HBF Run For a reason 2013

Having run so well last week, the pressure was off for the 12k race today.

This combined with a late night out last night (James Bond monopoly night! with some nice wine esp a 2000 Bin389 holding up very nicely) and some flu'ey symptoms didn't leave me expecting much.

i parked up the top of Kings Park and jogged down to the start, in the 'elite' group after a solid 27th last year - my claim to fame last year was being the first finisher wearing the event t-shirt - most ahead of me are sponsored or at least favour the fancier kit - looking around the elites it seemed i was likely to take this dubious honour again.

Unfortunately my Garmin did't record the first km properly and then completely lost it through the tunnel - so I'm not sure exactly how fast I set off but i'd wager a 3:25 then 3:35s. Lauren Shelley streamed past me at 6k, and i managed to keep within a reasonable distance - she was the only person to pass me after the first couple of km. I went through the 10k sign in 36:03 in a pack of 4, and managed to clear away from that group to finish in 3:30/3:30 to cross the line in 43:03. The finish on the Gloucester Park horse trotting track was quite nice, although significantly longer than the old finish round the WACA.

I ran into Connor Quinn at the start and finish. I knew I was a similar standard to Connor, but a closer check on recent results shows just how close - we've finished within 30sec of each other in every race I've done this year  - with me taking the honours in 4 of the 5 (again by about 20 sec today). 

3 weeks til the marathon - time to start a taper.