#citytrailmelbourne - My version of the 12k race

Are you someone who loves a wild and wet forecast, or does it make you want to snuggle in under the doona even deeper and hit ‘snooze?’ The weather gods had possibly dialled up hail, thunderstorms and a cold southerly wind – somewhere between 6 – 10 degrees Celsius.

I love a forecast like that and I beat the 0515 alarm up on Sunday and was up and about getting ready for the #citytrailmelbourne event held by Rapid Ascent. If you’ve been racing with me or just following the blog you’ll know how much I love the Rapid Ascent events. The vibe is awesome and they are happy races with happy runners, and I’m looking forward to the upcoming Salomon TrailRunning Series. But first I had a City Trail race to run. 

After a shower, I pulled on my new GHST top and the Elite MCS Compression tights by 2XU. I love the lightness of the GHST top and the orange stands out a mile away - and it also wears really well in the wet. There is no clinging or chaffing. That and the extra warmth and muscle engagement from the MCS tights should make for the perfect combination n the rain. I went through my core strength and leg strengthening and muscle engagement routine and then had a quick bite to eat before heading past Hannah’s house and into the city. It was great to have the company on the way in, as both of our families were going to stay home and hide from the weather. Hannah had had an amazing run at ‘Run the Rock’ yesterday and was backing it up with the 7km today. I was primed for the 12… The 12…

Arriving at Toms Block in Melbourne, we were both excited. #citytrail is a new concept and we had both been asked to run. The Melbourne event was to be the Australian first. The weather was ok, and we soon caught up with the AustralianRunning Convention team and my friends from the Dandenong Trails Runners. Even with the weather, there was a great vibe. About 0740 I hit the road for my warm ups, again I watched the HR flutter nearly straight up to 175 and hover there for a while before settling about 130.

Good times at the end, sorry no prerace piccies - Thanks Cheryl

By 0800 I’d made my way to the front of the starting line and was playing about with Cheryl and Ash. Right on 0800 the buzzer went and the field took off.

My plan for this race had been up and down like a yo-yo for the last couple of days – do I got all out at 170 BPM and higher or do I push it at a more comfortable rate of 165 BPM? As I settled into a rhythm a quick glance at the watch saw it at about 167- 170, perfect. I made my way up to about the top 20 of the field and found Lucy. A quick chat with her and a bit of a ‘what are you waiting for?’ from her and I made my way towards the front of the chase pack. I said g’day to Collette, the HIIT Mum but she was in the zone so I pushed forward a little more. About a k in we turned off the ‘Tan’ gravel track and onto the pavement down Anderson St. This was a nice little hill and we all picked up the pace a little.

At this stage I could just still see the pace bike in front and I was feeling really good. My HR was about 165, I was breathing just enough to be conscious of it without it being laboured. I was holding my position well, a little cat and mousing was happening but it was all in good fun. I was shadowing a couple of guys and a younger girl who would eventually win the u20 age group. We crossed the Yarra river and hit the first stairs and did a lap of AAMI Park – home to Melbourne Victory, Melbourne Storm and the Melbourne Rebels soccer and rugby union and league teams. From here it was back down the stairs, round the corner and were directed over the bridge. We crossed over the bridge again and passed the leading 7km runners before turning back towards the city.

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****

We should never have crossed that bridge...

The lead pack were out of sight now and my group were running solo. We picked up the pace a little along the river trail before heading under the Swan St bridge. Little did we know that the arrows we were following should have pointed us over the bridge… We continued along the path towards the city where at some point we had the feeling that we were on the wrong track. The signs had gone and we were heading past the rowing clubs. We were about to turn and trace our steps when we picked up the red arrows and breathed a sigh of relief, although we had a sinking feeling that we were way off course. For the fact that our race was over, we were able to laugh and see the lighter side of it and had a bit of a laugh.

We ran through the gardens and back towards Toms Block and the Tan. We picked up the trail again and a Marshall sent us back up the stairs past the Myer Music Bowl and onto a track that lead us past the finish…. We kept on going and eventually made the decision to run towards the Swan St bridge again and as we did we picked up sight of a few of the runners. 

                              *****     *****     *****     *****     *****

Phew, was perhaps a kinder word of the words that was said as we crossed the bridge and picked up the back of the field. I got super excited when I saw Lucy, who I know is never far from the front even if this was just a cruise, and it turns out she had only just got directed back on course. This got me pumped and I picked up the pace again and gave it another crack. It couldn't hurt right. The HR jumped back to about 170 and I started to pick and weave again. I picked up Collette and said a quick hello and moved on.

From here we went through Birrarung Marr and over the cool William Barak

wooden bridge before the slight climb up and over the path that leads to the G. This path has some great inbuilt speakers playing local indigenous music and sharing their stories, well worth a stop if you have the time… not today.

Our trail was diverted over the skeleton tunnel (I call it that, it’s walkway bridge) to Rod Laver Arena and we were lead through the outdoor tennis courts, perhaps the wettest and my favourite part of the course. By now we had a lot more traffic with the 7km course joining through and you had to be a little more careful of more sedate runners. I heard a couple of ladies say that this was about half way, which I was really pleased to hear!

After our journey through the courts and more stairs, and then some more stairs around HISENSE Arena we retraced our steps past the G, over the bridges and briefly along the Yarra River behind Fed Square before crossing over the famed Flinders St (Princess St) bridge and through the gardens and back towards Toms Block again (Hey, I know this part really well now!). This time the pace was a little slower, but I dug deep and found that last little bit as a few of us once again played cat and mouse and surged and passed and was passed before surging again. Talking to a few of my fellow runners it seems that they had also ran more than what they thought they should have at this point. Some took it as course measures being off, others were a little more than a just a bit upset. They hadn't ran as far as me though… 

Down one last lot of stairs - Thanks Rapid Ascent

We once more hit the sloping steps up past the Music Bowl and Government House and as we rounded the corner I knew the last 500- 800m was easy. This time I opened the taps a little and flew home. Crossing the timer mat before hitting the last 100m stretch I gave it my all. Finally that bloody finish line was there to be crossed. No one could understand how we had almost passed it before, and apparently some people had actually been misdirected enough to have crossed it much earlier.

At the end of the run my time was 1:09:36, a cracking time for 15.9km. Yup, 15.9km on a 12k city course. I reckon that’s pretty fair going! I was also really happy with my gear choice. The Mizuno Ekiden gave great ground response and just a touch of spring in my step and the grip levels were spot on in the rain. The 2XU GHST top was perfect in the conditions and the Elite MCS tights were warm and gave me the confidence to push hard. Both dried exceptionally well in the rain as well.

Love Suunto stats

Talking to Ash who also did a couple of extra ks yet still won his division, and Cheryl, Josie, Collette and a few others our little adventure was not the only one. At the end of the day it was great fun. I was gunning for a sub 40 10k and perhaps had we stayed on course and the lead pack continued to be in sight it may have happened, but there’s always another day.

Out of courtesy I caught up with the team from Rapid Ascent and let them know what happened, more to give them feedback on what I found missing from the day and to let them know that for me there was no hard feelings, though I wasn’t sure that everyone was going to be so forgiving. To their credit they somehow adjusted the times of the runners that reported their issues on course and at the end of the day I come in at 55:43 and 13^th overall, 10^th male and 7^th in my division. Going on my average time of 4:21 I reckon it could have been nearer 53:15 and 4^th or 5^th. But what will be will be. There’s always another race to be run!

And Hannah, she rocked the 7k course to take out in inaugural 7k woman's title!

  

Finally, for those following my HR strategy. My average HR was 166 over the 16k. I felt strong at this rate and I know it dipped a little when we were off course (Yes, you do lose heart when you know that the rest of the field are now quite a few kms ahead of you!). I picked up the pace again when we caught up, but while the 3^rdand 2^nd last kms were rather tough, the last km was great. The goal rate of 170 BPM is more like a 5-10k race pace, or the back half of a true 12km #citytrailmelbourne race when you still have a chance.

  

Cheers for now, Lachie

My tour of Melbourne #citytrailmelbourne style

     Last Saturday the running gods aligned – it was wet, work got cancelled and I was excited! Melbourne had massive rains forecast, I was due to help out at school in the morning and I had been inspired by the new event from RapidAscent #citytrailmelbourne run to go out and explore my capital city.

     The #citytrail concept is a corker, simply find the most iconic places in your city, throw in some parkland, and add some quirky little alleys and you have an amazing run – it beats the City Circle Tram!

     So at 6:15 am and in pouring rain, I left work in Kew and ran the 1k down to the Yarra River Trail before hitting Victoria St and heading into the city. Just running along Victoria St brought back memories of our holiday in Shanghai. I know Victoria St is very heavily populated with Vietnamese businesses, but the smells took me back to China.

     From there I hit Hoddle St and turned left to run up the hill to the ‘G’ or the MCG. This was my first stop of the morning, Melbourne’s sporting heartland. Just after I got here I got the call from work to say the swim meet was cancelled. “By the way, where was I? You’re where? You’re bloody crazy mate, but enjoy it!”

I'm at the G!

After a quick happy snap and lap of the surrounds, I crossed the walkway to Rod Laver Arena, the home of the Australian Open. In the steady rain it was the Australian Closed.

Rod Laver Arena - hiding from the rain

 From the front of the Arena, you can see the city and my next stop, The Arts Centre with its famous spire. There is an amazing story behind this spire, including one about some protesters that chained themselves to it in the 70s. I was also planning on taking a detour past the Eureka Tower – Melbourne’s tallest building. 

Love #Melbourneweather

     To get there I ran along the iconic Batman Avenue before crossing the Yarra River and cruising past the rowing clubs – the busiest place I’d seen this morning. I had to duck and weave past the boats as they were ferried to the river and I hit Southbank and the Arts Centre for my next stop.

Its the spire you want to see!

I got slightly lost here, (believe it or not) and did a loop around the top grassland and external floor of the building. This would make a great little Strava section for those into it.

Getting arty here...

     From here it was a very short run along Southbank to the Eureka building, before an 800m or so run further down Southbank, past the world famous Crown Casino and over the river to the Melbourne Aquarium. I had to stop by and touch base with the fish that can swim!

Hello fishesthatcanswim

     My next stop was to be the Melbourne Museum, IMAX and old Exhibition Building. I chose to run up King St, famous for its nightclubs. I must say, I was chuckling away as I misjudged the gutters and ended up calf deep in water, while the staggering drunks just leaving the night clubs gave me heaps. So I gave them as good as I got knowing they wouldn’t catch me. At the top end of King St I detoured through the Queen Victoria Markets. At 7:30ish they were positively pumping already. 

     The outdoor stalls were being set up, the livestock was noisy as and I loved all the spruiking in the meat and fish section.

You get the picture...

     I made my way up Victoria Parade for a few blocks before a left turn up Swanston St towards Carlton. A couple of left and rights had me cruising up Lygon St – Melbourne’s Italian and restaurant capital. At this time of the morning it was just another street. I went down Gratten St and made my way to the Museum. I love this place, especially the old Exhibition building. It’s such a beautiful piece of architecture. As I took it in I grabbed a quick drink of Nuun and changed my socks for a dry pair. The Nike Lunarspiders drained well, but I just had to change socks. I must be going soft…

My favourite picture!

     Next icon on the tour was Spring St and Parliament House, so I headed straight down Nicholson St. At this stage I was loving it. The streets were eerily quiet, the rain was still falling and I had all the time in the world. What more could you want? I let out more than a few whoops and manic laughs, especially when I got caned with wash when a large truck drove through a well blocked drain just as I was passing.

Capital Hill anyone?

     As I ran past Parliament and crossed into Collins St I enjoyed a bit of speed window shopping in the ‘Paris End’ of Melbourne. At this stage the city was just starting to wake up and more and more people were hitting the caffeine as they slowly meandered to wherever they were going. As I turned down Swanston St to make my way to Flinders St Station I stopped at a Footlocker to see why there was a 50 strong queue of people. ‘Nike Jordan 15s’ was the response I got. Ah, the old Air Jordan. I was an Air Max Force fan myself.

This is Melbourne!

     Finally I made it to Flinders St and after a quick selfie with the iconic clocks I crossed the road to the love it or hate it Fed (Federation) Square complex and ran the lovely stretch of the Yarra along Birrugung Marr and back past the G before returning back to school.

#citytrailmelbourne and still hiding from the rain!

     All up I had covered a total of 25ish km from school to the CBD and back. I had about two hours forty on my feet and a massive smile on my face. I loved the concept and highly recommend entering the #citytrailmelbourne event on April 19^th, I have! My course was more than a little different, but it’s a brilliant way to take in the sights of Melbourne and a great run to boot.

     
Till next time my friends.