My goal was to run the entire distance without stopping, which I have never done before and to largely ignore my heart rate. I wanted to learn how to pace myself on feeling. From the beginning I started with a steady pace, up the hill as I did not want to have nothing left by the time I got to the last few KMs. I recalled from the last year I did the event that lots of people charge up the hill and end up completely spent at the end of it. I wanted to maintain a good pace, and ensure that I did not jar my body on the way down the hills.
I did manage to do this very well, and did not need to shuffle at all...just kept plodding.
It was interesting watching other people pass me with a great rate of knots and then pull up and walk 50m down the road. I stuck to my own pace, no pressure on myself about the time and kept thinking to myself about the Hare and the Tortoise (I wore a Turtle Shirt.
In the end I was feeling pretty tired, but still ran down the finishing chute and passed about 4 people.
I felt great...a sense of acheivement with an obstacle being achieved. I could run non-stop for over an hour!

Nothing, I just need a HRM that has GPS so I know the distance I have to go. This would help me with pacing.

Walk around the ground, stretches


I had had a sprained back a month previous, and had just recovered from a cold/ sinus which pretty much meant I could not train.



This a great annual event in Newcastle in the city which is on a working harbour as well as plenty of beaches. The course is challenging with the hills, but definitely has a good community feel.