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Jenny
Downie's
2006 Sydney Marathon experience
There are a
number of people that I need to pass on my sincere thanks for
getting me across the line in Sydney, including my "medical
team", my running buddies, family, friends and workmates - each
and every one of you receiving this email. To thank you all I
would like to share with you my Sydney Marathon experience...
The thought of
running the Sydney marathon, commencing at the Harbour Bridge
and finishing at the Opera House, inspired me. After all it was
my home town. I commenced an 18 week training program and,
except for a few minor hicups, everything was going to plan.
However, six weeks prior to the marathon, disaster struck and it
was looking extremely doubtful that I would even get to the
start line to run my second marathon. During the 12k Bridge to
Brisbane fun run, I succombed to a back injury which extremely
restricted my training from then on leading up to the marathon.
If that wasn't enough, a week later the Queensland state
election was called, which for me meant extra stress and working
long hours, seven days a week up until the election. However, I
was still determined to get to Sydney for the event. In
retrospect looking on the bright side, as the election was held
the weekend prior to the marathon, at least I knew I had a job
for the next three years before I left Brisbane.
There were a
number of runners from Queensland whom I knew were participating
in the marathon and half marathon events. At the start line I
met up with one of those runners, Peter Wilson who I run with at
Brisbane Road Runners Club. Peter and I were both aiming for a
sub 4h30m marathon, although realistically I considered it to be
completely out of my reach given my preparation. With our
respective family members wishing us well, the gun went off and
Peter and I started the race together, taking in the scenery
from the harbour bridge and around Lady Macquarie Chair,
managing those hills for the first 5km. While passing a number
of landmarks on our way out to Centennial Park, Peter and I
discovered that we had both grown up in Sydney. From 10k on we
were sharing memories of our schooling days and family events
while keeping each other on track at a steady constant pace.
Heading back
towards the city I was looking forward to seeing my daughter,
Lisa, in Pitt Street at the 26k mark, as I had previously
arranged. When we neared the point, to Peter's and my pleasant
surprise, his wife Patti and Lisa had also paired up and were
there together madly clapping and cheering us on. It was a real
buzz for both of us. I continued through the hilly streets of
the city, feeling okay but fully aware that the worst was still
ahead.
At
approximately the 30k mark, heading out to Balmain, I was
starting to tire. It was also at this point that the hills
became steeper and more prevalent on the course. Peter and I
continued on, motivating each other to keep running at a steady
pace and tackling those
hills one by one. By the 39k mark my pace had slowed, I was
feeling really weary and was hoping that the worst was over.
But alas, I had the climb up Observatory Hill ahead. Peter and
I dug deep and, encouraging each other, started on the steep
ascent up the final hill. We both made it to the top and as I
passed the 41k mark I felt sheer relief that the hills were
behind us and that I would have an easy downhill run to the
finish. However Peter had other ideas and urged me to dig deep
once more for a "final sprint to the line". With the finish
line in sight and our cheer squad yelling support I gave it
everything I had to cross the finish line in a net time of
4h30m35s.
I was
absolutely ecstatic with my result, despite missing out on a sub
4h30m marathon by less than a minute. My Sydney time was three
minutes faster than my first marathon at the Gold Coast in
2005. Sydney definitely lived up to its reputation of a much
tougher course with all those hills.
If it hadn't
have been for Peter, and our combined cheer squad, I don’t
believe that I would have had such a fantastic result or such a
memorable marathon.
Thanks to you
all. Regards
Jenny
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