I woke up feeling mostly ok this morning - the knee seemed fine on the stairs at home, but wasn't feeling more than about 75% by the time the race started.
I rocked up at Southbank around 8am in time for the forecasted showers to have kicked in. Kudos to all the marathoners and half marathoners who had to run in the rain - it was a decent chunk of the half marathoners and literally all of the marathoners still out there - the way I ran today that would have just about broken what was left of my spirit!
I saw the 50 and 55 minute pace runners disappear shortly after the 10k race started, and failed at catching up. There was a slight downhill I think somewhere after heading through the Cultural Centre tunnel heading down to the river and I did feel my right knee give a little, although no sharp shooting pains like last weekend, so I kept going. I ran the next two or so kilometres a little apprehesively - I wanted to try catching up with the 55 min pace runner but didn't want to push the knee because I didn't feel like it was coping well, and I'd talked myself accepting that it was better to run slower and be physically able to keep going rather than being forced to walk.
At some point along the West End side of the river I did see and pass a pace runner which I'd originally thought was the 50 min runner (from the zero on the balloon - I don't run with my glasses on...) only to find when I got close that it was the 60 min pace runner and I was further behind than I'd thought.
I think I struggled my way along for the next few kilometres on stubbornness - it certainly wasn't comfortable. My knee stopped being the only/main problem, and my lack of lead-in training began to show as both my lungs and legs began protesting (although from past experience, the legs are really just a symptom of poor oxygen intake). I ended up stopping to walk the hill just past the drinks station at the Goodwill Bridge (and was most unimpressed with myself at doing so). I was equally as unimpressed when it reoccurred twice again in the Gardens loop (for about 50m at a time to slow down my breathing).
I made it over the Goodwill Bridge with limited limpy-running (I think the pain killers had begun to kick in a little better by then so I was having less trouble with the knee) and managed to track down and overtake the 55min pace runner at the same time. But once again I succumbed to walking a small stretch along the waterfront. Where did all my mental strength go? I think at some point I may have started telling myself (out loud) that I was being wimpy...
I ended up running the last few half a kilometre with the 55 min pace runner who did an excellent job at telling me to kick in and finish well once the line was in sight. I wouldn't be able to pick the pace runner out of a crowd, but thanks for the help anyway :) It was much appreciated :)
The clock read 55.09 when I crossed the line so all in all it was a passable run (those parts that I actually did manage to run) but I wouldn't say I'm happy with it. Really do need to sort out the knee issue again because trying to run a decent 10k with no recent training really doesn't cut it.
