#but apparently it's only 1.8km?!

[lalorrunningclub]

Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team Relays 26th November 2017

By Vula Sheens

Ping…… its Monday morning….6:15am and I have just received an early message on my phone……I look over to it and read it was a message from Amanda asking me to write a race recap on Sundays Sri Chinmoy Team Marathon!!!!

Ahhhh, my initial thought was “I have to follow up on Branagan’s hilarious Trail Recap!” I had a little chuckle and went back to bed.

…. Warning, Warning this is a long recap! After all, it was a 4-hour marathon event!!!!!

We started off with 4 people interested in the leadup to this event, within a few weeks to go and coming off the high of The City to Sea, the seed was planted on the Monday morning by Ciaran on FB! With some gentle persuasiveness up to 16 runners joined in and committed to join in on “The Marathon Pancake Run”. The leadership role was apparent and Teams of 4 were carefully created by Ciaran. The teams were evenly divided with various paces to allow an all-inclusive team spirit to be formed on the day.

We woke to very humid, hot and drizzly conditions early Sunday morning. I had breakfast and packed what I needed for the day. I started to have flashbacks of how hot Brimbank Park Half Marathon trail run was earlier in the year! I really struggled in the last half of that run with the high temperatures and my anxiety started to kick in. My thoughts crossed to Narelle, Josh and Sarah who I needed to collect along the way into town.

We arrived in plenty of time at The Tan… it was still humid and raining. The Team Captains had arrived and our batons were collected. Perfect!! The Team Photos and our LRC group obligatory photos were taken and shared on FB for all! LET THE FUN BEGIN!!

(Team 1- Ciaran, Judith, Andy, Narell) (Team 2- Josh, Matty, Brian, Sarah)

(Team 3 – Paul T, Vincent, Nicola, Chantell) (Team 4 – Vula, Crux, Paul, Laura)

Again, we gathered at the runners briefing and before you know it, our first team members were off. Crux was holding the number 1 red baton.! In position, our first leg of runners were off racing with Andy, Who will return first? The strategic antics of the week were in full force by now and it was providing much humour to those who wanted it!

Our second place runner Paul Radovic moved into the Baton interchange chute along with the members of the remaining teams. The LRC SPIRIT was definitely not Missing in Action! It wasn’t long before we lined the chute with support and encouragement for all our members participating today in the blue and red. Clapping and cheering, we also had great support from Chloe, John, Karen and Mary who came along to encourage us!

Crux had returned from his first 3.8km loop in just over a speedy 17 minutes, with a quick consultation of how humid the conditions were, and a pat on the back was necessary. There wasn’t much of a break as when Paul R returned from the second lap Crux was up for his next lap!! OOPSI, I may have made my strategic team plan too difficult. It may just have been too much of an interval challenge in the humidity! We made a collective agreement to change the order (for a few laps) to allow for a longer break between laps!! Oh Crap that meant I was next!

It started to get a little fuzzy from here, I do recall the thunder had started to roll in and a Facebook update from Amanda came in ‘that the lightening storms were on the radar and heading towards the city!” This was a great opportunity to express my wishes to the group that I would like my ashes to be scattered over the GOR Marathon start line! Josh was only too kind to offer to run the event in my honour should lightning strike and the rest of LRC by that manner!

Paul R sprinted into the chute and my first leg was about to commence after 1.5hr of cheering. I took my stride on the flat and slowed my pace up the 600m Anderson St climb, a familiar face was awaiting at the 2km mark. Frankie you’re our savour. The Shrine couldn’t have come any sooner, 1.8km of downhill and flat path to the next baton changeover!

Laura was waiting energetically for the changeover. Don’t drop the baton…. Don’t drop the baton! The team members in each team had set the benchmark and motivation for each leg! We were only slowing down by 10-20sec in our 2nd laps! I wanted to puke at this stage, the humidity was challenging as was Anderson St Climb. A quick cup of electrolytes was readily available at the start line along the whole length of the event!

At this stage we were neck to neck with our friendly rivalry, Laura came in too quick with her strength and determination….I needed more recovery. The last lap went quickly, I had Judith to focus on and distract me from the last hill, but she was nowhere in sight. The baton made one last interchange to Laura………The two teams headed out 300 metres to wait for our last member to turn the corner and finish off the Team Marathon effort together! Crux, Paul, Laura and myself, in the team spirit ran the last 300 m together finishing off our Relay in a time of 3hr 27min. As did all the Team run with their team members. It was wonderful to capture, the photos would highlight the joy!

With in minutes the next team finished and shortly after all our teams were through! The support for one another was evident through out the morning when the last Runner Taity finished off his last lap with support from Carberry! It was now marathon pancake time!! I believe we all shared a great day out running together as a whole.

The experience we all share together at race events is really not possible without one another’s valuable support and encouragement. I have made so many positive memories this year and am grateful and thank full for each of them!!!

CHEERS to many more Sunday’s Running the streets and events together!!