Gold Coast Southern Cross University 10km - Dave "Robbo" Robertson
Race Date: July 1st Results: 2017
Having run in more events, and covered significantly more kilometres in the first half of the year, than any of the past 5 or 6 years, there was some added excitement and nerves when the day came to line up for what would be my 7th straight SCU 10K, part of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon event.
(**I had actually begun to write out some reports from previous races this year. These reports remain unfinished and may well end up in a 6-9 month compilation, titled ‘Making Up For Lost Time!’)
(**I had actually begun to write out some reports from previous races this year. These reports remain unfinished and may well end up in a 6-9 month compilation, titled ‘Making Up For Lost Time!’)
GCAM Background
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I first took part at GCAM in 2009 running the Marathon (pictured left).
Followed the next year by running the Half Marathon (2010), and then the 10K the year after that (2011). The downward trend in race distances was halted after that and I’ve been stuck on the 10K ever since. The advantages of this include getting your event over and done with early on the Saturday morning so you can relax the rest of the weekend cheering others on. Plus opening up an opportunity to get involved with the Event’s Live Stream which I’ve enjoyed doing for the past 4 years. Added to this is the fact that the course for the 10K is flat and fast, conditions generally always ideal, and there are lots of runners of various paces around to pull you along. |
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Things obviously worked
out pretty well in my first crack in 2011 as I ended up running 34:52, a PB (pictured right). Maybe it was the beard! |
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In 2012 I wasn’t able to repeat this feat, finishing outside 35mins (35:18), run in a pair of Vibram Fivefingers Seeyas.
This run was however backed up the next day to run the Half Marathon, which (thanks to unplanned Pacer, Paul Murray) did end with a PB which still stands today (79:38). |
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The next 4 years would bring mixed results…
2013 saw the bagging of another sub 35 (34:58)… |
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…only to follow up in 2014 with a more relaxed 40:34, while running in a kilt, in preparations for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games!
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2015 was the year of a 35:15 taking down Mossy to win the Commentator’s Cup, as well as towelling up some of the Aussie and Global legends of distance running!
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…while 2016 ended with a bit of a disappointing 35:33.
Disappointing in that I thought I had prepared well but wasn’t able to finish off the superb pacing work by Paul Murray, this time acting as a planned Pacer (complete with hamstring injury), who took me through half way in 17:14 only for me to go missing in the second half, turning in 18:19. Proving I was clearly not as well prepared as I had thought. |
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So the scene was set to finally take down the time which had stood for 6 years!
The preparation was good with a solid 10 week block of more specific 10K training on the back of a couple of marathons earlier in the year, plus a UTA50 thrown in (as per previously mentioned overdue race reports).
It's worth mentioning the goal I set at the start of this year to try and run every day, as a way to build some consistency back up, something which has been distinctly lacking over recent years.
I’m happy to say this has been achieved so far keeping to a minimum of 5km every day so far in 2017, the longest streak I can remember every sustaining. Ron Hill look out!
Training was built on getting in as many Flyers Long Runs as possible, hitting the key Tuesday and Thursday Intervals sessions with a focus on building up to longer, sustained reps, plus the addition of a mid week trail effort through Glenrock (10-16km) with the Flyers Dads group, plus Kyle.
Maximum lifetime weekly mileage (111km) was hit 5 weeks before race day, and thankfully some knee issues brought on from overload due to the previous marathons and UTA preparation, (and an absence of outright rest days due to the streak goal), had settled down well by then.
My confidence received a boost 1 week before race day with a 5000m hit-out on the track in Sydney at a Community Nitro Event which led to a PB of 16:42 run fairly controlled for the most part, and with the assistance of a pacer for the first few kilometres. My 10K race goal of 34:30 (3:27 pace) now looks like it could be on the cards if all goes to plan.
The preparation was good with a solid 10 week block of more specific 10K training on the back of a couple of marathons earlier in the year, plus a UTA50 thrown in (as per previously mentioned overdue race reports).
It's worth mentioning the goal I set at the start of this year to try and run every day, as a way to build some consistency back up, something which has been distinctly lacking over recent years.
I’m happy to say this has been achieved so far keeping to a minimum of 5km every day so far in 2017, the longest streak I can remember every sustaining. Ron Hill look out!
Training was built on getting in as many Flyers Long Runs as possible, hitting the key Tuesday and Thursday Intervals sessions with a focus on building up to longer, sustained reps, plus the addition of a mid week trail effort through Glenrock (10-16km) with the Flyers Dads group, plus Kyle.
Maximum lifetime weekly mileage (111km) was hit 5 weeks before race day, and thankfully some knee issues brought on from overload due to the previous marathons and UTA preparation, (and an absence of outright rest days due to the streak goal), had settled down well by then.
My confidence received a boost 1 week before race day with a 5000m hit-out on the track in Sydney at a Community Nitro Event which led to a PB of 16:42 run fairly controlled for the most part, and with the assistance of a pacer for the first few kilometres. My 10K race goal of 34:30 (3:27 pace) now looks like it could be on the cards if all goes to plan.
Race Week
Team Robbo were all packed up and on the road heading North by Wednesday afternoon. The plan was to spend a night with my Sister and her family at Scotts Head which is about half way and breaks up the total 8.5 hour drive nicely.
We ended up spending 2 nights there and I managed to fit a few final easy runs in before getting back on the road to complete the trip to Currumbin on the South end of the Gold Coast where we would stay at my Sister/Dad’s place as has become the norm each year.
On Friday afternoon (race day eve), I headed up to the Elite Athlete Media Conference to get the inside scoop on who to watch out for across the weekend. My planned attempt to break a 6 year old PB in the 10K somehow went under the radar!
We ended up spending 2 nights there and I managed to fit a few final easy runs in before getting back on the road to complete the trip to Currumbin on the South end of the Gold Coast where we would stay at my Sister/Dad’s place as has become the norm each year.
On Friday afternoon (race day eve), I headed up to the Elite Athlete Media Conference to get the inside scoop on who to watch out for across the weekend. My planned attempt to break a 6 year old PB in the 10K somehow went under the radar!
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I then headed across to the Event Expo to join the queue to pick up my bib where I bumped into fellow Flyers Damo, Johhny and Matt B. I took it as a good omen that the lady who gave me my bib (Stephanie), shares the same birthday as me. She was also thrilled to learn 23rd March is also the birthday shared by names like Sir Roger Bannister, Kurt Fearnley, Mo Farah and Mo Farah’s twin brother.
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One last appointment, the annual catch up with the newest squad members of the Indigenous Marathon Project at the Main Beach parkrun start area.
Funnily enough I played Uber-driver for IMP Founding Father, Rob de Castella to get to the meet up and run. A good chance to pick the brain of one of Australia and the World’s greatest distance runners to get some last minute tips before the race the next day. As always there was a great turn-out of IMP supporters and parkrunners to meet the 2017 squad and hear from Deek before enjoying a leisurely 5K Freedom Run at the home of parkrun in Australia, Main Beach. This was followed up by dropping Deek back to his Hotel and heading back to Currumbin to tuck kids into bed, eat, prepare the race kit and eventually jump into bed ready for an early start. |
Race Day
Alarm is set for 4:45am. I wake up at 4:30am anyway. Probably only 5 and a bit hours sleep. Game day! Shower, eat a banana, some fruit toast, and get inventive with a pre-race coffee.
Looking in the dark in my sister’s kitchen for her coffee supply I’m able to track down some ground up beans ready for use in a plunger. No time for plunging now, I whack a couple of spoonfuls into a mug, add water and milk then drink and chew my way through a coffee which is unlike any I’ve ever experienced before. Caffeine is on board however and that’s the main thing.
I drive 30mins up the Gold Coast Motorway with my Brother who is also a repeat eventer at the Gold Coast 10K. We are both pumped that we get our usual, top secret parkrun spot literally metres from the start line. Its a seriously good park!
Its now almost 6am. Still dark outside. Temperature is about 10 degrees with a very light Southerly breeze blowing. The conditions are great once again for fast running.
I’m lucky enough to be able to utilise the Elite/Preferred area to leave bags and get ready. Its cool to see some of the fastest runners in the country going about their pre-race rituals. I pass fellow Newy runners Guy Walters and Connor Stephenson heading out for a warm up. I do similar shortly after, just an easy 10mins or so down to the 1km marker and back.
Looking in the dark in my sister’s kitchen for her coffee supply I’m able to track down some ground up beans ready for use in a plunger. No time for plunging now, I whack a couple of spoonfuls into a mug, add water and milk then drink and chew my way through a coffee which is unlike any I’ve ever experienced before. Caffeine is on board however and that’s the main thing.
I drive 30mins up the Gold Coast Motorway with my Brother who is also a repeat eventer at the Gold Coast 10K. We are both pumped that we get our usual, top secret parkrun spot literally metres from the start line. Its a seriously good park!
Its now almost 6am. Still dark outside. Temperature is about 10 degrees with a very light Southerly breeze blowing. The conditions are great once again for fast running.
I’m lucky enough to be able to utilise the Elite/Preferred area to leave bags and get ready. Its cool to see some of the fastest runners in the country going about their pre-race rituals. I pass fellow Newy runners Guy Walters and Connor Stephenson heading out for a warm up. I do similar shortly after, just an easy 10mins or so down to the 1km marker and back.
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6:15am. 15 mins until show time. With the engine warmed up and a good bead of sweat on the brow, I throw on my 1 week old pair of racing flats, have an Gu gel and head to the start line. The sun is now thinking about coming up.
I bump into Steve Moneghetti on the way. He’s having an easy run in the 10K before a harder Half Marathon the next day, to battle it out with Kyle. I give Mona some words of advice and a pat on the backside to calm his nerves! 6:27am. One last nervous wee for me in the portaloo right next to the start line, in the sectioned off Elite/Preferred area. Another good omen as eventual Women’s race winner Eloise Wellings tags me in on her way to the start line. |
(pic courtesy of David Tarbotton)
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6:28am. Claim the customary Flyers Front Line position on the far right of the start line.
6:29pm Feel a pinch on the bum from behind ... thanks Guy Walters.
6:29pm Feel a pinch on the bum from behind ... thanks Guy Walters.
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6:30am GO!
The gun fires setting in motion 5000 runners eager to get their Saturday morning 10K journey underway. I work hard to resist the urge to go out too fast and try keeping up with the significantly faster runners I find myself in the company of. |
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Unlike my mate Ali ‘Xtreme’ Najem who I can see up ahead and who looks like he is on a mission to tackle the guy on the back of the lead-out media motorbike!
(Ali led for the opening couple of kms and would go on earn himself a very impressive PB, sub 32min.) I’m passed by the majority of the elite male field and before long I notice Elzy Wellings moving up next to me. Later on I would claim I helped pace her to victory (for all of 30 seconds!) |
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This unique aspect of our sport is never lost on me. The way regular runners can quite literally rub shoulders with the stars of the show during competition. I ‘allow’ Elzy to pace me for a few hundred metres before reflecting on the fact that trying to stick with her any further will result in dire consequences.
As I approach the bridge the 1st kilometre marker passes… 3:19. A bit too hot but not as crazy as other race starts I’ve experienced. Feeling pretty comfortable.
I observe up close the battle unfolding in the Women’s Race and remember back to my pre-race strategy of aiming to stick with the 3rd placed female. A look back over the results from this event from previous years shows that 3rd place in the Women’s race is usually run pretty close to 34:30 which is what I’m gunning for.
I’m passed by the female in 2nd place, Alexandra Paterson as we cross back over the bridge. I find myself in a nice little group of 4 or 5 as we hit the 2km mark… 3:29. Possibly taking it a little too easy to make up for the fast opening km but still feeling pretty good.
As we return to our starting point, the crowd and atmosphere builds. I hear a shout out from one of the announcers, Joel Murray as we go up the only rise on the course, just past the start area. This gives me a boost.
3km…3:21. I’ve got the pacing yo-yo working well! I remember back to another planned strategy, of breaking the race up in the 3x3km reps, with a 1km dash for home to finish. So that’s 1 of the 3km reps down with the watch reading a bit over 10:10.
Starting to work now but still under control. I hear a lot of people yelling out ‘Go Laura’ which helps me identify the name of the female runner I find myself now running with. At this stage Laura (Nagel) is in 3rd place in the Women’s race. Perfect, I think. Just gotta stick with Laura.
The 4th km goes by pretty quickly. 3:28. The road is dead flat and wide. I do my best to take the racing line at all times, to minimise my journey as the course winds its way North through the Labrador section. Definitely feeling alive now but still ticking along ok. I look forward to reaching the half way mark to tick it off and start the run for home.
The 5km timing mat and clock are now in view. 3:27 5th km. 17:06 first half. Right where I want to be. Definitely hasn’t been easy but happy to be past half way. I figure 3:30 pace will get me home for a PB from here so as long as I don’t drop under that its game on!
These next few kms are when the biggest test comes. I notice the pace slowing a bit. I’m still running with Laura but it seems we are getting caught up with surrounding runners who are just a touch behind what I’m wanting. A few little surges help break out of this and even though the pace has dropped a bit, I’m still sneaking under 3:30s.
6km 3:29. 7km 3:29. Its a good feeling to round the Northern turn-around at this point and start winding up for home. I realise I’ve knocked off my 2nd 3K rep and am well into the final one now.
Before the race I had meant to write these words on my left in permanent marker ‘HOLD ON!’
Having forgotten to do that I found myself looking down at the back of my left hand at this stage and imagining I was reading those words, which seemed to provide the desired effect, but without the need to wash the ink off post-race.
There’s nothing comfortable about this section of a 10K and I reckon it becomes a big mental game. My self advice to HOLD ON is definitely required. I briefly take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the sun rising as well as the view across to The Spit and down towards the high rises of Surfers Paradise. But what I really want to see is the 8km marker. It seems like it takes for ever to reach but when it finally does the split reads 3:27.
Laura and I are joined by a couple of other runners at this stage and I feel like we are all pushing each other along. I just want to make sure we’re keeping the pace below 3:30s which it seems like is happening. HOLD ON!
As we take the left hand turn off the water views section our little group all start to wind it up. I bravely make a surge on the strength of some motivational support from the crowd but I quickly retreat knowing we’re still a bit far out for such acts.
We round up the 9km marker (3:28), completing the 3rd of my 3km reps. Now for the fun part…see whatever’s left and give it all you’ve got.
It always fascinates me how the mind works breaking down tasks like this. Its the part before the final part that always seems the toughest. No matter the distance, from a Mile, to parkrun to a Marathon or 50K, once you hit that ‘1 lap/kilometre/rep’ to go there’s a sense that it almost takes care of itself. Even if you’re hurting big time, its possible to find that extra gear you may not have thought you had, to kick for home.
Even though, the final km still seems to drag on and I’m desperately hanging out for the left hand turn to enter the Broadwater Parklands race precinct.
Running past the club tents, including the Flyers tent just before this turn is easily the best atmosphere and crowd support on course and its hard not to get a lift from this.
As I approach the bridge the 1st kilometre marker passes… 3:19. A bit too hot but not as crazy as other race starts I’ve experienced. Feeling pretty comfortable.
I observe up close the battle unfolding in the Women’s Race and remember back to my pre-race strategy of aiming to stick with the 3rd placed female. A look back over the results from this event from previous years shows that 3rd place in the Women’s race is usually run pretty close to 34:30 which is what I’m gunning for.
I’m passed by the female in 2nd place, Alexandra Paterson as we cross back over the bridge. I find myself in a nice little group of 4 or 5 as we hit the 2km mark… 3:29. Possibly taking it a little too easy to make up for the fast opening km but still feeling pretty good.
As we return to our starting point, the crowd and atmosphere builds. I hear a shout out from one of the announcers, Joel Murray as we go up the only rise on the course, just past the start area. This gives me a boost.
3km…3:21. I’ve got the pacing yo-yo working well! I remember back to another planned strategy, of breaking the race up in the 3x3km reps, with a 1km dash for home to finish. So that’s 1 of the 3km reps down with the watch reading a bit over 10:10.
Starting to work now but still under control. I hear a lot of people yelling out ‘Go Laura’ which helps me identify the name of the female runner I find myself now running with. At this stage Laura (Nagel) is in 3rd place in the Women’s race. Perfect, I think. Just gotta stick with Laura.
The 4th km goes by pretty quickly. 3:28. The road is dead flat and wide. I do my best to take the racing line at all times, to minimise my journey as the course winds its way North through the Labrador section. Definitely feeling alive now but still ticking along ok. I look forward to reaching the half way mark to tick it off and start the run for home.
The 5km timing mat and clock are now in view. 3:27 5th km. 17:06 first half. Right where I want to be. Definitely hasn’t been easy but happy to be past half way. I figure 3:30 pace will get me home for a PB from here so as long as I don’t drop under that its game on!
These next few kms are when the biggest test comes. I notice the pace slowing a bit. I’m still running with Laura but it seems we are getting caught up with surrounding runners who are just a touch behind what I’m wanting. A few little surges help break out of this and even though the pace has dropped a bit, I’m still sneaking under 3:30s.
6km 3:29. 7km 3:29. Its a good feeling to round the Northern turn-around at this point and start winding up for home. I realise I’ve knocked off my 2nd 3K rep and am well into the final one now.
Before the race I had meant to write these words on my left in permanent marker ‘HOLD ON!’
Having forgotten to do that I found myself looking down at the back of my left hand at this stage and imagining I was reading those words, which seemed to provide the desired effect, but without the need to wash the ink off post-race.
There’s nothing comfortable about this section of a 10K and I reckon it becomes a big mental game. My self advice to HOLD ON is definitely required. I briefly take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the sun rising as well as the view across to The Spit and down towards the high rises of Surfers Paradise. But what I really want to see is the 8km marker. It seems like it takes for ever to reach but when it finally does the split reads 3:27.
Laura and I are joined by a couple of other runners at this stage and I feel like we are all pushing each other along. I just want to make sure we’re keeping the pace below 3:30s which it seems like is happening. HOLD ON!
As we take the left hand turn off the water views section our little group all start to wind it up. I bravely make a surge on the strength of some motivational support from the crowd but I quickly retreat knowing we’re still a bit far out for such acts.
We round up the 9km marker (3:28), completing the 3rd of my 3km reps. Now for the fun part…see whatever’s left and give it all you’ve got.
It always fascinates me how the mind works breaking down tasks like this. Its the part before the final part that always seems the toughest. No matter the distance, from a Mile, to parkrun to a Marathon or 50K, once you hit that ‘1 lap/kilometre/rep’ to go there’s a sense that it almost takes care of itself. Even if you’re hurting big time, its possible to find that extra gear you may not have thought you had, to kick for home.
Even though, the final km still seems to drag on and I’m desperately hanging out for the left hand turn to enter the Broadwater Parklands race precinct.
Running past the club tents, including the Flyers tent just before this turn is easily the best atmosphere and crowd support on course and its hard not to get a lift from this.
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We finally turn in. I’ve surged forward a bit to pass a couple of the guys in our group but Laura is powering on just ahead of me. I give myself a second to start celebrating because unless my maths is way out, the 6 year PB is about to be touched up.
(pics courtesy of Matthew Browning) |
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Under the 250m to go arch.
I’ve done this race enough times to know but the false final bend catches me out once again. I keep pushing hard to round the actual final bend and immediately sharpen my focus to see what the clock is reading at the end of the chute.
Its just ticked over 34mins. I hear the announcer saying that Chris Truscott has just finished. I caught up with Chris the week before on the track in Sydney where he finished the length of the straight in front of me in the 5000m race.
Here it was happening again in a different setting, and slightly longer straight. But I remember thinking I must have had a good run to be finishing anywhere near Chris.
Knowing it was finally going to happen, I might have let myself start to celebrate early before noticing how strongly Laura was finishing. We hit the blue carpet and I gave it one last surge while also remembering to give the Flyers ‘Toot toot’ call sign to the photographers and hit the line simultaneously with Laura who did indeed finish 3rd.
I remember letting out a massive ‘AGGGGHHHHHHH’ which startled a few people nearby possibly fearing I wasn’t well, and then proceeded to give Laura a high five and thanked her for pulling me along.
I’ve done this race enough times to know but the false final bend catches me out once again. I keep pushing hard to round the actual final bend and immediately sharpen my focus to see what the clock is reading at the end of the chute.
Its just ticked over 34mins. I hear the announcer saying that Chris Truscott has just finished. I caught up with Chris the week before on the track in Sydney where he finished the length of the straight in front of me in the 5000m race.
Here it was happening again in a different setting, and slightly longer straight. But I remember thinking I must have had a good run to be finishing anywhere near Chris.
Knowing it was finally going to happen, I might have let myself start to celebrate early before noticing how strongly Laura was finishing. We hit the blue carpet and I gave it one last surge while also remembering to give the Flyers ‘Toot toot’ call sign to the photographers and hit the line simultaneously with Laura who did indeed finish 3rd.
I remember letting out a massive ‘AGGGGHHHHHHH’ which startled a few people nearby possibly fearing I wasn’t well, and then proceeded to give Laura a high five and thanked her for pulling me along.
JOB DONE! Final km 3:15 (fastest). Official time 34:25. (17:06/17:18)
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Summary
So there it is. 7 years worth of 10K racing on the Gold Coast. I’m already looking forward to number 8 next year!
Thanks to the organisers of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon for continuing to lead the way in Australia and putting on an outstanding weekend of running events.
Thanks to the organisers of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon for continuing to lead the way in Australia and putting on an outstanding weekend of running events.
Selfie with Women’s Winner Elzy Wellings
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Proudly posing with 1st Dave, Dave Criniti. It was a great day for the Daves Running Club. I was happy to finish 3rd Dave.
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