2014 Run the Bridge Hobart

That will be next Sunday and I will not be there. So what to do?

Today a I did a mock "Run the Bridge" using Devonport's Victoria Bridge as a poor substitute. By "poor" I mean that Victoria Bridge isn't as steep as Hobart's - but it is the best I can do to keep in the spirit of the run.

In early January I had a couple of weeks off because of a virus and then last week I had vomiting and diarrhoea, both of which set me back a bit. Today I had some stomach pains, which hasn't been helpful. However, I'm not using this as an excuse for today's result.

I parked the car at Coles Beach and walked the 500m to my starting point. I set off at what I thought would be a reasonable pace, knowing that I would like to get as close as possible to my best time for this run. It was, when I saw the 1k split, a cracking pace for me. However, I decided that I would try and keep up that pace for as long as I could. By 1.5k my legs were telling me that I was running fast. At 2.5k I stopped at a tap and saturated my hat so I could cool down. My aim now was to make 5k in as fast a time as I could and then worry about how I would get back after that. I turned around at the far end of the bridge and made my way back over it, desperately trying not to slacken off my pace. By 7.5k I was thirsty so stopped at the drinking station for a long drink and to soak my hat again. I pressed on, but found it was getting more difficult to maintain my earlier pace. At 9.5k I stopped at a bubbler for a short drink and tried to step it up for the last little bit.

I hit the "tape" in 58.54.40, which far exceeded my expectations and bettered my previous time from 2 years ago of 1.01.59.18 by just over 3 minutes. With the setbacks I had a couple of years ago and all that time off jogging so that I only started back in March last year, this is the first time I have run a sub 6.00/k for 10k in over 3 years. I ended up quite pleased with my mock "Run the Bridge".

Then I had to walk back to the car.