Melbourne Marathon Festival: Half Marathon – Dave Robbo
Race Date: October 13th Results: 2019
Background
It was a fairly late decision to run in this year’s Melbourne Half Marathon. My main race was the Sydney Marathon a month earlier (LINK to Report Part 1) and the trip to Melbourne had been booked at the start of the year with the plan of Gab running the Marathon. All part of the Team Robbo qualifying campaign for Boston Marathon 2021.
However Gab’s excellent preparation was disrupted following the discovery that she was pregnant with Robbo child #3! Definitely exciting news for us all but causing a delay to Gab’s attempt at a Boston Qualifier.
So with flights and accommodation booked, and a change over of the race entry, another attempt at the Melbourne Half Marathon was on the cards.
Racing a Half Marathon 4 weeks after a Marathon is not my usual approach so I put a plan in place to give the best chance of recovery without losing too much fitness and speed. Running each day can pose a bit of a challenge the week after the marathon, but thankfully once the DOMS peaked around Tuesday, the leg soreness gradually settled so that by Friday they were feeling pretty good.
However Gab’s excellent preparation was disrupted following the discovery that she was pregnant with Robbo child #3! Definitely exciting news for us all but causing a delay to Gab’s attempt at a Boston Qualifier.
So with flights and accommodation booked, and a change over of the race entry, another attempt at the Melbourne Half Marathon was on the cards.
Racing a Half Marathon 4 weeks after a Marathon is not my usual approach so I put a plan in place to give the best chance of recovery without losing too much fitness and speed. Running each day can pose a bit of a challenge the week after the marathon, but thankfully once the DOMS peaked around Tuesday, the leg soreness gradually settled so that by Friday they were feeling pretty good.
These 4 weeks pretty much went like this:
- Week 1 (Recovery) All easy running/jogging. No sessions. Forster parkrun (19:21). No long run. 50km.
- Week 2 (Recovery) More easy running. No sessions. Newy parkrun (18:51). Flyers long run (22km). Bringing up 1000 days straight with the Hunter Water/Flyers crew on the Thursday. 80km.
- Week 3 (Training) session Tuesday (6x1K), hard Newy parkrun (16:37). 80km.
- Week 4 (Taper) Session Tuesday (Deek’s Quarters), massage Wednesday, travel Thursday. Parkville parkrun (24:46). 42.2km pre race day.
The aim was to finally upgrade my Half Marathon PB which was set back in 2012 at the Gold Coast Marathon weekend, my first time under 80 minutes (79:38). This run was greatly assisted by the superb pacing efforts of Paul Murray.
In the years since, the Half Marathon is a distance I have rarely raced.
The closest I had come to improving this PB was at the Winery Running Festival in July 2017 running 79:45 (missing by a painful 7 seconds!)
Last year in the Melbourne Half Marathon I had hoped to make it happen but after starting too fast, especially on a warmer day, I was cooked by half way and missed it again (83:48).
In the years since, the Half Marathon is a distance I have rarely raced.
The closest I had come to improving this PB was at the Winery Running Festival in July 2017 running 79:45 (missing by a painful 7 seconds!)
Last year in the Melbourne Half Marathon I had hoped to make it happen but after starting too fast, especially on a warmer day, I was cooked by half way and missed it again (83:48).
Myself and my pacer, Paul Murray who guided me home beautifully in 2012
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Finish line
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Pre-race
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With news that Eliud Kipchoge’s next sub 2 hour marathon attempt was locked in for Saturday evening Melbourne time, there was a buzz in the air around the Melbourne Marathon expo and around the streets of Melbourne.
I watched the first half while having dinner with Team Robbo and Team Field (Suzie and Alan + family), and the second half back at our accommodation. It certainly did no harm to the enthusiasm and motivation levels of those racing the next day. |
Giving Eliud some running tips at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
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Race morning. Once again, I beat the alarm waking up around 5:30am.
Enjoy the usual pre-race shower then breakfast of peanut butter on bread, a banana, and a coffee. Unlike last year’s race day, there’s much more of a chill in the air early on and conditions are much better throughout the morning (11-12 degrees rising to 17/18 degrees by 10am). Once ready, I join the by now well-drilled support crew of Gab, Grace and Emma and head out onto the course to get an early glimpse at the Marathoners who start first at 7am. |
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We take the short walk down to Flinders Street Station and along St Kilda Road to around about the 2km mark. Its great to cheer on plenty of familiar faces, including a good number of Flyers, as the Marathoners come past. We spot Suzie Field and I jumped in to run 500m with her to start my warm up.
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My warm up then continues via a toilet detour at South Bank and then back over Princes Bridge to the start area. Repeating the form from last year with Kyle, I make my way into the Elite/Preferred runners section adjacent to the start line.
Before long I find myself in a conversation at the start line with Steve Moneghetti & Rob de Castella unpacking what we saw in Vienna the night before. Its great to also catch up with Nat Heath and the Indigenous Marathon Project crew. |
With 15 minutes to go before the start I down a Maurten Caffeine gel (works for Eliud!), and one Crampfix sachet. Its still nice and cool. I could really do with having a wee but the line for the portaloo is way to long and there’s now only 5 minutes before the gun…I’ll have to hold it.
We assemble onto the start line, a couple of bounces on the spot, then BANG off we go!
We assemble onto the start line, a couple of bounces on the spot, then BANG off we go!
Race
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Starting in the first few rows of the grid, its a clean start, as I hug the inside of the road up onto Flinders St, over Princes Bridge and along the St Kilda Rd straight. Its great to see Gab and the girls for an early cheer.
Looking around we have a good pack forming…pace is sitting a touch quicker than 3:40/km. I overhear a couple of the guys talking of aiming for 76min kind of pace which is good for what I had planned.
Its certainly a different feel to the Marathon, there’s no opening 10km of cruising along. I’m defininteiy trying to stay relaxed, and hold back a bit. Conserve a bit to half way to then come home strong is the plan. 0-5km: 18:08 |
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At around the 5km mark, my start-line urge for a wee has returned. With recent form in this department (Sydney Marathon), I make no hesitation, travelling at 3:35/km pace, relaxing enough to find relief without needing to pull over. Could this be a new, albeit fairly unsavoury, good luck charm?
We farewell St Kilda Road and head into Albert Park shortly reaching the 7km mark. This is where the wheels fell off last year as I became isolated and struggled to maintain the early pace. There’s still a good pack of 8-9 runners around me and I’m very keen to stick with them. We are rolling along well and I notice the splits are coming out at 3:35s now.
We run past the newly installed Peter Norman statue, just outside the 200m start area of Lakeside Stadium, and around past the finish of Albert Park parkrun.
5-10km: 18:17 (36:26)
We farewell St Kilda Road and head into Albert Park shortly reaching the 7km mark. This is where the wheels fell off last year as I became isolated and struggled to maintain the early pace. There’s still a good pack of 8-9 runners around me and I’m very keen to stick with them. We are rolling along well and I notice the splits are coming out at 3:35s now.
We run past the newly installed Peter Norman statue, just outside the 200m start area of Lakeside Stadium, and around past the finish of Albert Park parkrun.
5-10km: 18:17 (36:26)
Through 10km and travelling ok but I find myself falling off the back of the pack. I am concerned I am slowing at this point but relieved when I see the next split come out still in the mid 3:30s meaning the others are speeding up, not me slowing.
Half of this pack will sustain it to the finish, half will eventually fall back.
I take another Maurten caffeinated gel which goes down well…of course race day is always the best time to try something new!
Now well over half way as we go through the Pit Lane section. Its great to share a wave with eventual Women’s 3rd place-getter Lauren Reid who is smashing it!
Half attempt to consume a plastic cup of electrolyte at the drink station, succeeding in getting plenty up the nose, and just avoiding choking on it.
Its a great feeling to be heading back out of the park now at around 13km. We hit a bit of traffic as we go up the back of the Marathoners also heading out of the park before they turn to head to St Kilda.
Takes a few moments to realise that the pack of runners joining us from the right are the pointy end marathoners. As we turn and straighten for the return journey up St Kilda Rd, the sub 2hr30 pack rolls past featuring Shaun Creighton and Newy speedster Luke Babic.
A few of the Half runners around (including me) jump on the back of them hoping for a tow. After a couple of hundred metres we all realise this is maybe not the best strategy and retreat to our just sub 3:40/km pace.
As the km tick over I find myself with less company, working now with 2 others.
I spot recent Doha World Champs Marathon finisher Julian Spence on the side of the road, running over for a high five, and an encouraging shout then get back to work.
I make it to 15km and its definitely getting tough now but still managing to sustain the pace and keep the splits rolling along where I want them. The goal of kicking home harder in the 2nd half is proving tricky, so aim to just keep things even and stay in the fight.
Half of this pack will sustain it to the finish, half will eventually fall back.
I take another Maurten caffeinated gel which goes down well…of course race day is always the best time to try something new!
Now well over half way as we go through the Pit Lane section. Its great to share a wave with eventual Women’s 3rd place-getter Lauren Reid who is smashing it!
Half attempt to consume a plastic cup of electrolyte at the drink station, succeeding in getting plenty up the nose, and just avoiding choking on it.
Its a great feeling to be heading back out of the park now at around 13km. We hit a bit of traffic as we go up the back of the Marathoners also heading out of the park before they turn to head to St Kilda.
Takes a few moments to realise that the pack of runners joining us from the right are the pointy end marathoners. As we turn and straighten for the return journey up St Kilda Rd, the sub 2hr30 pack rolls past featuring Shaun Creighton and Newy speedster Luke Babic.
A few of the Half runners around (including me) jump on the back of them hoping for a tow. After a couple of hundred metres we all realise this is maybe not the best strategy and retreat to our just sub 3:40/km pace.
As the km tick over I find myself with less company, working now with 2 others.
I spot recent Doha World Champs Marathon finisher Julian Spence on the side of the road, running over for a high five, and an encouraging shout then get back to work.
I make it to 15km and its definitely getting tough now but still managing to sustain the pace and keep the splits rolling along where I want them. The goal of kicking home harder in the 2nd half is proving tricky, so aim to just keep things even and stay in the fight.
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I enjoy ticking off the next landmarks…
Before long I reach the Team Robbo support crew and its awesome to get another high five although I add a few extra metres getting to the other side of the road to make it happen. We take the left hand turn of St Kilda Road, down the hill, trying to relax, then through the tunnel. It is at this stage I come across Elite Marathoner Matt Cox running the Marathon (he’s at about the 34km mark).
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A short rise back up to St Kilda Rd and I find I’m starting to push the pace, no doubt getting excited to be nearly finished.
We turn hard right back onto St Kilda Road and there’s the support crew again. Only they are on the other side of the road this time and I opt to go with the shortest distance and forgo the high five much, to my youngest daughter’s disappointment…sorry Emma! (I did blow them a kiss though)
2km to go...my watch time reads 1:08:50 something. An 8min final charge and a 76:xx finish is on, I’m thinking (assuming my GPS is bang on).
Then it’s back across the Yarra over Princes Bridge before the sharp 90 degree turn right to straighten up and set sights on the MCG.
A mile to go. I’m pushing hard here down the hill. The rise up over the William Barak bridge is definitely not welcome but I’m still able to push hard passing another runner.
Then down off the bridge, I’m able to pass one more runner and spiral around to hit the Brunton Road. The left turn into the G seems to take forever to reach.
Finally we’re in! Straight onto the ‘green carpet’ and ready to hit the final 300m hard. A massive cheer erupts over at the finish. It’s not for me. The winner of the Men’s Marathon Isaac Birir has just crossed the line.
No time to soak up the ambience of the stadium just yet...I’m hunting for this sub 77. Inside 150m to go and it looks like I’m just going to miss it...give it everything!
I couldn’t help but do my best Eliud Kipchoge impersonation approaching and crossing the finish line.
Done! Quick glance down to see 77 something. A smidgen of disappointment to just slip outside the 76:xx I was shooting for but that is soon replaced by the overwhelming feeling of elation having produced a big PB and finally upgrading that previous quickest time set in 2012. Interestingly the time period between July 1, 2012 and October 13, 2019 (aka HM PB draught) equals: 2661 days, 380 weeks or 7 years, 3 months & 13 days.
FINISH:
We turn hard right back onto St Kilda Road and there’s the support crew again. Only they are on the other side of the road this time and I opt to go with the shortest distance and forgo the high five much, to my youngest daughter’s disappointment…sorry Emma! (I did blow them a kiss though)
2km to go...my watch time reads 1:08:50 something. An 8min final charge and a 76:xx finish is on, I’m thinking (assuming my GPS is bang on).
Then it’s back across the Yarra over Princes Bridge before the sharp 90 degree turn right to straighten up and set sights on the MCG.
A mile to go. I’m pushing hard here down the hill. The rise up over the William Barak bridge is definitely not welcome but I’m still able to push hard passing another runner.
Then down off the bridge, I’m able to pass one more runner and spiral around to hit the Brunton Road. The left turn into the G seems to take forever to reach.
Finally we’re in! Straight onto the ‘green carpet’ and ready to hit the final 300m hard. A massive cheer erupts over at the finish. It’s not for me. The winner of the Men’s Marathon Isaac Birir has just crossed the line.
No time to soak up the ambience of the stadium just yet...I’m hunting for this sub 77. Inside 150m to go and it looks like I’m just going to miss it...give it everything!
I couldn’t help but do my best Eliud Kipchoge impersonation approaching and crossing the finish line.
Done! Quick glance down to see 77 something. A smidgen of disappointment to just slip outside the 76:xx I was shooting for but that is soon replaced by the overwhelming feeling of elation having produced a big PB and finally upgrading that previous quickest time set in 2012. Interestingly the time period between July 1, 2012 and October 13, 2019 (aka HM PB draught) equals: 2661 days, 380 weeks or 7 years, 3 months & 13 days.
FINISH:
- 77:04 (38:30/38:34)
- 43rd overall
- 1st Dave
- Strava Activity
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Aftermath
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Soon after the finish I enjoy a sweaty hug with my Daves Running Club team mate, Dave Ridley. He was first Dave in the HM last year. Dave is exhausted but thrilled to crack 2:20 in the Marathon for the first time, 4th overall and 1st Dave.
I say G’day to Reece Edwards, 3rd in the Marathon and Brady Threlfall 3rd in the HM I see and thank Tim Crosbie who is working hard keeping the elites in check in the finish area. I’m keen to stay longer and soak up the finish line buzz, then suddenly remember I had planned to head back out for a warm-down and help Suzie finish off her marathon. |
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I quickly grab my medal, down a cup of electrolyte drink, say g'day to the gang at the Maurten stand at the Expo, then First Aid to grab a scoop of much needed Vaseline to help with the chafe starting to fire up.
Its a slow run through the Kings Domain and back over to St Kilda Road to rejoin the Team Robbo support crew. We find Suzie as she’s through 33km and I jump in to join her helping her navigate through the traffic of the runners ahead. Suzie is ‘running with’ her training partner having stuck a pic of Gab to her shorts for the journey.
We break away and start to tackle The Tan section where there are some decent rolling inclines which are tricky at the back end of the Marathon. Suzie is getting the kms ticked off and we make it back to the final couple of kms to go, another bit of a grind up Flinders Street. With 800m to go we turn into Brunton Ave and at that point my right hamstring cramps up. Obviously I haven’t rehydrated well enough from the earlier effort. I leave Suzie to go and finish which she does in a 7min PB of 3:38!
I end up with over 33km for the morning, and quickly find something to drink!
Its a slow run through the Kings Domain and back over to St Kilda Road to rejoin the Team Robbo support crew. We find Suzie as she’s through 33km and I jump in to join her helping her navigate through the traffic of the runners ahead. Suzie is ‘running with’ her training partner having stuck a pic of Gab to her shorts for the journey.
We break away and start to tackle The Tan section where there are some decent rolling inclines which are tricky at the back end of the Marathon. Suzie is getting the kms ticked off and we make it back to the final couple of kms to go, another bit of a grind up Flinders Street. With 800m to go we turn into Brunton Ave and at that point my right hamstring cramps up. Obviously I haven’t rehydrated well enough from the earlier effort. I leave Suzie to go and finish which she does in a 7min PB of 3:38!
I end up with over 33km for the morning, and quickly find something to drink!
