From: andrewt@cse.unsw.edu.au (Andrew Taylor)
Subject: Sydney Morning Herald Half - Race Report
Date: 25 May 2003 19:14:01 +0950

Wasn't at all sure how to pace this half.  I'd trained well in Jan. and
Feb. and run well in an ultra at the start of March, but my legs took 6
weeks to fully recover and then a virus put a 10 day gap in my training
so my training was far short of plans.  A couple of runners who'd
finished ahead of me with sub-80 halves last year, were behind me in
the ultra which was encouraging.   But my attempts at speedwork were
not encouraging - suggesting imroving my 85:05 PB might be a struggle.
Decided to be optimistic and go out fast and see what happenned.

It rained steadily through the night and was still drizzling as I walked
across Pyrmont Bridge into the CBD.  Stood in a toilet queue almost
until race time but managed to jog up the footpath and squeeze in, not
too far back from the start line, with  seconds to spare. The race  is
limited to 4000 runners and filled 2 months ago.

First km was very crowded.  With the dodging and side-stepping around
slower runners, I was surprised to do 3:42.  Obviously too fast but
pacing in such a crowd is impossible for me.  Hit 5k at 19:00 exactly
and maintaining this pace didn't seem impossible for a while.

I've heard several top runners describe this a tough course and been
puzzled.  Its two laps through Sydney's CBD and the Domain.  The couple of
hills aren't big but the course also twists and turns.  This year I found
it hard to maintain a rhythm and maybe this is part of what they mean.

The scenery is interesting with view of the harbour, parks, historic
buildings and the opera house -  but even if I looked, I wouldn't have
seen much through rain splattered glasses.

I missed the 10K marker but, interpolating from my 11k split, it must have
been about 38:45 - knocking 10 seconds off my 10k PB.  I was working
hard but doing OK. Then the rain got heavy.  I don't mind training
in rain but racing into heavy rain backed by a southerly was no fun -
a real slog.  Its also depressing being passed by runners who've paced
their race better.  Managed to put in a few 3:50 kms at the end to pass
a few runners and finish in 83:20 (my watch time).  Improved my PB but
not smashed it Anders.  Probably just outside the top 100.

Did find a new stupid-runner-trick.  Last year it was tipping sports drink
over my head instead of water near km 38 in the marathon.  Today I tried
to snatch the jar of vaseline from a first-aid person standing near a
drink stop who understandably didn't let go.  Fortunately didn't really
need a drink - more force-of-habit.

Almost froze waiting to get my clothing at a particularly disorganized
baggage pickup.  Hope they got their act together before the bulk of
runners arrived or might have had some hypothermia cases.

Susie Power was said to be a good chance to bring NZ'er Nyla Carroll's
course record back to Australia - a big ask in the wet conditions and
she missed it by 30+ seconds.  Olympian Rod De Highden won overall in
65 minutes which might be the slowest ever winning time.

Andrew Taylor