Despite being nice and early to the race venue I still managed to be a bit late getting into the start chute. So ended up right back in the crowd. As usual with a big run, the first km was pretty slow, there was a lot of traffic to weave around, including a surprisingly large amount of walkers who refuse to start at the back. Once out of the stadium and onto the streets I was able to settle into a rhythm, and hit my target pace of around 6:30-6:40/km.

For the next 10km out to the turn around things went pretty much to plan. I held a consistent pace 6:30-35/km, my RPE had me in the 'comfortably hard' zone I was aiming for. I was working hard, but felt everything was totally in control. I had my first 2 gels (Maurten 160, 40g/carb each) as scheduled at 30 and 60 minutes, ran through the 2 aid stations and had some water and electrolyte mix in both. (With hindsight this was a mistake, I don't think I got enough fluid into me and should have walked 20-30 sec each aid station to make sure I was hydrated.

At the turn around, my plan was to make a decision if I was able to accelerate slightly, or try to maintain my pace and hang on. By this stage my RPE was getting closer to the Hard end of the comfortably hard range to I started to play the 'just 1 more km at this pace, then I can look at speeding up' game. That game worked for 2km, and then I really hit the wall.

Had my 3rd gel as I was close enough to 90min, walked the aid station and tried to take on as much fluid as I could but when I tried to get running again it just wasn't happening. My pace was up over 7:15/km and my legs didn't want to cooperate.

The next stage of the race was 'I'll just cruise for the next km or so, then pick it up again' Unfortunately the pick it up again part never really happened. I struggled to the final aid station
(km 18) where I had my final gel and walked through again to get a decent drink.

The last 3km I was able to pick it up again slightly, but only to around 6:55/km pace. Which I maintained until the final climb back up to the finish were I saw on the watch was going to be close to 2:25. I was able to summon a final push to make sure I finished under the 2:25 mark.

Start further forward in the crowd
Walk all the aid stations to make sure I got more fluid in.

Was absolutely spent at the finish. Had a couple of bananas and some electrolytes. Then a coffee and ginger slice before heading back to the hotel.


Poor hydration. Not enough training at the higher efforts.
Maybe poor pacing too.


I like this course. It is a PB course, if not always PB weather.
the swag bag was pretty non existent this year though.