Snakey Summer Single-tracks and firetrails near Byford Beach

Running around the footy/cricket 🏏 oval

Another "Not a Yelo run" Celebrating 9yrs of Yelo and my Gold Coast marathon entry this week. Reasons why not a legit Yelo run in description.

Hilly warmup Flora Terrace to Star Swamp and back

Afternoon Goal to goal .

Start felt a bit too slow so I took over the lead for 500m (slowed down from 400 for a 2.01 500m split), and eased off, relaxed lots for a 4.47 K. After that I settled down to try and hold onto some 5-7min K's
First 5k in 29min not fantastic, but not too bad. Then it was into the 40km/h headwind which I knew would be an issue. Some significant hills a bit like running Rottnest Marathon... 4 lap course...  7km in 42min 10km in 60min 14km in 87min. Slow compared to past years but I knew with 92kg I would need to go a lot slower today. Figured the more sub 7min K splits the better, and hoped to get into the 5s... not to be. Gusty winds, some hills, bursts of driving rain concrete and a good solid shower of small hailstones at Ocean reef marina and my sore toe made it hard to settle my pace...

Saw one bloke running  the marathon barefoot. Also saw one with a mask, glasses, and his whole body covered up like an Egyptian mummy.

After getting through 14km in 87min I figured I was on about 4.22 marathon pace, but I knew that would fade. Was hoping for a half marathon split about 2.10, but struggling to get there then started to get a big urge to do no 2s in the toilet after i had a gel. Not good. At that crucial point where I wanted to get past the halfway mark and push towards 30km, but instead i was slowing to a slow run, waiting a for a toilet option to become available. Had toilet paper in my drinks bag just in case so once I got past the half marathon split on my watch (2.21), and got to my drinks bag, I headed for the restroom. About 12minutes later that was sorted and I was last. Would be easy to quit then, but I felt ok, and I was there to get #36 on the board. So slowly got going again.

Calculated I needed to be under 9min per K to finish in under 6hrs, then was hitting some 6min K's, 7min ks so started thinking about 5,30, 5,15 maybe even my original goal of sub 5hrs... Slowly started going for more gels and lots of clifbloks, to try and keep some running going,,, worked out towards the end of my 3rd lap I was 1km behind the second last runner, but really strugging to get much movement in pace... sluggish, but knew I should be able to hold onto about 5hrs 30 or 5.50 worst case scenario... last lap a grindfest, but kept at it and good seeing other runners ahead of me throughout most of the race... good motivation. Some amazing volunteers too... Weather got a bit warm on the last lap...So glad to get to finish, good reminder of how fat I am, but could be worse, and really good in so many ways to get through this one. Psychologically it feels like Ive salvaged something in a terrible year racingwise.. Hopefully 2021 goes a lot better. Toe stopped being sore towards the end. Had lower back soreness post race...  Blessed to be there today and avoid a DNF... Onward...
Results; https://bluechipresults.com.au/results.aspx?CId=11&RId=1368

My 36 road marathons since 2004;
13x Perth, 9x Melbourne,
 7x Perth City2Surf
3x Gold Coast. 3x Rottnest
Sunset Coast.

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Jonathon W

XTR Sunset Coast Marathon. #36 completed. Challenging day, big PW by 44min 2.21/3.17 Sensational ocean views, wonderful runners, volunteers

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Snakey Summer Single-tracks and firetrails near Byford Beach

Running around the footy/cricket 🏏 oval

Another "Not a Yelo run" Celebrating 9yrs of Yelo and my Gold Coast marathon entry this week. Reasons why not a legit Yelo run in description.

Hilly warmup Flora Terrace to Star Swamp and back

Afternoon Goal to goal .

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