Great Ocean Road – Lorne-Apollo Bay (45km)

After competing in the Great Ocean Road marathon last year I was keen to come back for more this year and treat it as a focus race.

The preparation and training had been very good with new pb’s being achieved along the way and a course record in the 55k ultra from Frankston-Portsea. 

The word on the street was that the Kenyans and Ethiopians were to be out in force as they had been in previous years.

Race day provided us with some challenging conditions to say the least...cold, raining and a solid block head wind to confront us the whole way to Apollo Bay.

After an easy first 1km the race began in earnest. Dave Meade (Bendigo Ironman Triathlete) took up the running and went about 50-100m up the road. Myself and 2 x Kenyans and 1 x Ethiopian formed a small bunch and followed.

Running around 3’30” min/k pace nothing changed until the 12k mark where we caught Dave and one of the Kenyans began to drop back. By 18km the rolling hills were starting to take their toll and myself and the other Kenyan found we had gapped the other 2 and were out in front of the race.

The pace was solid particularly given the conditions and i estimated we went through 21k in about 73’30”.

At Kennett River (23k start) there are 2 massive climbs which are very testing.

We got over the first one together and while i was working hard i was still feeling ok.

The 2nd of the 2 climbs proved to be pivotal as just before the top i started to lose contact and then as we crested the hill i was dropped and my legs decided they weren’t going to run this current pace any more.

The Kenyan continued to maintain this pace and by 30k i could only see him on the straighter sections of road.

The next 15k were a real battle as the head wind was unrelenting and the legs were battling. I had to really focus to keep it together and maintain a consistent pace without dropping back.

I came through the marathon split in 2’29”50 which was good in these conditions but also a reflection of how i had slowed since 21k. By this stage there were plenty of the half-marathoners giving plenty of encouragement and the crowd began to grow the closer i got to Apollo Bay. About 1k out Anna and Daz drove past giving me plenty of encouragement which was a great boost.

The last few hundred metres was very enjoyable with a lot of friends and a big crowd cheering me on who had done the half.

I came 2nd and was very pleased with the result.  The Ethiopian came 3rd so it was nice to split the African dominance.

Next on the agenda...Gold Coast Marathon 6 July 2008.