Pub2Pub

So, after the City2Surf I felt I was on a roll so I signed up to the Pub2Pub which runs 13k from Dee Why north along the coast to Newport. The run took place yesterday and it was a glorious day for it! Sun was shining, but it was not too hot. The run starts on the beach in Dee Why and the first 800m is all running in sand. It was an interesting balancing act to try to stay as close to the water as possible, where the sand is nice and solid, but not get caught in the waves and get wet. It was quite amusing to watch a large part of 5000 people squeal and jump sideways up the beach as the waves came reaching for them.

I noticed the distance of this race was not actually measured in kilometres when I passed one bystander who shouted: "That's it, good work! Only two more beaches to go!"

I also noticed the Pub2Pub was a bit harder than the City2Surf. In the latter you run towards sea level, so even if there is one big hill half way you are still generally travelling downhill towards the sea. In the former you are running parallel to the sea, and so not necessarily going downhill at all. Well, it wasn't that bad, but instead of one killer hill halfway there were two in the second half.

I did suffer going up that second big hill. I even started misreading the volunteers' vests. I could have sworn they said "Funeral Fire Service", but at a second glance that first word was "Rural" and I suppose they fight bushfires. I am not sure what a Funeral Fire Service would do. Cremation?

Anyway, I did it and I think I did well. Next up is the Blackmores Running Festival on the 16th September in which I am doing a nice little 9k run for a change.

5000 people waiting to get going