The last race for the 2013 SAAC season was the Ivan McDonald Big Hill 5km Race, held on the 14th September.
I know I’m very late with my race recap, but after the club presentations that evening, we went on a 2.5-week holiday. So this blog post got put on hold.
It was weird not running at the normal 2 pm time. As we weren’t going back to the club rooms for afternoon tea the race started at 3 pm (as we were having a presentation dinner instead).
I missed out on this run last year as I was away, but I knew 90% of the course, so I knew what I was up against. I just hope that they don’t open cut Big Hill cause it means we won’t be having this race next year.
The start line was at the top of Big Hill (it’s a lookout). We got a group photo before the race started.
Not all club members were there which is a shame, but it’s great to have a photo of all the club members for memory’s sake.
Because I had won a race a few weeks back, my handicap was pulled right back, and I was put behind Peter. When I saw that I was like “what are you serious, Peter runs faster than me”, but I just told myself to suck it up and enjoy the run.
The course was two loops of a 2.5km course. The start was all downhill, but the finish, yep all uphill. I knew I wouldn’t get a new PB/pr but I was still very happy with my result. Overall I came 8th out of 13 runners, which I’m happy with.
After the adults had run, we walked down the bottom of the hill for the kids to run their race.
Kayla was a real trooper and was bummed she got pipped at the post at the very end, but she tried her best. She even ran a better time this run (and it was hillier) than her winning run a few weeks back.
Miles made me laugh the entire way, he really is a funny boy.
Not only did it take him the longest to run (he had no handicap, and he still came in last), he had a ball and that is all that matters.
So even though the running season has come to a close we will still be getting out and running and having fun.
Footnotes
1 – Stawell has an underground mine, and they are proposing open-cutting Big Hill once again.
2 – My handicap time was 11:40, while Peter’s was 11:15. His ‘actual’ finished time was 25:18, but his race time (actual + handicap time) was 34:33. So even though I ran a better time of 24:21, because of my handicap (11:40) my ‘race’ time was 36:01. So I placed behind him. I do hope that makes sense.
I like the idea of a race with a handicap! We don’t have those here, or if we do I haven’t heard of one around me. Congrats on your race, looks like you all had a great time!!
Handicapping is a way of helping you improve, and it makes it even across the board, so the fast ones don’t always win.
I know they use handicapping a lot in horse racing, but prior to running, the only other sport I knew that did handicapping was archery.
Matilda, I’m really enjoying reading your blog. I stumbled on it when I was googling the upcoming Dunkeld race, and just wanted to pop in and tell you how much I enjoy your blog.
Hi Carol, I’m so glad you stumbled across my blog. I’m looking forward to doing M2M it will be the first time I have done this particular race, but it’s close to home, so win. Thanks for popping by.