Hills and Heat at Lane Cove

Saturday, February 07, 2009 (Race – 10 km)
Yesterday I watched a documentary which recreated the 1963 death of Dr Bogle and Mrs Chandler. Their bodies were found on New Years day right here at Lane Cove National Park where this morning the 400 or so runners who assembled for the first race of the Sydney Striders 10 km series were completely oblivious to the areas murky history. Quite bizarre to think that the case has still not been solved. Although the latest theory is that they were overcome by the hydrogen sulphide gas being released from the polluted sediments. No evidence of sulphide gas this morning but bushfires were burning around Lane Cove and other parts of Sydney yesterday and this morning the sky was quite foggy with a smoky haze.
I normally do not like The Lane Cove course. It is hilly and can be bitterly cold in winter. This morning the cold was not going to be part of the problem, but the hills and the heat and humidity were. Huge turnout for the first race with lots of new faces. Quick chat to Lorraine at the start and a warm up run with Mike and Al and it was time to get ready to go.

I never know how to pace myself properly for this race. I ran 50.50 here in November 2008 and really struggled to finish. I felt that I was in much better shape now so I started midway between the 45 and the 50 minute pacers. I averaged 4.45m/km for the first 5 km which included most of the nastiest hills. So far so good, I felt reasonably strong on the hills and once we turned to head home I was still feeling OK. As soon as I passed the 6 km marker I seem to enter some kind of twilight zone where the space between the kilometre markers seems to go on forever and time slowed down. Mental images of marathon races with fading legs started to play on my mind and I had to work really hard just to keep my legs ticking over. My only consolation was that the runners around me where probably in similar shape as I was not dropping off the back. I held it together to finish in 47.50, 5 seconds off my 10 km PB which I ran in 2007 on the flat North Head course. I was drenched in sweat and it continued to pour off my skin for at least 20 minutes after I stopped.

Felt completely spent, the heat and humidity really added to the effort. Mike ran a minute quicker but I think he must have been on his bike for part of the race. He quickly discarded the bike when he saw me coming.
Friday February 06, 2009 (Easy 6km)
An easy 30-45 minute recovery was on schedule for today but it ended up being a run/ walk as I took the dog with me. Feeling guilty as it was his 10th birthday today. He is an old dog now. We ran to Mona Vale Basin and the sun was just rising as we got there. It was quite a surreal scene as I looked around I notice that the people around me – the early morning walkers, cyclists and swimmers – were all standings still, silent and facing east to see the sky give birth to the new day. It was like a silent pilgrimage or an ancient ritual. And as soon as the sun was over the horizon, movement resumed and everyone got about their day. We continued on to Mona Vale headland and from there we walked back home. It was nice to get the dog out and also stretch my legs out in preparation for the first 10 km race of the season which is on tomorrow.