Tim Guille

After receiving the DEVESTATING news on Friday night that the 'Watson' was out of the race.. i still had maintained my focus, and was on track to achieving what ever i could down in the sunny country surroundings of Traralgon So onto race day...

My alarm rang out loud (Sneaky Sound System - Pictures.. great way to start the day) at 5.15am on Sunday morning, which meant that i was only 2hrs 45mins from the start line and a step closer to the big marathon.

Like clock work the big ozzie and Keays turned up at the bachelor pad on Entrance road at 5.30am and we were on our way.. The trip down there was indeed a highlight I must say. Firstly i never knew someone could eat a whole box of nutrigrain without milk or water (Shussy apparently can.. but he doesn’t count) but the big Oz managed to find his comfortable seat in the back of the outlander and munch away on the dry nutrigrain.. he was endeavouring to be an ironman for the day i think! Then of course there was the quick stop in at the Pakenham BP.. where i got to meet the worlds official slowest check out old bloke.. Neville. After working out that i needed change for the water and red bull, we were back in the car and on our way.. oh and yes Ozzie was still hammering down the dry nutri grain.

Our music of choice for the trip was decided early with Ministry of Sounds sessions 4 keeping us rocking.. But i knew that i had my iPod ready for the race, so it was a good start to get us fired up with a bit of sessions!

We arrived at Traralgon to find the weather had been rather kind to us.. sure it was overcast, but still actually not that cold. Into the entry area we proceed, where Ozzie and i found out that if you ridicule and stir Keaysy enough he will race even when he is not meant too. I filled out my entry form (yes no online entry in the very technological savvy town of Traralgon) and entered, where to my dismay i was given number 32.. Last year i was 33!! If only Ozzie had of stayed in the car a minute or two longer eating Nutrigrain I would have got the same number..

After a brief warm up (actually all of 4 minutes running and giggling between the three of us) and deciding that there were actually some HOT girls racing down there.. the start line beckoned. Anthony Rule and Alan Davies had graced us with their presence, as had the old stalwart from Peninsula Road Runners, Max Gibbs.. So it was good to see a few familiar faces. We made our way to the front of the start line to fine the wheelchair king, John McLean.. So i asked him if this race was draft legal and would he mind if i drafted off him.. But alas he wasn’t that keen. So the only thing left now was... BANG!!! The Starters gun sounded...

First check 1km.. unlike last year where i recorded just about my fastest ever 1km split, i managed to keep the adrenalin in tact and ran a 3.50 for the first K.. too fast but not bad still. I managed to get a good rhythm going early and was sitting pretty and very comfortable at 5km notching up just over 21 minutes. That was the plan and then the next 10km was to switch right off and basically just warm up. I hit the 10km mark at 44 minutes – which was right on track. But it was an interesting time! First up.. Run past 7km mark.. and I had to rub my eyes to believe it! But there was someone in the distance on the wrong side of the road walking back to town.. you guessed it.. the Big M award was back!! But to his credit, he shouldn’t have raced.. Silly Ozzie and Gilly talked him into it! I also managed to pass the big O, who was looking really good even without any stairs in the race.. So I yelled out “Go Stairmaster”

So at 15km I was sitting at a very comfortable 1.05 and on track to hitting the half at around 1.32ish. I passed 19km and still had not sighted the leader so was quite happy that I must have been a fair way up the leaderboard. Then just before the 20km mark busting through the fog was the lead car. So I was only 2.5km behind at the half so not a bad effort. That was time to take check at where I was placed. So I slowly counted the guys passing me as I got closer to the half.. 1….2…..3……4 and I was nearly at the turn.. here I was thinking ‘gee im in 5^th or 6^th spot!.. but much to my dismay, around the corner about 600m in front was a group of 6 guys running together! Bummer.. So I turned at 1.32 and was really feeling great and back to town it was sitting in 14^th position.

The next 10km felt ok.. it actually got kind of cold so it was a bit of a struggle. I hit the 25km mark which meant I was back out on the main highway and heading back to town. I took a quick peak around and noticed good old Max Gibbs hot on my tail.. and I promised myself I wasn’t going to let him pass me! Just passing 25km, my good old mate Keays arrived on the bike to provide invaluable support yet again.

So a quick chat with him, where I knew I was still going really well and well on track, and back into it. All of a sudden I found myself coming up the half marathon turn around and got a bit excited as I passed the 32km mark.. Only 10km to go!! Awesome.. I just pictured myself standing at Frankston pier about to run the safeway loop.. that’s all I had to go! At this stage Ozzie had joined us for the journey (mind you in the Outlander express, not on the bike – But keays quickly and notably, dumped the bike in the car to join OZ)

At this stage I did hit a bit of a flat spot. Nothing like last year, but all the same still started to feel burned. But as I went through the 34km mark aid station I passed two guys and found myself up in 12^th position, so I managed to get something back in the legs.

I kept a real count down in my head going.. 7.5km to go… 7km to go… 6.75km to go.. it really worked. Then up to the 38km mark where I got pulled over by the cops for speeding up the only hill on the whole course. Wow I thought only 4km to go! I really started to feel sore in the legs but was enjoying every step and was really excited that I was doing this strongly, so the pain subsided. I came up to 39km mark and managed to pass another guy.. Wow 11^th now and only 3kms to go! At the stage the magic 3 hours had passed.. oh well maybe next year!

Down the hill past 39km I went.. and then I hit the 40km turn back into town. This was when the excitement hit. I was on track to running the whole way (my major goal) and was actually catching the guy in 10^th spot! With some AWESOME encouragement from Keays and oz on the 40km marker.. It was the moment of truth. Stuff it I though. Lets get this guy and finish as hard as I could. I ran past the 40km sign, and sneaked a look at my watch. 3 hours 6 minutes.

So I put my head down and took off.. god knows where I found this energy, but soon I was at the 41km mark and only 150m behind this guy and I had run the 40 – 41km in 4 minutes! Bang I got him. I was coming 10^th and sprinting my heart out purely on adrenalin. Then around the corner, and I could see the people milling around the finish area.. I was home. What a big smile hit my face.. I had done it. I ran the whole way.. every step. My goal was achieved. Up the finishing chute to the surprisingly loud cheers, and over the line I went. 3.14. I had run the last 2km in 8 minutes! Stoked. I stopped running and rather funnily, that was it. The body was in shut down! But I was really proud of myself. A good time and I ran strongly the whole way. Traralgon 2007 was a success.

After struggling to get back into the car and leaving the race area empty handed (A terrible spread put on by Traralgon – I think Ozzie was more disappointed than us – no scones.. oh and mind you Ozzie and Keays both got spot prizes!! I got squat!) I lifted my legs into the car and Frankston bound we were.

Thanks to my support crew this year for this one. Watson (missed you on race day – but training with you is invaluable) Keays (Thank HEAPS just for being there again this year and for the training) OZZIE (Watch out everyone – he will be flying this year) BRIAN VERNON (for his great words and support) and of course my mum.

Ill leave you with one thought.. put your mind to something and you will get there.. hard work will get you there.. and great friends and support will get you over the line. See you at the World Champs on June 15^th 2008.

Traralgon Marathon 07' - Update

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Traralgon Marathon

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