Melton Waves Fun Run

I entered the Melton Waves Fun Run on Saturday. It was a 7.5km event. We ran three laps around Hannah Watts park and the golf course, then the finish was down High Street.
I tried to pace myself at the start and even then my legs felt so heavy. I really had to push myself to keep going. There were some kids along the bike track who were giving high fives and cheering on the runners.

After the first lap Kel told me that I was the fifth female. That pushed me on and every time I passed another female I knew I was that much closer to getting a good result. I still stopped to get water each time I passed the water table, and the gap increased a little bit, but in the end I think it paid off, because I overtook two other girls so I was running in third place. I stuck to the number two girl closely, but didn't overtake her. We did a whole lap like that, then once we were on High Street and I could see the finish line and made a sprint and overtook her.

There was only one problem... that wasn't the finish line! I ran to the line and the marshalls told me to turn down the other side of the street until the finish line banner (which was hidden in the trees!). So I had another 100m sprint to the finish line, but I still managed to stay in front!
I was a bit delirious at the end, I thought I could almost pass out. But I was so excited that I came second! That is my best result so far!
My time was about 36:25.

The inaugral Caroline Springs fun run

On Sunday I entered a 10km fun run at Caroline Springs (to celebrate their 10 year anniversary - I can't believe it has been that long!).

I was envisioning a fun run with about 30 people in it... but it was actually really well run, and there were around 100 runners.

I hadn't run at all since the half marathon (unless you counted a couple of times I had to run for the train). But it was funny how the mind works... because I could tell myself "it's ONLY 10km!... when prior to June that was the furtherest I had ever run at all in my life!

It was a very hot and windy morning, and I was so tempted to stop at the 5km mark. I really had to push myself to keep going.

I finished with a personal best of 52:45 (my previous time was 55 min).

It was a really good day. They had Bob the Builder there. Sam was so excited... but he ended up bursting into tears when Bob got too close. In the end we did get a photo.

Melbourne Marathon

October 19 was a date that I had been counting down to on my calendar at work. It was the date that I became one of those crazy people who decide to run a half marathon (21.1km).

I was really doubtful that I would be able to do it, especially after hurting my leg. But I did! With a final time of 2 hours and 22 seconds.

It was the best feeling running onto the MCG!!!

Me and Carli (a runner who is crazier than me and manages to talk me into these things!) were sprinting, racing each other to the finish line. (she beat me by 2 seconds). We actually turned up late for the start. So there were only a couple of people running with us, and we couldn't see anybody else. It made the start easier - in that we didn't have to walk at the start, or jostle and dodge people... but it did feel really strange not having that big build up. In the end we caught up to everyone, and that was very satisfying.

When we got up to the 10km mark we were asked to move to the side and this motorbike with a camera came along, and there were two Ethiopians and a Kenyan who were doing the marathon. They were just sprinting along! So that might be my 2 seconds of fame (depending on whether they were zoomed in on the runners or not). And to think that they started half an hour after us!

Running

About three years ago I started running. I did the couch to 5k running program and entered a few 5km fun runs. Then I did a triathlon... and then nothing until I entered the Run Melbourne 10km fun run. I used to run 5km and wonder why on earth people would want to run for longer than half an hour. Then I got talked into trying the 10km run. I figured I would run half, walk for a bit and then run again. In the end I ran the whole way and did it in 55 minutes! I was so happy at the end, I couldn't believe that I had done it.

In 12 days time I am going to enter in the Melbourne Marathon and run the half marathon (21.1km). Some people (well probably most people) will think that I am crazy. I was going to only enter the 10km again... but I couldn't see a challenge in that (unless I just tried to beat my previous time).
I have joined a running group, and it has really challenged me to push myself out of my comfort zone. One morning I got up at 4:30am and we went for a 15km run. It took us an hour and a half. And then I went to work!!! I was so pumped when I got to work, telling everyone that I did it... it was the furthest I have ever run.

Then while we were on the Penguin Holiday, I did a run. I didn't want to fall behind the others in the running group, since I knew they were going to be doing a 17km run that day. I mapped it out in the melways and planned my route. I was going to run along the main road (since they had a really good bike track there) and run to the general store that is half way to San Remo and back.

Things started off well, and I even stopped to take a photo of the sun rising over the paddocks.

I came across a feral cat that looked like it was going to pounce on me. I saw the Amaze'n'Things house with the tap turned off. I tried to see koalas as I ran past the koala park. I kept running, and was almost wondering what would happen if that general store didn't exit anymore! Would I just keep running and find myself on the bridge to San Remo?

Finally, the general store was in sight! I turned around for the run home. It had seemed to take forever to get halfway! Then my foot started to cramp. I kept going. But it got worse. I didn't want to walk the whole way home, so eventually I stopped and tried to stretch it out. It worked for a while, but I did have to stop another couple of times before I got home.
I made it home, and it took almost exactly 2 hours. Later that day we drove to Churchill Island, and we measured the distance in the car... and I found out that I actually ran something like 19.4km!!!
Needless to say, I am feeling a bit more confident about the half marathon now!!!
http://www.melbournemarathon.com.au/

Edited to add: I've had a bit of an injury around my right knee the last week or so. This has pushed out my training plan, I hope I will be ok for the race.