Sydney Striders 10km – Homebush

Official time: 44:59…I did it, but only just!!

Met a few more CR’s this morning, although not as much overload as last time at North Head so I’m game to name a few, and it was particularly great to meet some more bloggers for the first time. There was Ellie80, Blkbox, Gronk, Will, Uncle Dave, Horrie, Gnome, FakePlasticTrees, Superflake, and a few others. It’s funny how just about everyone identified Will as “the Frenchman” when they (we) met him.

I enjoyed the conditions and the company today, and in spite of the sharp turns, gravel loop and corkscrew I really like this course.

My 10km goal for the year on Go Girl’s Challenge thread on CR was sub 45 minutes. Last year I ran this Homebush course in 48:30, North Head two months ago was 45:53. In the blur as I went past the clock I thought I crossed the line spot on 45 minutes. The official time is in and it’s 44 minutes and 59 seconds!! A new PB and my goal time for the year achieved with exactly no time to spare :) :) :) It’s fortunate that it came off today, as I can’t guarantee I’ll get another shot at a 10km race this year.

I really need to thank the guy that I passed on the way up the corkscrew with just over 200 metres to go. He started sprinting over the bridge to the finish, pulled level with me, at which point I responded and it was on from there! I knew I had him well beaten near the end of the bridge (11 seconds on him in the end) so I eased a tiny bit until I saw the clock showing just 10 seconds to beat 45 so I floored it and obviously just made it! But without the challenge he put on I would have just missed out, so I’m really grateful about that :)

I was pleased with my fairly consistent pace. This was my third 10km race, and with this one I was more comfortable about keeping the intensity up at times that I would previously have eased off. This is the mental edge that was missing at the Half. I turned up relaxed yet prepared to tough out the difficult stages, confident that I could maintain the pace all the way to the end. Another strong finish for me which indicates I could have given a bit more earlier on, which might have saved the need for the desparate dash at the end.

After the formalities, some stretching (thanks to Ellie’s prompting, as I often forget to stretch in these situations) and a quick change I was well out of there by 8.30 and back home by lunchtime.

My splits were:

1: 4:23
2: 4:32
3: 4:28
4: 4:31
5: 4:35 (22:29)
6: 4:35
7: 4:38
8: 4:29
9: 4:37
10: 4:11 (22:30)