Gold Coast Marathon

Well there it is, Marathon number one done and dusted, it was only a week ago and already seems a life time ago, I guess that is a good sign that recovery didnt take too long!


On the Friday before the run Mr Chelle & I went to watch Superman (not good) in Gold Class (good) although I must admit I spent a lot of the time staring at the screen trying to work out how to get out of running on Sunday, scared and a few other choice words were expressed quite often during the night and over the course of the drive down the next day.

Mr Chelle was playing footy and as it happened it was against Surfers Paradise at their home game. I went along to be cheer squad for the first half before heading 5 minutes down the road to check-in and look around the expo. I caught up with MJ & Matt and then heaps of other CR's and PCRGers when the motivational talk started... I was almost motivated at this point, only half serious about working out how to get out of the run now :)

On Saturday night Mr Chelle was tired from his game and I wanted a quiet night anyway, so we walked up to the pizza place on the corner and came back to the unit where I cooked some pasta to accompany my pizza. I wouldnt have been at all surprised if QLD was on Level 4 water restrictions on the following Monday, I was drinking the H20 like it was going out of fashion. Anyway, I fell asleep while watching the Lions game and only woke up to put myself to bed at about 10pm. I slept like a baby and was wide awake before my 5am alarm. I got ready in a matter of minutes (think I surprised Mr Chelle as he is usually waiting for me!) forced down an english muffin and a handful of jelly beans and went out the front to meet MJ.

Mr Chelle & MJ had their bikes with them and we headed straight for Pats tent. There was a great buzz in the air and it was good to be able to catch up with Go Girl, also doing a debut before the start. Before we knew it the half had started and I was bouncing around making one last trip to the toilet before heading to the start.

And we're off....... everyone was laughing and chatting at the start, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones, this would have carried on until about 15km, then it got a bit quiet and even lonely at times! At around 6km I decided I needed to get ahead of the 4hour group or I may as well just run with them, I gained quite a lot of ground fairly quickly but then lost it when I decided there was no way I could run another 3.5hours without a quick toilet stop! I almost sprinted by marathon standards to rejoin the 4 hour group, Mr Chelle who was biking ahead a bit and then waiting for me and then biking with me for a bit and then ahead again and so on, even missed me when I came back past as he was sure I should have been behind the 4 hour group still!

At 15km Mr Chelle was riding with me and joked about going off to Maccas for some hash browns.. ha ha.. not very funny, although he was quickly let off when he handed me some jelly beans!

Half way! Yippeee and in good time too, all I would have to do was sustain the pace and I would be on for my 4 hour goal. The sun was starting to burn by the time we crossed over the bridge again, it was incredible to think that Lee Troop had already finished his 'sprint'. There was so much support coming over the bridge, I lost Mr Chelle in the throngs of people. Saw Donna and Tesso, MJ, Karisma and ever fabulous CR squad. Mr Chelle said I had my "grumpy face" on from about 33km, but actually it was between 28-30km that I was really hurting and arguing with myself. I walked through a water stop at about 35km, decided not to do that again, much to much pain on the legs! It was great to see some many people heading for home as I was going to the turnaround. Lizzle looking strong, heaps of PCRG guys as well, fantastic!

At the turnaround I felt a bit lighter, like I knew I could make it now. Hi-fives to Elaine, Dan, Liz and Hannah on the way back. I spotted Nicole who'd been looking amazingly strong when I saw her shortly before, I tried to encourage her to come with me but it wasnt to be. It was probably just as well too as I was on my last legs and they were becoming increasingly tired too!

As I came over the last bridge about 4km from the finish, Mr Chelle was on the end of it, he'd put out a fuel belt bottle and some gels on the bridge so I could grab whatever I liked as I passed... he told me afterwards he had to fight a couple of guys off them too! I was purely focused on the finish at this point, I felt a bit guilty as I later found out Mr Chelle had got a whole apartment block to yell out to me, I turned my i-pod up though to get me to the end and wasn't listening out for anything.

Go CR cheer squad, between trying to catch Schultzy (which I did) and you guys on that corner I knew I was going to get the sub 4 hours.

Go PCRG'ers all lined up on the fence on the home straight and Pat for calling me in as I crossed the line. Then Sue for keeping me steady when I thought my legs were going to give way from beneath me. Scotty, Andy and others had all just finished and were still taking off their chips when I arrived.

Mr Chelle was at the exit when I got there. I always thought I would burst in to tears when I finished but I didnt, I couldn't speak and I could barely move. I sat on the edge of the pavement for 5 minutes and waited for some strength to come back so I could go and see who had done what back at the tent.

Everyone there did so well, and I need to thank everyone for all the cheers and encouragement received. Mostly though I need to thank Mr Chelle for riding the whole course with me, for being my pack-horse so I didnt have to leave drinks on the tables and for not being offended when at about 34km I told him I couldnt talk anymore... I couldnt have done it without you.