Gold Coast Marathon Results

Hi Everyone who ran an event on the weekend. It was great to see so many fantastic results. In particular Linda's 3:30 marathon - well done Coach. So many PB's and so many people exceeding expectations.

It was a wonderful supportive atmosphere at the finish with our cheer squad at 400M to go. Thanks to Margot, John Whelan and Andrew Coop for helping out with the BBQ for runners after they finished.

It would be good if you could share your experiences here with your fellow club members.

Thanks

Steve

YIPPEEEEE!!! I cracked my two hour 1/2 Marathon time! In fact, I SMASHED it (1:53:37)     and needless to say, I am completely overjoyed. I can't really believe how much I've improved since I ran my first half marathon ever at the Gold Coast in 2008. I've pretty well improved by 20 minutes. I ran with Doc & Tracy, who were my "bookends" whilst Mo & Karin were nearby. I can NOT thank Doc & Tracy enough for the support they gave me throughout the race. Doc was tough with me but it was JUST what I needed to stop me flaking... I knew if I wimped, I'd have to cop the "marshmallow" jibes for ever!! This strategy really made me realise what I am capable of & as Doc pointed out, we were making a memory for ourselves that we'll never forget. This unconditional support and love (yes, LOVE) from my fellow In Training running buddies has made me so happy & so proud of myself. I could never have done it without all of you behind me 100% and I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people on earth to run with you all. Go InTraining!!!! We are CHAMPS!!!! I hope one day that I can do as Doc & Tracy have done and help someone to achieve their own running goal. PS: now that I've been all soppy, I will tell you that I am completely trashed today & wonder if it wrong to have a nanna nap at 2pm on a Monday??          

did my first half marathon so im pretty excited!
finished in 2:14:43 which was faster than i expected.

got to the tent really early despite the shuttle bus driver getting a bit confused and nearly dropping us off in a random location.
said goodbye to sherin, jenny and steve who were also running the half and made my way to the back. was sticking with the 2:20 pacer and was mildly alarmed when the A pacer overtook the 2:10 bus decided from there to run my own race, which was fine apart from the fact i hadn't worked out my splits beforehand and realised i was terrible at maths while running. considered pulling out the iphone calculator in my spibelt (yes i never run without something i can check my email on) but thought it might look a bit odd. felt good the whole way until 17km when something bad happened to the R hamstring-still feels off today.
the tent was in the perfect spot to lift the spirits before the final dash to the finish.
loved the atmosphere of being in such a great club. last year i was a clubless clueless runner and had so much more enjoyment this year, everyone is so friendly.
thanks to my coaches steve (for hte written program) sarah and sean. thanks to the tuesday night new farm training group- we are great yeah! looking forward to running the jetty to jetty half in 2 weeks.

It was a lot of fun wasn't it? Saw lots of determined and happy InTraining people running past....it seemed like we must have had 100 team members. I'll get my excuses out of the way first...had the flu and knee issues for a week leading up to the day - but at least I had a lot of rest. I did the half marathon in 2:05 which I was very happy with. I saw Jen, Doc, Karin and Mo train chug by but try as I might I couldn't catch you....as you were on FIRE! It seemed much better organised this year - so managed to get away OK and see the marathoners go by - what an inspiration! Congrats to all...especially Linda!

Hi everyone,

I had a great run yesterday :) The awesome weather and atmosphere definitely helped!

I caught the running bug earlier this year and did my first 10k in Feb with a time of 65 minutes. I have came a long way since then with 1:51:12 yesterday - which was 5 & half minutes better than my first half at Doomben 4 weeks earlier :)

I started running more regularly since March, but I've noticed a lot more improvements since joining the intraining sessions 6 weeks ago. ( I have been in Brisbane for only 7 weeks. I am seconded here from across the ditch to work on a project for about half a year.)

Many thanks to everyone for their advice, esp coaches Sarah and Sean. I took the key message from Steve's session and stuck at it - most even pace will produce the best possible time. I was with the pacers most of the way till about the 16k mark when I started slowing down. The disassociation technique helped me to push on and momentarily ignore pains. I never let go sight of the red balloons so I had a fair idea how I was tracking for time. Seeing fellow intraining runners definitely helped me to keep going. I was surprised I had the energy to kick in the last 400m or so, I must have overtook at least a dozen people right at the end!

My journey has barely started. In 17 weeks time I'll be doing the Auckland Marathon. So I'm looking forward to a lot more running and training in sunny Brisbane :)

Thanks to all the nice intraining people I've met, esp my fun and supportive New Farm group :) Thanks Tracey for letting me share a ride with you at such early hours in the morning.

Congratulations everyone for taking part and finishing your race.

YEEEHAH!. Not sure about everyone else but i'm still coming off a HUGE high from sunday. Having now completed my first half i am looking forward to the J2J in 2 weeks time. A big thanks has to go out to Steve, Margot, Sean and Sarah for everything they have done for me over the last 12 months. My goal this time last year was to be able to complete 1 10km event but with the help of everyone at Intraining and all the top people who i run with on Tuesday nights and cold thursday mornings it looks like anything is possible, even for an old bloke like me.

First of all I would love to congratulate absolutely everyone who ran at the Gold Coast on the weekend. Also a big thank you to those who cheered us on and helped out at the tent afterwards.

I joined the Intraining Marathon School in 2008 to help me train for my first marathon (Gold Coast). I didn't quite achieve the time I wanted (4:01:41 - not sub 4hr), so disappointed with my 1st attempt I came back for my 2nd attempt in 2009 and did break that 4hr barrier (3:54:18). So to those of you who did the marathon or half for the first time and didn't quite achieve your goal time give it another go, the experience will be invaluable and you'll smash it next time.

I can't really explain the motivation that I had to do it again this year. I think part of it is that this is the ultimate test that I will put myself through as a runner both mentally and physically. The sense of achievement that I get from beating those demons in my head and the pain in my legs screaming at me to stop and walk is amazing. Just for the record I managed another sub 4hr

I have been lucky enough to share the journey of training and running a marathon with lots of different people over the last 3 years. I would love to thank all my intraining friends who I have met over this period as you are also one of the reasons that I have come back again.

I want to say congratulations to Sarah P who I trained with for the last 5 1/2 months (she probably won't read this cause she is a little technologically challenged and can't find the forum ). She found the training at times quite tough and had her doubts but she made it and is now a marathoner too!

Ok while I am going - congrats to Linda for her amazing time and to Jen for smashing her PB, to Doc & Tracey for helping her through, to Harry who I ended up running this year's marathon with (well until the last 5k when he got some amazing burst of energy), to Simon, Greg & Keiran who I racked up alot of training km's with, to Bron & Jo who did this year's marathon under injury clouds, to Scott & Darren who are just getting way too fast and are making Jason nervous. I shouldn't miss the person who has been with me along this whole journey and has to put up with me at home too, thank you to my wonderful husband.

This year wasn't so much about the actual race I think I enjoyed the journey alot more.....

Congratulations to everyone for the excellent results on the weekend. I completed my first marathon this year. After starting with the marathon school last year to complete my first half, I completely got the bug and wanted to keep running and do the full this year. The whole experience has been amazing from being at the introductory night with Heids thinking what are we doing, through the training and to cross the finish line on Sunday.

Sunday was amazing. I think one of my favourite memories will be standing on the start line with a big group of Intraining runners getting ready to start the marathon. I was going to say everything went to plan on Sunday, but not quite. I went a little bit harder then I was going to but it paid off by going under my aim time of 3.50. I came in at 3.46. The support at the tent was great and I was able to pick up the pace to finish and seeing friends at the finish line helped too.

I would like to say a huge thankyou to Linda and Barry for their coaching this year and support. Training has been so much fun and is the part that makes me want to do a marathon again. Thank you to Heidi (who came up with this crazy idea with me, Congrats to you), Sarah, Simon, Greg, Andrew, Kerryn, Elsa and Rachel (who I ran a big part of the run with on Sunday). I am very sorry if I have missed anyone but thanks to all of the Intraining Team for support at trainings and on the run on Sunday.

I have had to edit this because although, he may not read this I need to say a massive thankyou to my husband and family for their support this year. With two young kids the grandparents have done a lot of babysitting to get me to training sessions and David has been great with my tiredness, early Saturday nights and long periods away on Sunday. Also having David and the girls at the Gold Coast was wonderful, giving Caitlin a high five at 24km mark. Thank you to them.


Edited by KG - 08-Jul-2010 at 9:39am

WOW everyone is so inspiring, I have loved reading all of the race reports.......I think we can all summise that IN TRAINING rocks!!!!

I couldn't be happier with my run, it was my very first 1/2 marathon and it was everything I could of hoped for and more. After a shocking week of sleep with my little Charlie, we all slept like logs on the Saturday night so I felt very refreshed. It was a perfect morning and I was so rapt up in the atmosphere on the start line that I somehow didn't start my watch properly, strangely enough this didn't stress me and I managed to reset it all and start it again at the 1km mark. I settled into a pretty comfortable pace around 3 or 4km and just relaxed and went with it. The turnaround was great, it was awesome seeing some of my running idols on their way back and our very own speedy Emily gave me a boost, she looked great!!! I then spotted the 1hr30 pace book about 100m or so ahead and wondered what to do, I decided to continue to run my own race as I was feeling great. I was gaining on them, so thought once I caught them I would hop on the bus for the ride home!!! I think I reached the group around 17km, sat there for a couple of k and then Pat told everyone to run there own race from there on in. I was still feeling feally great and couldn't believe I was almost there....I pushed on ahead of the group and picked up my pace for the last couple of k which were my fastest. Entering the finishing chute I was soooooo excited cause I knew I was going to break  90 mins....I caught sight of my hubby, Dad and my boys all cheering and I gave them a big wave!!! I then went through the finish line in just over 1hr28 smiling and I think that smile still remains on my face. Imagine my surprise when I checked the results Sunday night to find my net time was actually 1.27.56, WOOHOO!!!!

I then had just as much fun cheering on all the amazing marathoners, and had a very sore throat Monday!!!

The memory of this day would seriously be in my top 10 life moments!!! I love my training group so much, each and every runner provides endless support, encouragement, fun and laughter. Linda you are simply the best, your knowledge, encouragement, endless advice and time that you provide us all is way beyond the call of duty...I seriously thought my running days were over when I gave up at 16 and with your help I have achieved things I thought would never be possible, I can never thank you enough. Thanks heaps to all of my pace buddies too...Pete, Ian, Scotty, Jason, Darren and more recently Theo you guys keep me on my toes!!!  Getting out of bed when it's dark and cold is made so much easier when you know you get to catch up with such a great group of people....Bron, Kate, Kieren, Jenny.....the list of wonderful people I have met is endless.

Well I best shut up know.......hope to see you all back on the road next week

hey... congratulations to everyone who ran down the coast. sounds like there were many many PBs and unforgettable experiences :)
Once again I had an absolutely fantastic time down the coast and thoroughly enjoyed the race. The support from other Intraining runners during the race was amazing!

Although I have run quite a few half marathons, I was aiming for quite a significant PB (sub 1.21) this time around (my 2nd attempt at GC) - I got close, running 1.21.10 - so will just have to race another in order to achieve my goal. But wow... the race seemed so much harder than last year, and I had a pretty epic battle with the chomps I tried to consume for extra energy!!! ... i had never used gels during a race before - only in training- but after the nutrition seminar, thought i may be able to improve my time simply by working a little more on my nutrition strategy. whilst working a total of 22hours at the expo on friday and saturday, i tried some of the GU chomps and felt they were a lot easier to eat than a GU. i also thought it was pretty cool that you could eat them one at a time and spread out the energy intake (4 chomps are equivalent to one GU). so, after a fair bit of deliberation, i decided to use them during the race. pre-race i put 5 chomps into my skirt pocket (yes i ran in the very comfortable marathon girl skirt). i had decided to have my first at around 8km and then one every 3km or so after that. i started the race fairly well - pretty much on my goal pace and feeling relatively good. however, just after the 8km i decided to have a chomp... wow it is so so so much more of a challenge to try and eat one whilst you are running at 3.50km pace, compared to standing at the expo! they had gone a little harder in my pocket and were a lot bigger than i remembered. it took me a long time to eat as i really struggled to chew it properly and ended up swallowing relatively large pieces... not the most pleasant experience. i passed through the 10km mark in 38.10 and then pressed on to the turn around point. my legs started to feel it around the 12km mark, especially my glutes. as you can imagine... i wasn't really looking forward to my next chomp and was hoping that adrenaline would tide me over... but that was a little too much to ask for the remaining 9km. at around 13.5km i decided to try my luck again. this time was even worse. i nibbled at it, softened it in my hand, and then placed the large lump in my mouth and sucked it. i think it took me about 2km to get rid of the whole thing!!! so, i didn't quite stick to my plan of having one chomp every 3km - although if i had, i would've been almost constantly eating! needless to say, i think my nutrition plan for during the race could be somewhat improved!!! :)
i would've liked to have been able to finish a little stronger - the cheers from our tent going into the finish straight were very uplifting!!! but overall i was pleased with my race as i shaved 1.47 off my previous pb (melbourne 2009). throughout the race my troublesome foot also began to play up. although it didn't really seem to affect my running too much, i spent the rest of the day hobbling around, so it does make me wonder if i would've been any better if i was totally injury free... (and, and, and... more excuses!!! :) )

i can only imagine some of the struggles experienced by all the other runners - especially those tackling the marathon. if i experienced this relatively minor struggle of eating some chomps in running for only 1.21, i am just in awe of those who conquered a distance twice as far, with so many more mental and physical battles to withstand!!! well done!

but i suppose you never have a totally perfect preparation or race, and its just a matter of stringing as many good things together as you can and making the most of the training you've done. i am really proud of all the intraining runners, particularly those from my wynnum group. everyone ran so well and the atmosphere was fantastic. i am sorry i didn't come back to tent after the race. i really wanted to share in everyones experiences and also watch all the marathoners come in, but i got my foot strapped and then went back to our hotel with my family :(

i'm not exactly sure when i progress and do my first marathon, but i will definitely draw on the experiences, determination and courage of all those who did their first this year at gold coast. there were so many amazing stories and it makes me really proud to be an intraining member and coach :) congratulations to all and i hope you all continue training hard towards your next running dream!!! :)
emily

Edited by Em - 09-Jul-2010 at 4:43pm

I’ve held off for a week before posting my race results to let the emotion settle, legs to start working etc.....
I am absolutely hooked with the challenge of the marathon and it rates as one of my favourite memories....
My thanks to all at In Training including the coaches and all runners (in all distances),
you’re all inspirational. What a great weekend.

I had a great run, missing my PB by 2 minutes but I couldn’t have had a better run.
Sticking to the marathon schools teaching (as opposed to last year).
I started slow, settled in and then maintained my pace, my ego stayed in check and
this year I struggled with fewer running demons.

I found it hard to maintain my goal pace and by 10km and was a little behind my goal so I
ran by feel and not my watch  as I knew the watch would do my head in.
I decided to go for plan B (my fall back time).

The headwind on the last 5km’s required extra effort just to maintain the pace
and again I struggled at 40kms… Saturday arvos practice of running the last
1.5km’s with all the shouting, high fives and laughter was my mental saviour.

The In Training tent with all the cheering, the pom poms and
the high fives was again a highlight as was the constant on course support.

I struggled down the finishing chute as I saw the clock and managed to pick up my pace just to get through
before the clock turned 3hrs 20mins.
I hadn’t achieved Plan A although I had just achieved Plan B but by this point I would have been happy with Plan C, Finishing.

Sharing each others stories at the end is always great and something that only other runners/nutbags can appreciate.

See you all next year, we’ll be smarter, drink more and train with more knowledge and have just as much fun.
For such a personal/individual event it remains the best team sport I have done.