Victorian Road Runners New Year's Eve Run - 8km around the Tan

Lena's cousin, Brian is here from France/Singapore for holidays and I have the pleasure of showing him around Point Cook with short runs around our area in the evenings. Oh, Angel also joined us for these running tours and so far, she has been able to keep up with us...

So when I found out that The Victorian Road Runners (VRR) has a New Year's Eve Run around the Tan, I asked Brian to join the run as a way to explore one of Melbourne's most popular running route, the Tan... This will also mark the last run of the year for me...

I had set my alarm for 5:30am this morning, but forgot that my phone was on silent... Luckily Lena woke me up at 6:10am (thanks babe, you are wonderful...). Brian and I were still able to have coffee and a bite before we head off to the Tan... As a result of the rush, I actually forgot to wear my Garmin FR610... Yes, what an idiot... I know... Good thing I can still use mapmyrun on my iphone to record my run...

So here it is, this morning's 8km (2 laps) run around the Tan at 7:30am... yes, that is 7:30am in the morning on New Year's eve...

The crowd slowing pouring in to the registration area...

Starting point at the Pearls of Wisdom... And no, we are not racing the Greyhounds...

Race Director's briefing before the start...

The famous (at least to the locals) Anderson Street hill... My camera angle did not do the hill justice...

Post run food across the Tan along Yarra River...

Croissants and champagne to fill the tummy...

Race Summary:
Cost: $16 (non VRR members) and this includes drinks, champagne (only after the race), and croissants with butter, jam, honey etc... yum yum...
Weather: Near perfect, 22 degrees with no wind with most part of the course shaded...
Course: 2 laps clockwise around the Royal Botanical Gardens aka the Tan... Yes, you do not need to enter a race to run the Tan... it is a public area...

I have no timing expectation for this run.. just wanna enjoy the last run for 2011... For the record, Brian (who is younger and used to compete in triathlons) finished in 40:56 and I finished in 41:50...

That's all for 2011... Until next year, wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!!

Time flies... Already 8 weeks into my lifelong marathon...

It has been 8 weeks since Angelena came into our life... Here she is, from the very beginning...

Angelena's first breathe... and yes, she was loud...

She came into this world weighing 3.6kg. 8 weeks in, she is now 5.5kg, gaining 53% over 8 weeks...

Love at first sight...

now you see 1 eye open...

now you see both eyes open...

The many faces of Angelena... Week 1

Week 2...

Week 3...

Week 4...

Angel & Angelena getting to know each other...

Week 5...

Week 6...

Week 7...

Week 8...

I love my daddy...

That's all for now everyone... like my dress?



Sri Chinmoy Williamstown Foreshore 10km Run - Pictures

Thanks to the team from Sri Chinmoy, here are some of the pictures that I have extracted from their website: http://gallery.srichinmoyraces.org/australia/scc-melbourne_williamstown_foreshore2011/

Pre-race registrations and baggage drop off...

Told you the weather was s#@*...

Managed to find 1 picture of me...

Pancakes to fill tummy after the race... Yummy... 

Lollies and bananas also available to replenish energy...

Once again, I highly recommend everyone who enjoys a run in a nice, relax and friendly atmosphere to at least try one of the many Sri Chinmoy races... See you at one of the runs next year!!!

Sri Chinmoy Williamstown Foreshore 10km Run

Blah... blah... blah...

It was real tempting not to get out of bed today for this run... There was rain overnight and the temperature was around 16 degrees (what happened to summer???)... Also didn't have much sleep, thanks to Angelena... I was determined to do this run, rain, hail or sun as I was trying to beat my target of 53mins... Got out of bed, did all the pre-race routine and got out of the house at 6:30am...

Race starts at 8am, but I was already there at 7am... got myself a good parking and decided to wait for another 15mins before getting out of the car... Why? It was so damn bloody cold and windy!!! The wind was at least 40km/h... Hence decided to not take my phone or camera for this reason... sorry, no pics for this post...

I must say I am impressed by the organisers... Despite the strong wind, tents were set up for registrations, pancakes, yes, pancakes, and also baggage area... The pancakes smelled so good, was so tempted to take 1 before the race but I managed to fight the temptation... Also have to keep moving around to keep body warm as the wind was a real killer...

Gathered at the starting point 10mins before and get ready to race... After the race director's briefing, 8am, race starts, I keep telling myself not to go too hard too fast... it's a 10km race, maintain the pace... I was tempted to go under 5mins/km, but I maintained my pace at under 5:15min/km cos my realistic target is to complete within 53mins...

As for my timing, I am happy with my result, 51:41, which is under my 53mins target... came in overall 212 of 428... here's the link to the results... http://au.srichinmoyraces.org/files/au/events/melbourne/MelbourneResults2011/WilliamstownFireshore/Results%2010km%20Run-2.pdf

and the link to my garmin connect... http://connect.garmin.com/page/activity/activity.faces?activityId=133779429&actionMethod=page%2Factivity%2Factivity.xhtml%3AuserSwitcher.switchSystem&cid=4786415 stats don't lie... my pace dropped off between 7-8km... think I was managing a slight stitch... either that or, the headwind is too strong...

All in all, the run cost me $20... This includes chip timing, post run pancakes and bananas... what else can you ask for... I am very happy with my first Sri Chinmoy run and I will definitely join more of them in 2012... Here's a glimpse of what's coming up http://au.srichinmoyraces.org/events in 2012 if you are interested...