Warwick Pentath Run blogger + Gold Coast Important stuff!

Warwick Pentath Run

Guest Blogger : Bridget talking about the 10km race that just went up and up and up! 

10km ascent

After running over 30kms for the first time it would have been nice to sleep in, rest up and revel in that achievement on Sunday.  That however wasn’t going to happen, as the Pentath organisers had scheduled the toughest race of the weekend for first thing Sunday morning and us BRSers (gluttons for punishment as we are) had all decided to tackle the 10k ascent to Queen Mary Falls.

We headed out to the start line, about 30 minutes away in the town of Killarney, where the crisp country air, rolling green hills and morning sunshine were enough to put anyone in a good mood.  Thankfully the weather was warm by Warwick standards, a balmy 10 degrees (it had been -2 degrees a few years ago) and the five of us warmed up and psyched up for the run ahead.

Having run quite a few 10k races in recent months you think I’d be feeling pretty confident, but this wasn’t any 10k race. I had heard enough from previous competitors to know that this was likely going to be the most challenging 10k I had run to date. They weren’t wrong.  After a short downhill run from the starting line the next 4kms consisted entirely of gentle rolling hills that seemed to have more ups than downs.  That said the scenery was beautiful and once again there were supporters in cars and vans cheering us along the way.  It was about the 5k mark where things got tough.  Imagine running up Kurilpa Bridge or Highgate Hill- and then continuing to run up and up and up without a flat or downhill section for about 4ks and you’ll have some idea of what this part of the race was like.  Winding up the mountain, it certainly wasn’t a course to achieve any P.Bs, so instead I challenged myself to settle into a steady pace and just focussed on getting to the top without walking. It was satisfying to see all those many sessions of BRS hill training paying off, and I let out a silent cheer (and thankyou to the BRS coaches) each time I passed a fading runner uphill.  Thankfully, at 9ks the race finished with a fairly flat section at the top before a quick downhill to the finish line were we were rewarded with a free breakfast in a wonderful rainforest setting.I’m pleased to say that we all made it to the top in very respectable times, with Matt even taking 3^rd place in the Men’s event. 

Personally, I was happy that I came in under the hour and even scraped a Top 10 age group finish.  This was by far the hardest 10k race I’ve run, but at the same time also the most scenic and definitely the most rewarding. The race elevation graph from my GPS is pictured below- just don’t let it scare you away from next year’s race! 

BRS Birthday Bash & Goodbye Party

BIg thanks to everybody who joined us for the quarterly BRS birthday dinner at the Ship Inn last night. 

We were also wish two of our favourite BRSers, Nichole and Aoife good luck for their moves to Sydney. Your regular smiling faces will be missed :-(

and A MASSIVE THANK-YOU to our star baker Nichole for her amazing Mizuno Sayonaras cake!! We certainly had a flashy celebration and you have set the bar very high!!

Gold Coast Marathon - Important stuff!

1. race pack collection

We will be collecting your race pack this Saturday if you entered and paid as part of the BRS Team (i.e. you received the 10% discount). 

Please attend training on Monday and/or Wednesday next week to collect your pack. 

If not, we will have the extras at the BRS Tent Saturday and Sunday morning. 

2. BRS Tent

Yes as always, we will have our awesome BRS Tent at the event. We will post the location on facebook on Friday 3rd once we have put it up. 

Please feel free to leave your bags there, as there is always somebody hanging at the tent!

3. AFTER PARTY

Similar to last year, we are keen to stay near the finish line to cheer the final marathoners in!

So this year the party is at/behind/near the TENT!!

What: a chance to celebrate Gold Coast achivements and have  a debrief!

When: Sunday 5th July

Time: 11am - food arriving at 11:30am

Where: the Tent - near the corner of North Street and Gold Coast HIghway

Food/drinks: lets celebrate with Pizza Capers new Rustico Thin Base on their yummy traditional pizzas!  (options: ham & mushrooms, bacon/hawaiian, chicken and vego)

Cost: $14.00 (includes soft drinks and juice)

          $ 5.00 (kids under 10)

BYO: alcoholic drinks and a plate! 

RSVP: Please RSVP and pay your $14.00 at training or deposit it into the BRS account

Bank: Credit Union Australia

BSB: 814 282

Account: 31099466
Please use your name as the transaction.

Saturday Session

When:  Saturday 27 June

Time:  6am -7:30am
           
Where: Meet on the steps of the Southbank Surf Club at Streets Beach, Southbank

What: With only 1 week until Gold Coast, this is a final opportunity for a 10-15km run regardless of your distance, but if you are keen for a shorter run...plenty of options.......

• You could even do a 1 hour run, followed by some stretching and chatting, 
• Use the full 1 hour 30 min  run
• 55min run followed by parkrun 5km to help you push yourself for that last 5km!**NOTE: Parkrun meeting point has moved to the green opposite the River Quay. **

Breaky: followed by Breaky and Coffee!

Cost: $2

Happy Running

Renae & Matt

Warwick Pentath Run Blog 2 & 3, Saturday Session, Quarterly Dinner Reminder

Warwick Pentath Run

Guest Blogger : Liss talking about the 4.6km Cross 

Country Race

After a short scenic drive from Warwick of browns and greens we arrived at the venue for the 4.6km cross country race, the Allora Golf Course. The golf course is beautifully lush and green and the run course is meticulously marked out with white flags. Sun's shining and when the wind dies down it's a lovely temperate setting for a noon race.

To the back drop of kids in the playground, supporters mingling, picnic blankets and fold up chairs we take our positions at the start banner for our 2 lap run. Quick race brief remember flags on the right, white on the right lock it in and BANG we're off and racing.
A couple of hundred metres on a bitumen road, a bit of gravel path and then we're on the grass. Everyone's jostling for their race's position. Some going out way too hard and some just cruising. over rolling mounds, gulleys, a wooden bridge and a short sharp hill, all going well, smooth and quiet. Then a change of direction and SMACK a crazy headwind along the flat back section, down another gulley, another wooden bridge and there's the banner just ahead spectators calling out for their special people one lap down.I get a wave and a kiss from Tilly on the way past, energy recharged I'm off for lap 2.
Round we go again,  on the now familiar course taking in the peace and serenity of the rolling green golf course, up that sharp back hill again til SMACK headwind hits again but before you know it there's the finishing banner. Spectators cheering hard.One last kick to tick off a few extra places and done.

Race one of 4 for me and race 2 of 5 for the other BRSers. Time to rehydrate and refuel for what's the dusk 5km.

Warwick Pentath Run

Guest Blogger : Matt C talking

about the 5km Race

Ever heard that song “A pub with no beer?” Well that’s what I think of when I arrive at the start of the 5k road race at 2:30pm. 15 minutes out of Warwick, turn right, follow the road and there, in the middle of nowhere, is a little country pub; The Darling Downs Hotel. I would normally get to a 5k race a lot earlier than 30 min before, but ‘warming up’ seems a moot point by now. My legs are already totally shredded and my stomach hates me for the previous 100minutes of exertion. And it’s windy again. Damn.

The race is as simple as it gets. 2.5 k out, turn, come back. But the wind makes it harder. We will be coming back into it for the return leg. The gun goes (1 minute after the solo wheelchair athlete) and we are off. I quickly settle into about 6th and forget that I have already run 30k for the day. Within a minute there is a split and I need to run around a few to get to the front 2 runners. I make it, but my legs feel hollow! With the tail wind behind us we continue to sail to the 2.5k turn around. When we turn it is just 2 of us. Me and Dan, the guy that has won the last 2 races.

Out of the turn we stay together. We run shoulder to shoulder into the gusty headwind. I see Nick looking strong, and hear encouragement from Dan, Bridge and Liss (not to mention all the nameless runners who cheers us on). About 4k I think to myself “This is the most honest 5k I have ever run. Neither of us has dropped in behind for a wind break. Just side by side.” I had decided that if I was still with him I would surge at the speed sign, about 200 from the finish. So I do. I lose sight of him for a handful of seconds. Then he is back and he surges. I rally and get back on his shoulder, but have nothing left if he goes again… which he does. He pulls away to win race number 3, and I settle for my 3^rd second place for the weekend. But I gave it everything. I managed to run 3:30s the whole way home into the headwind.  The rest of the BRS crew all come in with very respectful times. After a beer at the presentations and a quick shower we are off to the RSL for dinner to discuss the day’s triumphs and our feelings of trepidation for what tomorrow will hold.

SATURDAY SESSION

When: Saturday 20 June 

Where: New Farm Park Rotunda

Time: 6am-7:30am

What:1.5 hr long run around the river, or

          50 min long run, followed by 5km Parkrun
          I encourage you to register with Parkrun its free!

Cost:$2

Markets are on again! So bring a blanket and some money for a well deserved post session breaky!

BRS Quarterly Dinner and Goodbye drink for Aoife and 

Nichole

When:  Wednesday 24th June 

Time: 7pm after training 

Where: The Ship Inn, Southbank

What: Celebrate birthdays for the quarter April to June and talk all things running and wish Aoife and Nichole the best of luck with their moves down south. 

RSVP: don't worry about it.....I'll book a table, just turn up!  PLEASE arrive to training early so you can go in, order and pay for your meal to help out the Ship Inn staff. 

Happy Running

Renae & Matt 

Warwick Pentath Run Blog 1 and Saturday Session

Warwick Pentath Run

Guest Blogger : Dan talking about the Half Marthon

As we rose from our slumber on the first morning of the Warwick Pentath, the nerves and excitement of the weekend before us were definitely starting to kick in. I could feel it in my bones.....although there is a very good chance it was just the 6 degree wind chill cutting through me. The morning was certainly fresh! We all tried acting tough...."It's not that cold!", we exclaimed....but who were we kidding? In truth, the cold and windy conditions had us all rugging up since we arrived on the Friday afternoon.

After a light breakfast was sorted, we ventured out into the cold, beautiful morning. Our small run from the motel to the sports centre was a good little warm up and it wasn't long before we were stripped down, stretching and heading to the start line.

As the starting gun sounded and we settled into a comfortable pace through the initial section of town, I watched Matt and Nick disappear off in the distance. At that point the weather was still fresh, but the sun was rising and it felt like a pretty glorious morning running in the fresh air of the country. We hit our first real hill around the 4km mark and it felt good to feel strong up the incline and use some of that BRS hill training. The next few kms ticked past as we made our way out of town and tackled some gentle undulating hills along the highway to Yangan. It was awesome to have people out along the course with plenty of cheering and a bit of music to add to the atmosphere, as well as cars passing us slowly and shouting support. At the 10km mark I knew that I was well on track for a PB and felt reasonably good, swapping lead with a few people around me at different points. A few kms later though, things got a little more interesting as the head wind began increasing in ferocity blowing through the valley. For the next 7-8km, from around the 12/13km mark, it was a tougher hit out with some long up hill sections and a cold, nasty wind blowing diagonally across our faces. To add to the difficulty, another steeper incline was waiting for us at around the 19km mark, which for me was another tough little mental barrier. However, the last downhill km into Yangan to finish was an awesome relief as the finish line became a welcome sight. With a strong push to the finish and some great encouragement from early finishers Matt and Nick, it felt great to pick off a few people in the last stretch to the finish. Half of the 42.2km weekend was done and dusted!

Congratulations to everyone for an awesome effort in a tough half marathon, considering there was another 4 races and 21.1km still to go for the weekend. Matt ran brilliantly as always for second place in a fast time of 1:19:30, pushing first place all the way. Nick was awesome placing 10th in 1:28:00. I did a PB at 1:38:59 and Bridget ran a solid time of 1:54:45.  We were all really happy with our efforts- all in all, a super first race!

Saturday Session - S&C OR Long Run
                                         

 When:  Saturday 6th June

Time: 6am to 7:45am
           
Where: Captain Burke Park, Story Bridge Kangaroo Point 

What: 1.5 hours of running and weights  ............if you are keen for a long run, meet us there and see who is keen to join you.

OR meet for a looooong RUN

Breaky: followed by Breaky and Coffee!

Cost: $2

Remember, we suggest you complete the monthly program, twice a week or three times a fortnight to really reap the benefits, to improve your running, and to help you stay injury free! 

Happy Running
Renae & Matt