Winery Half Marathon - Scott Alder
Race Date: July 21st Results: 2019
Preparation
This is one of my favorite races I do each year and always try to train for the best result I can. This year was a bit different with the NXC King of the Mountain taking place beforehand, previous years its after. In fact it was just 2 weeks before so I was hoping not too much residual fatigue left over from setting a PB at this year's KOM.
Lee Williams and I traveled up together, little did I know the car would be bringing back two awards.
Departed Wallsend around 6 am, after an easy trip up the expressway we arrived to see patches of frost and a big effigy of the Moon, homage to Apollo 50th anniversary and the Moon marathon that took place overnight. Up to the race rego hall which had fantastically warm aircon going so put on bib and timing chip, wandered round catching up with fellow runners I know, and then a warm up jog round the precinct. The outdoor gas heaters were on so was nice to warm up next to them for a bit as well. I meet Allan Thompson, who I've known since the Big Beach Challenge sand race some years ago now. We have a chat, we last ran together in the Maitland River Run half marathon where he and I duked it out for 3rd place, myself eventually prevailing. Little did I know we would once again have our own race within a race today. Back to the car to shed the warm gear and a drink of Pre Workout 101. The signature Aldi lasagne had the night before to top off glycogen. As a rule I don't eat anything race morning as I get that bloated feeling when digging in hard in a race. One gel in pocket, and gloves on. One bummer, I had forgotten my heart rate monitor. Oh well, I will just have to man up and run by feel, I did have my GPS watch on. |
Race briefing, sun well up, a beautiful morning, perfect conditions. This year we would be running a similar course to last few years, but in reverse. So the start was facing downhill on the golf cart path. Time to self-seed, Allan moves to the front, so I slot in behind. A decent sized field behind. Right on time, we are off.
The Race
Allan is in the lead with me next to him, I will let him set the pace and see what happens, we fly downhill at 3:30 pace but eventually it levels out and we have some little uphills to do, but this time we don't spend too much time in the golf course grounds, just running down the northeastern side before heading west and out onto the long and imposing Deaseys Road.
Lead bike, then us two broken away from the main field. Only one main bend on this road, otherwise its long and “undulating” with a few not too steep but rather long hills, when the biggest comes into view I say to Allan “this will be fun but at least we get to run down it as well” he and I have now pulled well ahead of the rest of the field, as our own race within a race continues, It's only the 2nd time in my life I've found myself at the pointy end of a half marathon, last was Maitland 2 years ago where I got 2nd by a dozen or so seconds. |
Suddenly the headwind picks up on the more exposed section, Allan comments on it, we then hit an area more sheltered, a bit of respite, then the turnaround. Back we go with the hills and hollows in reverse. We see the oncoming runners, a considerable lead we have built up, can we keep it that way? We get some rest coming down that biggest hill. Still averaging under 4 minute pace, really pushing it to stay with Allan who tackles the hills very hard.
I love this event where I can should encouragement to oncoming runners as they return the favor. Lots of “Go Scotty” and “well done fellas” shouts coming as well.
I love this event where I can should encouragement to oncoming runners as they return the favor. Lots of “Go Scotty” and “well done fellas” shouts coming as well.
We leave Deaseys Rd and head back into the course grounds, now the hills really start, first a nice straight run on some dirt, over 10 kms gone now so time for some fuel, grab my gel and water at the drink station, Allan races off. I can’t reel him in, he’s really flying, I didn't know till after the race he'd been averaging 150kms a week of late against my 80 or 90. No sign of anyone behind.
The path meanders through the grounds and with kangaroos all over some hopping down the road in front of me. Allan really pulls away now, he’s got 1st place in the bag, now if I can hold on for 2nd, so I don't ease off.
Coming up the hill near the race precinct Lee Williams and Matt Redman is there to gee us on, they run alongside me for a bit giving me encouragement that certainly didn’t go astray! Matt says “Only 20 minutes more mate ignore the pain” The course is designed so we run past the precinct at about 13.5 kms for more spectator exposure, it’s great. A mix of meandering golf cart sealed paths, little wooden bridges, a tunnel and some roads sees us chew up the distance. Allan now virtually out of view, another turnaround at the bottom of a downhill, I pass Allan on the way down as he heads up, his face pure concentration, nothing will stop him now. |
I'm surprised at the gap between me and 3rd now, which has changed since the turnaround at Deaseys Rd, but I still push on, the pace just starting to go above 4 minute average pace.
The Km markers and my watch are perfectly in sync, 17, 18, 19, finally 20km. Up a hill and finally I can hear the crowd, Matt Redman is at the top, a big hi-five, he says “only 30 seconds more ignore the pain it doesn’t matter if it hurts now” Fantastic job Matt you're a legend. At last the finish chute, I hear Robbo's voice on the mic announcing my arrival, cheering and applause erupts, just fantastic as I cross the finish line.
I congratulate Allan on his well-deserved win, in 1:23:56, reward for the big k's he has done in his training. Myself 1:25:46. I think to myself that last year I came 2nd in age group, today 2nd overall. No way had I expected a podium in such a race as this. Craig Simpson over the line for 3rd. Nicole Ward first female over the line. We catch with more runners in the recovery area as we share our race experiences, such a great social thing is this thing called running. |
Post-Race
But it’s not all over yet for moments after I finished the 10K was started. Soon we hear Lee Williams is in the lead and that’s where he stays. I position myself to video him, he comes rocketing through so fast I can barely track him.
A great win, he left it all out there and sinks to the ground in the recovery area. More and more runners finish, some making sprint finishes to advance a place or 2, it’s great to watch, some with absolutely nothing left in the tank. A mate, Mark Byfield in the 60-69 AG finishes the 10k to get an age grade win, totally spent he’s down for a good 5 minutes, he is amazing to watch, gives it everything. Many more great running achievements made by many others. Great work everyone.
A great win, he left it all out there and sinks to the ground in the recovery area. More and more runners finish, some making sprint finishes to advance a place or 2, it’s great to watch, some with absolutely nothing left in the tank. A mate, Mark Byfield in the 60-69 AG finishes the 10k to get an age grade win, totally spent he’s down for a good 5 minutes, he is amazing to watch, gives it everything. Many more great running achievements made by many others. Great work everyone.
I do force myself to go on a bit of a cooldown jog, the legs a tad stiff but can still manage it. Get some whey protein and jelly beans down and a pork burger kindly given to me by Dave Robbo.
We all mingle around chatting as we wait for the presentations. Allan gets his well-deserved beautiful circular glass trophy for 1st, I get one too, I was hoping for maybe a 1st in age grade, would not have thought I’d be bringing home a podium trophy. Lee Williams receives his 1st place 10k glass trophy, and yes he is a happy chappy. They are beautiful awards, and an honour to receive.
We all mingle around chatting as we wait for the presentations. Allan gets his well-deserved beautiful circular glass trophy for 1st, I get one too, I was hoping for maybe a 1st in age grade, would not have thought I’d be bringing home a podium trophy. Lee Williams receives his 1st place 10k glass trophy, and yes he is a happy chappy. They are beautiful awards, and an honour to receive.
I can’t speak highly enough of this running event. The Moon marathon, the Half, 10 and 6k cater for all, on a visually spectacular course with enough elevation to separate it from a typical flat road run. Well done H events, everything went like clockwork.
See you there in 2020!
See you there in 2020!