Sophie and Greg running the Great Ocean Road Ultramarathon
Greg crossing the finishline in 3:56 for 45km
Sophie and I finished the Great Ocean Road Ultra last Sunday. Wow, what a race. It was so spectacular out there. There were about 350 entrants in the full 45km marathon, and Jacinta, Sophie and I waited at the start nervously. Four kenyans and Steve Monhagetti (Australian marathon legend at 42 years) wandered through the crowd to the front, the helicopter hovered overhead and then at 8am BANG we were off. I had no idea how long this race was going to take us. The road is just up and down, up and down the whole way as it hugs the coastline from Lorne to Apollo Bay. The scenery along the coastline is spectactular.
Sophie, Jac and I ran together for about the first 5km, with Jac powering along and pulling ahead about 50m. I ducked into the bushes for a dehydration stop, and dropped behind them both. Little did I know I wasn't going to see them again for a very long time. I plodded along, talking to people I met and just relaxing into the run as the crowd thinned out. I met some people from Western Suburbs Tri Club, and introduced myself to Michelle and Peter, who happened to know my training buddy Peter Whyte, so we had lots to talk about. We slowly climbed up hills and down the other side. The helicopter hovered over the lead pack ahead, and we watched with awe as a light plane flew along the costline also over the race. We could see the athletes ahead of us for a few miles since the road winds in and out of small bays.
Before too long I realised that we had almost reached the half marathon point at Kennet River (a small town), and realised that it was almost 2 hours gone. Oops, a bit too slow, but I felt really good. It was probably time to pick up the pace and try to catch Sophie and Jac ahead. I had started to feel my right calf tighten slightly, so stretched it out a bit but kept running.
So from here I picked up the pace. I tried to hold 5 min/km pace, and soon started passing lots of people. My spirits were high as I cruised along, running through the checkpoints getting more water, and flying down the hills. I felt really strong, and started catching glimpses of Sophie ahead about one kilometre up the road.
At the 33km mark, I finally caught Sophie. She was having a great race, and looked in great shape. We chatted for a while, and she encouraged me to go ahead and try to catch Jac. So off I went, and kept passing people. I was having a great race, and sat on 5min/kms.
I passed the marathon point in 3:40, which was great considering I did 2:00 for the first 21km. With 3 more kilomteres up the road to the finish I tried to pick up the pace, but struggled on the only flat section of the course. I crossed the line in 3:56.
I was really happy with how I ran the race, and managed to hold 5min/km for the last 24km. I had run the whole way, something I seem to struggle with on the flat marathon courses. Jac had finished in 3:53 and Sophie in 4:05.
But today I am paying for the efforts. My right calf has gone a bit pyscho, and is swollen and bruised. I have a limp that pegleg pete would be proud of (all I need is a parrot), and man it hurts. Off to physio tonight I am afraid.
Sophie, of course, is like a gazelle and doesn't seem sore or tired. She recovered really well. Our good friend Jacinta, who ran her first marathon, had a great race.
