Saturday, 13 September 2008

Club run today at Albert Park. After the shocking realisation that my current pair of running shoes had done over 1000 k's, I went down to Leo Russell's this morning and picked up a pair of 1130's for $130

Got to Albert Park just before the first runner was off. I gave Len Hallett a yellow t-shirt befitting our club winter best athlete award winner and proclaimed that just like the Tour de France on the last day, no-one is allowed to pass Lenny. Lenny had won a handicap race this season and I am told he was leading so its a safe bet he is going to double up on his success from last year

The best athlete award goes to the person who performs best in all our seven handicap runs over the season. Oh, and to win you pretty much have to do all 20 races of the winter season (club and av runs)

I had a 50 second gap to make up on the second last backmarker in Liam Magee. I started off like a rocket and had bridged that gap by the four kilometre mark. I would have caught Liam sooner but for the FIERCE head wind on the St Kilda Rd side of the course as you come back toward the city

I was feeling pretty good once on the tailwind side and thought I might catch Lenny just before the end. I had no idea where anyone else was in the race. Then at the six kilometre mark I caught sight of Lenny further down the path. Took me another kilometre to catch up with him and I figured I better stay true to my word

So the last three kilometres, I ran with Lenny all the way to the finish. We got joined by Liam Magee and we provided Lenny with cover acting as a couple of wind breaks so he wouldn't have to work so hard into it. He picked up a bit of speed toward the finish and we let Lenny cross the line in front of us. He hugged us afterwards and it was warm fuzzies all round

It turns out afterwards thatI could have placed in the event, perhaps even won it, with my having passed the eventual third placegetter at the three kilometre mark!!!

Off home to prepare dinner for the children before Kylie went to the football where St Kilda belted Collingwood

TOTAL DISTANCE : 10 km - 7 kilometres race pace, 3 kilometres at about 5.5 min/km pace