The Unofficial Great Australian Run Shindig!! - Recap

by Sonia O'Sullivan 

It’s taken me a few days to recover from what was a Great Run weekend in melbourne. It all kicked off on Thursday night with an athletes Forum where members of the running community were given the chance to ask questions to some of the greatest athletes we have seen recently including Stephano Baldini the 2004 Olympic marathon Champion, Benita Willis the World Cross Country Champion (2004), Chema Martinez  a double European 10,000m Champion and Collis Birmingham the Australian 10,000m record holder.

It was a very informative evening where we learned a lot from these top athletes about training, altitiude, diet , race preparation and recovery.

Next up on saturday was the Junior 5Km Great Australian Run and the 2Km Family fun run. The Junior boys and girls  ran one complete lap of the Albert Park Formula 1  race circuit and a few that I have been helping prepare for the run were able to enjoy fast times on a pretty fast course despite the gusting wind. Next up were the little kids all under 11 with their parents in the  family fun run. I had the pleasure of running around with my daughter Sophie in the sea of red shirts, surprisingly at a similar pace that I would be trying to run over 15km the next day in the  Great Australian Run. It was great to see so many parents joining in and encouraging their kids to take on a running Challenge greater than many have ever run before and all rewarded with a medal and plenty goodies for their efforts.

As we were so close to St.Kilda I couldn’t resist dropping into Baker D. Chirico  on Fitzroy street to pick up some very tasty fuel in preparation for my run the next day. I must say the Fruit loaf and Casalinga Bianco were absolutely fantastic. They had me I at the door, I even placed an order to share with my friends at the unofficial Great Australia Run Party on Sunday evening.

It was just like any other night before a race, my shoes were at the door, my gear at the end of the bed for the next morning and thankfully I had planned ahead with a change of gear in my bag and my drink ready in the fridge.

At 7am we headed off to Albert Park and without too much trouble on a Sunday morning got there with plenty of time to spare.  As I mentioned here before my target for the 15Km was sub 60minutes, and as the race was approaching I was slightly nervous that 4minutes per Km was going to be a big effort and something I was uncertain that I could achieve. The main concern was not to start too fast and get to 10Km under 40 minutes then push on as best I could. A number of people I mentioned my challenge to brushed it off like how hard could it be, but they were missing the knowledge I had, I certainly hadn’t shown any form in the few sessions I completed at the local grass track that I was going to cruise this run. I am fit and running most days but looks can be deceiving and as fit as I look the speed has deserted me so 60 minutes was a barrier I had to break through on Sunday morning at the Great Australia run.

I passed through 10km in just over 38mins and had a few runners around me that seemed to be also chasing the hour. We pushed on through the driving rain along St. Kilda Road and as the lake came back in sight I knew that all the training I had put in and the goal I set would be achieved. I crossed the line with over a minute to spare and felt a sense of achievement that I could once again set myself a target, prepare for the challenge and get a result that I was happy with

Overall apart from the typical 4 seasons in one day that melbourne can throw at you, it was an enjoyable run, the bands along the way the accurate timing and camaraderie I encountered along the route was the perfect start to my Sunday morning

Strangely when you run along with the masses you never know who actually won the race so it was great to be able to come back home and watch the taped version shown earlier live on TV and see that Nicki Chapple had won the womens race and Gunther Weidlinger who had been training at Falls Creek so Austrian(no kangaroos) bred and australian trained had come out on top.

Then the real challenge was facing me, how to ensure the unofficial great australian run after party would be something to remember. I can tell you a great evening was had by all, we  were entertained by 2 Olympic marathon Champions, one breakdancing on the Kitchen floor and another cooking up a cracking pasta Dish when most Great Australian runners were tucked up in their beds.

Roll on 2010 when we look forwad to an even bigger Great Australian run, a few more sub 60 runners and some more Great athletes to share their party tricks at the unofficial great Australian Run shindig!!