| 2009 Reports - Marek |
 |
 |
 |
|
My Painathlon 2009
My painathlon ordeal started a little early this year as I agreed to take a couple of familiarisers for Jono. This proved to be very enjoyable and allowed me to meet other entrants doing the event. On race day I felt it helped by being able to share my nervous excitement with them on what was about to come.
With 2 minutes to the start, the rain came down. I put on my rain jacket and headed to the start. No sooner had it began, the rain stopped. I was cooking on the run as my feet sank into the sand with little forward movement. Again the lead guys just float away.
With the short ride to Reabold Hill I make up some ground as people put on their cycling shoes. (I feel by keeping my running shoes on for the first 5 challenges works best.) I plan to jog up Reabold slowly and stride out down the hill so when people passed me going up, I was not bothered. Unfortunately they were still passing me on the down hill as well.
Back on the bike, I now know it’s quicker to go straight on yet some people still go through Perry Lakes. (thanks Kerrie) The run to DNA Tower is straightforward and allows us to see where everyone is. I threw in a few high fives with some people and see others, all with smiles enjoying the event.
I’m sure Mount Street was about to remove these smiles. My plan was to stride out down the hill with a slow jog up, walking the last steep bit. That worked good for me and still felt fine after three laps.
I catch up with Justin and get a tow to the bridges start. Seems his effort got me the fastest split on the bike. J I lost Justin on the run as he stopped for a pit stop and as no one else was about I set of for the Truth alone.
This is when my legs normally start to cramp up but this year I got to the start of the Truth, the best I’ve ever felt. Jason was there having problems, I think with shin splints. This would obviously affect his race but was still laughing and enjoying the event.
I meet the fast guys coming the other way still smiling, flying down the hill. I see Kerrie running the steep hill up to the punch and wonder how she can do that. I do my best time by almost 10 minutes walking the up hills.
The Zigzags is when my running legs packed up. It was run walk all the way to the top, forcing myself to run. Luckily the hill was not as bad as I thought it was going to be and with the short cut down, I was back on my bike in no time.
A quick ride down to Quadcruncher, the leaders are leaving as I arrive. How anyone could run Quadcruncher is beyond me. Walking up the steep part with my legs and lower back hurting, begging me to stop, I question my sanity for doing this event again. I meet Rick and Kerrie on my way back not far behind, and wish them well and carry on.
Painultimate was very, very hard. I was waddling 3 lampposts to walking 1. I thought I would never get around.
With 10 laps of Jacobs to go. I was not going to try and cycle up Mount Street. As I neared the top, out pops the photographer and snaps me pushing my bike up the hill. L
As Chris was just finishing his laps as I arrived, I felt I could go a little easier.
I missed the girls (lap counters), from previous years, cheering us on every lap adding to the atmosphere.
My Painathlon has finished.
Big thank you to Jono for staging the event and all the volunteers for giving up there Saturday to help
My answer on how to improve this event was: “NOT by adding another challenge”
See you next year, Marek |
