It had been over four months since my last race, so I scoured the half-marathon listings as soon as I heard that I would be coming to Australia. The first one I could find was in Canberra, the day after flying overnight (13 hours) from Delhi to Sydney.
Debating...Debating... (this lasted about five seconds).
I'll find a way to survive. Thirteen miles never killed anyone, right?
Registered!
First task was to find transportation from Sydney to Canberra. There are are several coach services that do the 3.5-hour journey without any stops. I decided to book with Greyhound and crossed my fingers that it's not as ghetto as the American counterpart.
Next task was to book a hotel. This ended up being harder than I anticipated since the city is so small. Also, it probably helps to book a room more than 3 days in advance of a major athletic event. I couldn't find any decent hotels for less than $500, so I decided to try Airbnb for the first time. One place was located in the city center and seemed nice enough. Done.
I'm always amazed at how simple it is to book weekend adventures these days!
It is required for Americans to pre-arrange a travel visa online, which makes for a seamless arrival. Although, I was amazed by the baggage screening process to ensure that no one is bringing food items or any other prohibited goods into the country. All the Indian passengers were required to get a thorough scanning, but I just needed my bags to be sniffed by a dog for 5 seconds.
I dropped the bulk of my luggage at my hotel in Sydney and walked around the city for a few hours before hopping on the bus to Canberra. Australians are really attractive. Maybe I'm just sleep deprived.
The bus ride was so much better than I expected. Power outlets, WiFi, and extra legroom makes it basically the opposite of Greyhound in America. Highly recommended.
My first impression of Canberra is that it is beautiful and new. I am still amazed that it is the capital of a country, though. It would be like America deciding that Madison, Wisconsin would become the nation's new capital. The downtown restaurants were filled with people at 6:30pm and the city was asleep shortly after. (That was fine with me, considering that I hadn't slept in 36 hours). By the way, Australia has Target stores...maybe I am in Wisconsin!
Shortly after dinner, I arrived at the Airbnb address and it felt a little bizarre going into a stranger's home. The host was super nice and she helped me with directions to the race start, but I think I prefer the anonymity of staying at a hotel. Aside from that, the accommodations were really comfortable and I enjoyed being able to learn about the city from someone who has lived there for so long.
On race morning, I arrived at the starting line with just enough time to pick up my number, spend some time in the portable toilets (to dispose of the last remnants of Indian food), and mentally prepare for my first long run in 4 months. My ankle was giving me grief as usual, but I otherwise felt surprisingly fresh.
Starting line announcements in English are highly appreciated; especially after running the majority of my races last year in foreign countries. Compared to the overcrowded start corrals in Florence last November, Canberra felt like a luxurious experience. I just looked up at the sky and smiled, knowing that I will be able to spend the next two months in a country that reminds me so much of home.
The weather was perfect for running - not too hot and just a light breeze. The first couple kilometers had some hills, as we circled the Parliament House and other administrative offices. The overall design of the buildings is very understated and Parliament House was actually built into a hill. (Random fact: The top part of the hill was removed during the building's construction, then replaced on top of the building, itself). I find it amusing that the political decisions in Australia are all made in a building that literally sits in the middle of a hill.
I was nervous about my stomach issues since I am perpetually sick in India, but my system seemed to be very resilient upon my return to a first-world country! I felt good throughout the race and tried to push my speed gradually throughout the run. I yo-yo'd back and forth with a few people throughout much of the second half. This part of the race was on the north bank of the river and was not as scenic as the first half. At least the perfect weather and competitive drive kept my interest.
The last couple kilometer signs were missing, so the end of the race crept up on me (in a good way). I saw the 85-minute pace group up ahead as I was crossing the bridge to the south bank and knew that I would not be able to catch them. I pushed myself as fast as possible through the final stretch but my legs just can't dominate the distance as well anymore and were feeling fatigued. My final time of 1:27 is far from my best, but still a respectable finish in the top 3% of all runners.
I would like to say that strong training efforts during the next couple months can allow me to log a better result in another Australian race, but it's hard to say at this point. My ankle is becoming increasingly intolerant of the constant running and I'm not able to push myself so much during regular weekly running sessions.
While I always enjoy the race environment, the thrill is diminished when I don't look forward to the final result. I will probably still sign up for races, but I will have to just refocus my attention towards general fitness (rather than competitiveness) until I have surgery to repair whatever is plaguing my right ankle.
Bravo to the race organizers, thanks to the volunteers, and congratulations to the runners who pushed me through the entire race. I found the city of Canberra to be very charming and I look forward to returning later in my Australian tour.
Debating...Debating... (this lasted about five seconds).
I'll find a way to survive. Thirteen miles never killed anyone, right?
Registered!
First task was to find transportation from Sydney to Canberra. There are are several coach services that do the 3.5-hour journey without any stops. I decided to book with Greyhound and crossed my fingers that it's not as ghetto as the American counterpart.
Next task was to book a hotel. This ended up being harder than I anticipated since the city is so small. Also, it probably helps to book a room more than 3 days in advance of a major athletic event. I couldn't find any decent hotels for less than $500, so I decided to try Airbnb for the first time. One place was located in the city center and seemed nice enough. Done.
I'm always amazed at how simple it is to book weekend adventures these days!
-- -- -- -- -- --
The reality of travel is never as fun as the planning stages. My flights (especially the overnight one) seemed to last forever. Apparently Sydney is far...from everywhere. My seat neighbor faced me as she slept, which was uncomfortable. I do not want to get so intimate with someone I have never even spoken to before.
It is required for Americans to pre-arrange a travel visa online, which makes for a seamless arrival. Although, I was amazed by the baggage screening process to ensure that no one is bringing food items or any other prohibited goods into the country. All the Indian passengers were required to get a thorough scanning, but I just needed my bags to be sniffed by a dog for 5 seconds.
I dropped the bulk of my luggage at my hotel in Sydney and walked around the city for a few hours before hopping on the bus to Canberra. Australians are really attractive. Maybe I'm just sleep deprived.
The bus ride was so much better than I expected. Power outlets, WiFi, and extra legroom makes it basically the opposite of Greyhound in America. Highly recommended.
My first impression of Canberra is that it is beautiful and new. I am still amazed that it is the capital of a country, though. It would be like America deciding that Madison, Wisconsin would become the nation's new capital. The downtown restaurants were filled with people at 6:30pm and the city was asleep shortly after. (That was fine with me, considering that I hadn't slept in 36 hours). By the way, Australia has Target stores...maybe I am in Wisconsin!
Shortly after dinner, I arrived at the Airbnb address and it felt a little bizarre going into a stranger's home. The host was super nice and she helped me with directions to the race start, but I think I prefer the anonymity of staying at a hotel. Aside from that, the accommodations were really comfortable and I enjoyed being able to learn about the city from someone who has lived there for so long.
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Beautiful morning for a race!
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On race morning, I arrived at the starting line with just enough time to pick up my number, spend some time in the portable toilets (to dispose of the last remnants of Indian food), and mentally prepare for my first long run in 4 months. My ankle was giving me grief as usual, but I otherwise felt surprisingly fresh.
The weather was perfect for running - not too hot and just a light breeze. The first couple kilometers had some hills, as we circled the Parliament House and other administrative offices. The overall design of the buildings is very understated and Parliament House was actually built into a hill. (Random fact: The top part of the hill was removed during the building's construction, then replaced on top of the building, itself). I find it amusing that the political decisions in Australia are all made in a building that literally sits in the middle of a hill.
I was nervous about my stomach issues since I am perpetually sick in India, but my system seemed to be very resilient upon my return to a first-world country! I felt good throughout the race and tried to push my speed gradually throughout the run. I yo-yo'd back and forth with a few people throughout much of the second half. This part of the race was on the north bank of the river and was not as scenic as the first half. At least the perfect weather and competitive drive kept my interest.
The last couple kilometer signs were missing, so the end of the race crept up on me (in a good way). I saw the 85-minute pace group up ahead as I was crossing the bridge to the south bank and knew that I would not be able to catch them. I pushed myself as fast as possible through the final stretch but my legs just can't dominate the distance as well anymore and were feeling fatigued. My final time of 1:27 is far from my best, but still a respectable finish in the top 3% of all runners.
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| Finish line of the 2014 Canberra Marathon |
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Canberra Marathon Finisher Certificate
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I would like to say that strong training efforts during the next couple months can allow me to log a better result in another Australian race, but it's hard to say at this point. My ankle is becoming increasingly intolerant of the constant running and I'm not able to push myself so much during regular weekly running sessions.
While I always enjoy the race environment, the thrill is diminished when I don't look forward to the final result. I will probably still sign up for races, but I will have to just refocus my attention towards general fitness (rather than competitiveness) until I have surgery to repair whatever is plaguing my right ankle.
Bravo to the race organizers, thanks to the volunteers, and congratulations to the runners who pushed me through the entire race. I found the city of Canberra to be very charming and I look forward to returning later in my Australian tour.
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