Run Melbourne 2010

Run Melbourne Half Marathon 2010 - website facebook results previous
18 July 2010 - Federation Square, 21.1 km around Melbourne
2nd fastest half marathon 1:35:02 and 2nd highest overall place (326 of 3672) in a "big" HM (4 x Run Melbourne).
Garmin Connect activity

• Lined up the 1:30-1:45 starting wave, had planned to run with the 1:30 mins pacer who was behind us, but then before the start he moved to the sub-1:30 wave, we didn't.
• Better weather than expected, even sunshine on the second lap, wind not too bad across most of the course.
  
• Cotton throw away gloves (that I didn't throw away!) were perfect
• Didn't like the course too much in my training run a week ago. Didn't like it that much on the day either, to much back and forward and up and down.
• Seemed to me like the km markers were out, my Garmin certainly didn't agree. Sure it can be wrong as a on-off, but seemed to be getting further and further off on each km. Garmin total measured distance 21.4km, haven't checked if there were any "spikes" in its GPS locations. Also a banner stating "11kms to go" implied to me I had done 10.1km. But that also seemd out once I (finally) got to the 11km mark.
  
• I ran OK. First lap was pretty good, I had though I had done my fastest ever 10km, but they have been out a bit. 11km target was 45mins, I figured I if I could then hang on for 45mins for the remaining 10km I could break the 90mins, but I did 48mins. Second lap didn't go as well, my recent calf soreness didn't really eventuate, but the hips were sore, and my lowere back was really killing me. Still I "shouldered on" (at least until a couple of "hills" (rises really)), and my running "partner" who I had lead by about 30seconds for most of the distance finally caught me. She drifted on ny, but I mananged to keep her in sight for the rest of the run, finishing (what I thought) was only about 10 seconds behind her.
• No PB on this day, but considering I haven't been entirely fit, and I had had a stupid nagging (1 month) cold, I am pretty happy.
  
• General Gripes:

1. Why are there never enough toilets. There were even toilets at the start, but the wait would have been longer than the time most people would have had when heading to the start line. We lucked out in finding some in the car-park; much shorter queues.
2. I'm no fan of course which not only zig-zag around without getting anywhere, but also double back on themselves.
3. I thought Melbourne is mostly flat and yet every variation of this race (in all Melbourne races) I've done, has been up and down (sure not big hills), not great for setting a PB.
4. There was limited room for spectators to see the finish line, and after the finishers spread out wide to collect their showbags etc, then it all squeeze in again to actually exit into the general public area.
5. Showbag - On completion of the run they hand you a bottled water, a Powerade, your finshers medal and a showbag containing, wait for it, .... a "newspaper". No lollies, no snacks, (you could collect these from tents further up in Fed Square), no socks, no cap, no towel, no samples, no vouchers, no flyers, no peice of fruit, just a newspaper.