Winery Running Festival Hunter Valley

I was really looking forward to this event, although two weeks out I was struck down with the worst case of man flu I've ever experienced.  It actually resulted in two days sick leave, which was the first two days I've had off sick in years.  Needless to say this obliterated my training program during the most crucial period — I was devastated...  Throughout my training for this event I was focused on running a sub 1:50 half marathon (not fast I know, but hey, it's good for me) but after two weeks of no training and near terminal man flu, I decided just to do my best and see what happens.

I rocked up at the Hunter Valley Gardens around 7:00am for a 7:30am start.  It was actually quite cool and not surprisingly there were a number of runners doing their best to keep warm.

Making my way down to the start line I could feel the excitement rising.  It's always a weird feeling right before the start, small amount of nervousness mixed with plenty of excitement.  Once the runners briefing was out of the way, we were off and racing!

The start of the race was pretty tight with all the runners trying to navigate the small garden path out of Hunter Valley Gardens and into the back of Audrey Wilkinson.  The first 5ks are basically on dirt road with minimal rise and fall.

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how sadistic your nature is, the first major hill is straight up the back of Audrey Wilkinson.  It's approximately 300-400 metres long, although the gradient keeps getting steeper the further you ascend.  It wasn't bad enough I was having flu trouble, but, around 50 metres from the top I was boxed in between a few other runners and stuck right behind the most rancid smelling man in the world.  I was honestly dry retching by the time I had a chance to get around him.

Now past Mr Stinky and clear from most other runners, I was able to settle into a pretty reasonable 4:30 to 5:00 minute per / km pace.  Given I had a tail wind pushing me along, I though it best to keep my pace up a little because I knew I was going to struggle on the return path heading back into the wind.

The next 6ks to the turn around point went pretty well.  My head cleared out a little and I was able to suck in some big breaths that really helped.  Along the way I found a lady runner who was keeping my target pace so I just stuck with her until we turned around at 12k.

It's quite funny, since running this race last year I'd forgotten how hilly this course is, or perhaps I was in a far more fit condition last time.  Either way by halfway I was doing it pretty tough.

Turning around at halfway I started heading back into the wind and it really knocked me around.  I slowed my pace to 5:30 per / km and kept pressing forward.  By 16k I had already slowed to 6:00 per / km and some prick decided to use me as a windbreak for the last 3ks.  This actually made me quite furious.  In retaliation I raised and lowered my pace so that he couldn't keep consistent with me.  Eventually I found some energy, kept my pace up and kept ahead of him.

After a couple more hills I had basically thrown away any dreams of a great time and just focused on getting over the line.  I can remember thinking it's amazing how quickly your fitness can drop due to sickness and lack of training.

In an effort to get the last 3ks done, I reached into my spy belt and pulled out my remaining honey shot (note to self:  never use these again.  They make you feel ill and bloody well get honey everywhere...)  In the very least the honey gave me enough of a boost to push up the last 2ks of hill and start the final kilometre decent to the finish line.

Making my way around the last few turns, I could see the finish line in sight.  My legs were jelly and I was pretty much out of breath.  With only a few hundred metres to go I saw the finish arch and with a huge sigh of relief ran under it with a finish time of 1:52:01.

All said and done, I really didn't enjoy it, but now my eyes are on the Sydney Half Marathon and going for a personal best time of less than 1:50:00.

Winery Running Festival Hunter Valley Stats: