Australian Running Festival HM

it wasn't raining when I left home but halfway there it started (and didn't stop until early afternoon)...however the temperature was good...

mum & dad found me before the start - they planned to hit the turn point before getting back to the end...

my goal was sub 1:50 with anything close to 1:45 being a bonus...

the stats:
start temp/humidity: 13.9/80%
start time: 7:01am
total distance: 21.32
total time: 1:49:25 (tbc)
avg pace: 5:07
total calories: 1049
avg HR*: 158

*Time spent in HR Zones:
00:09 [Z1: 93-111]
00:17 [Z2: 112-130]
01:37 [Z3: 131-148]
106:39 [Z4: 149-167]
00:36 [Z5: 168-185]

splits (by the signage):
5:01, 4:56, 5:05, 5:09, 5:14
5:19, 5:03, 5:03, 5:26, 4:45 (I think the 9k sign was in the wrong spot!)
10:27 (missed the 11k sign), 5:20, 5:19, 5:18
5:12, 5:17, 5:20, 5:17, 5:22
5:35 (missed the 21k sign)

5k splits:
25:25, 25:36, 26:24, 26:28

10k splits:
51:01, 52:52

got plenty of support out on the course with Kerrie T bobbing up in a couple of places, Brett and Nadine before and after the turn on the main drag, Ewen before 20k...Trevor J, Charlie, Dave B all said hello as they passed me...I got to say hello to Craig as we passed each other in opposite directions...

I was travelling fairly comfortably except I was feeling sore in the glutes from the start...then my right knee started to tighten up in the last 800m just when I wanted to finish strong...

I was happy to squeak under my main goal after deciding to enter the event 6.5 weeks ago!...this is my fastest time since the Gold Coast HM in July 2009 the Cadbury's HM in Hobart in January 2010...over 5 minutes quicker than Maui in January...

was quite soggy by the end but had some dry clothes to change into before walking over to Manuka for breakfast at Caph's...

after breakfast, we spent the next 4hrs checking out some furniture for my new residence...in the end I purchase a small dining suite and ordered a lounge suite which will be ready in 2-3 weeks...

after dropping mum & dad back to their car in Manuka, Suze helped me get the dining suite home (wouldn't fit in my car as it was floorstock so not flat packed)...

then the next few hours were spent boxing stuff and using my new vacuum cleaner (purchased Saturday!) to start getting the house ready for marketing photos on Wednesday...