but I have always had the notion that it would slow me down. I was wrong. That sip of Gatorade hit me with that bit of sugar to perk me up after the gruelling hill.

With 3 km left, I looked at my watch and calculated that we could reach the finish line in under 75 minutes if we ran the last 3 km in 20 minutes. Luckily the last 3 km are downhill. We picked up our pace because we weren't going to let this opportunity pass us up.

Once you conquer Heartbreak Hill, the most defeating part of the race is the finish line. You're coming downhill at North Bondi and you have 1 km left. You can see the finish line, but it's deceiving. In the last 500 m, you have to take a turn back towards North Bondi. At the 1 km, I slowed down. I was exhausted  from my legs pumping so hard throughout the race. I also knew that if I didn't recover, I wouldn't be able to sprint around the bend and the last 500 m. I had concentrated so hard since the 3 km mark that I couldn't even wave to my soccer coach who cheered me on from North Bondi. I had a goal and it was to make it to the finish line at 75 minutes.

I strode as far as my legs would take me and sprinted as fast as I could in the last 500 meters. Once I stepped past the line, I bowled over and starting heaving and gagging. I was told to move aside (although the announcer kept telling people to help runners if they look ill). Nothing came out thankfully. I looked down at my watch and calculated that we did run it in less than 75 minutes! I wouldn't believe it until I saw the final result online. My $5 knock-off Casio watch from Cambodia tends to lag. Jess found out her time in a text message, which you could have signed up for when you registered. Damn! Next year, I will sign up for the SMS service.

The next morning, I received an email that the results were online and I quickly looked, while I was sore in bed. Dave and I ran it both in 74 minutes! My goal was to run it in less than 80 minutes and I smashed it! Next year, I'm going to have to aim for sub-70 minutes so I can move into the Red group. My drive will never let me just wear a costume and walk it. Bring on City2Surf 2014!

*It should be noted that I played 20 minutes in my soccer team's last game of the season that Sunday afternoon. I know - I'm crazy.