Freedom Run 2011

A couple of days ago I was feeling brain dead from preparing a funeral service so decided to go for a walk. Just near us is a Bike shop that also caters for all sorts of sports. I happened to look in the door and noticed that they had watches for sale, so I went in to have a look at them.

I ended up getting myself a Garmin Forerunner 110 which has GPS capability so I can now accurately plot my runs for distances and I will upload them onto both the Garmin Connect and MapMyRun sites. The only problem with today's run was that I didn't stop the watch when I should have and it threw out all the results (also strange that both Garmin Connect and MapMyRun, which use the same data upload, brought out slightly different results), however, I deleted everything after the 12k mark. Yes - the run was actually 12k and not the 10k the organisation said it was!

The Freedom Ride and Run is on behalf of Live Free Tassie (Teen Challenge) to raise funds for their rehab site that seeks to lead people free from addictions to drugs and other substances. Hence it is called Freedom Ride and Run. This was the first year for the run. The southern ride commences from Port Arthur, the site of the convict penal settlement, to symbolise coming out of slavery into freedom when people give up their addictions. It is the hope of the organisation that many will also experience spiritual freedom in Christ.

The number of registered participants was:
Southern Ride - 123
Northern Ride - 42
Southern Run - 31
Northern Run - 1 (that's lonesome me!)

My cheer squad consisted of Val, Alison Hillier and her daughter. Alison did say that the date clashed with a wedding in their church which prevented some others from competing.

At the start wearing my new top with part of my cheer squad

After getting a drink I set off at what I thought was a reasonable pace - but little did I know it that that pace would vary wildly over the course - yet I felt fine as I ran the outward leg of the course.

I completed the outward journey at the Viet Vets memorial where Alison had some drink and food for me and it was here that I stopped for about a minute (Split 6).

Drink and nibble time at Viet Vets Memorial

Back on the track I was beginning to feel the effects of not having run a well-planned race as can be seen from my splits. I struggled up the incline to the pool carpark (Split 10). However, I did complete the course with my cheer squad waiting back at the starting venue with more drink and nibbles.

Finishing off

The end

To date I have raised $500 (actually banked with more promised) to go towards Live Free Tassie. I decided to enter this run because one of our elders in particular always prays for those affected by drugs and other substances and I told the congregation that we needed to put "feet" to our prayers to make them more effective. Thanks to all those who have sponsored me!

Thanks to Alison who not only handed over my shirt and provided drinks and nibbles but then took us out to lunch. Much appreciated!

I am now eagerly looking forward to 2012's Freedom Run and hoping that others will join in to support such a worthy cause. What I like about the Freedom Run, apart from supporting Live Free Tassie, is that it is run on a Saturday and not on a Sunday like the majority of races.

Split	Time	Moving Time	Distance	Elevation Gain	Elevation Loss	Avg Pace	Avg Moving Pace	Best Pace	Calories
1	00:06:05	00:06:05	1.00	20	8	06:05	06:05	04:36	97
2	00:05:25	00:05:26	1.00	7	8	05:25	05:26	04:19	93
3	00:05:35	00:05:18	1.00	5	18	05:35	05:18	04:25	94
4	00:05:25	00:05:25	1.00	0	4	05:25	05:24	04:39	95
5	00:05:23	00:05:24	1.00	0	2	05:23	05:24	04:45	96
6	00:06:22	00:05:26	1.00	0	4	06:22	05:26	04:46	95
7	00:05:30	00:05:30	1.00	5	0	05:30	05:30	04:35	95
8	00:05:34	00:05:34	1.00	2	0	05:34	05:34	04:33	96
9	00:05:57	00:05:57	1.00	5	0	05:57	05:56	05:03	96
10	00:06:27	00:06:28	1.00	19	4	06:27	06:28	05:04	96
11	00:05:57	00:05:52	1.00	10	31	05:57	05:51	04:15	94
12	00:06:10	00:06:10	1.00	12	6	06:10	06:09	04:46	95