NSW State 10km Road Championships

1.00pm, 10km, Holsworthy Army Base

"Marching soldiers have right of way", and big weapons.

A successful afternoon after a busy and tiring week. There was a big field for the 10km race, a good representation of sydney striders and a few Randwick Botany harriers making up the numbers ;-).

The course was 2 * 4.8 km road loops with 400m extra on road inside the army base. From the start I didn't feel too bad, and slipped in behind Mohammed and Vat ahead of him running strongly. Instead of battling the first few kms as usual, this week I was able to surge a bit after 2km and felt I could hold the pace. So I pushed up the pace a touch and settled into a pretty smooth rhythm: probably the most pleasing part of the run. There were a few long straights and steady gradients up and down on the course so it was easy to run smoothly.

I ended up running between striders Jenny Truscott and Vat most of the race. I went through 5.4 km in around 18.50, a time someone yelled out at the finish line. The second lap was more of a struggle but I ran at close to the same steady pace. Chivalry is not dead, so I passed Jenny T at around 9 km. The last km was a real battle but got home inside 37 minutes.

Ran 36.56 by my watch, a 30 second PB from last week. I never thought of myself as a 36 minute 10km runner. I could get used to this. Good runs from Royworlds and Easy Tiger who was very cagey on his handicap. He could be a professional poker player.

Thanks to the Lulus for a very comfortable ride in the new Italian Lulumobile with racing-red leather upholstery, and personal cigarette ashtray. I left the rollies at home too.