The title of this post is an oxymoron for sure, 6k and fun run should never be in the same sentence. This event is dear to us more mature runners’ hearts as there is an over 55 category, in the 6k and 12k and they give out cash prizes. Albeit the cash prize barely pays for the coffees you have to forfeit at Yelo, on Thursday morning if you podium. A few years ago, I ran the 12k and took the win and this year I was returning for the 6k version. Last year it was cancelled due to heavy rain, which if you know Perth you know is as rare as hen’s teeth. As always, I was totally unprepared for any race of this distance with zero speed work at all, probably since my 12k win two years previous? As with that day I had no idea how I’d go and would just go out as fast as I could and hang on for as long as I could, simple really.

In the 2k warm up my legs felt heavy and self-doubt was beginning to creep into my race strategy, after all at fifty-nine what were the odds my hamstrings and/or calf muscles even surviving a 6k sprint, slim I reckon.  No worries, I was there for the win (age group win that is) so I would go hard from the start and hang on for as long as possible, what could go wrong.

Once the race started, I found myself in the top ten and actually felt reasonably good, I even had to pull myself back a bit, which worried me. The start is a flat road before a slight downhill and when my Coros pipped up a 3:33min/k for the first kilometre I knew I was in trouble.  A good indicator of me going too quick was there was no small children running anywhere near me, in this sort of events the kids always start like scowled cats and come home walking.

I had no right running that pace and knew the head gasket would be blowing pretty quickly if I tried to carry on. As it was the next two kilometres were slower but still way better than I thought I could manage, a 3:48min/k and then a 3:51min/k, not too shabby.  This put me a three kilometres deep in the pain cave, I mean deep, with half the race still to go.

I had a runner infront of me who I passed and then just got the head down and tried to get to the finish line without injuring myself or slowing down to a crawl or even walking, trust me it had crossed my mind. At this point I was pretty certain I had the win in the bag if I just carried on close to my starting few kilometres pace, albeit slowing slightly of course.  I perked up when I saw my friend Dennis Tan, the official photographer, and even managed a smile (or maybe looking at the photo a grimace?)  I managed to hang on to 3:55min/k pace for kilometrs four and five and stagged home for the final kilometre in 4min/k flat, mission accomplished.  Finished in 22:58 for 6k, average pace 3:50min/k, which I was very happy with. An added bonus was 8th place overall from a field of over two hundred and fifty runners, very stoked.

So, I got away with another event I had no right getting away with. No injuries and an average pace way better than I thought I had in me, sometimes it just all comes together and at this fun run it seems to happen often. Of course, you forget how much pain I was in for the last kilometre which, when you run 5k pace for a 6k race, is probably expected.  When I crossed the line, I was done and I mean done, I hit the deck and adopted the recovery position. I had nothing left it the tank, nothing. In the results there was runner one second behind me but honestly, I never knew, I was blinkered., or was that buggered?  My main rival for the win, Trevor Scott, finished nearly three minutes behind me and did himself some serious damage in the process. He had to be carried to the podium and helped to his second position spot.  Trevor is sixty-seven now and ran an incredible time, which seems to have broken him unfortunately. He was carried off by the medical staff post awards, heading to hospital.

It felt good to be back on the podium for the age group win and as I said two years ago will this be my last one?  Who knows, maybe I should concentrate on the shorter distances again but feel if I actually trained for pace my hamstrings would eventually tear and my calf; either or.  I did enjoy the event and even more being at the front of the pack for a change, albeit the field was hardly pro-level being a free fun run but still as far as I was concerned, I was killing it.

Right next week is the Choo Choo run, a 33km trail race of sorts, then a three-week gap before the Perth Running Festival, my fifteenth Perth marathon and marathon number fifty-one. Three weeks post Perth it’s probably one of my favourite milers, the Feral Pig. So excited to take on the pig for the sixth time, currently four one to me.  Racing is life, the rest is details, away we go.

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Big shout out to fisiocrem , this product is just incredible for tired and aching legs. I use it daily and have noticed a vast improvement in recovery.

Bix hydration is just ace, a product brought to life by Vlad Ixel a professional ultra runner who knows a thing or two about hydration. ( https://www.bixvitamins.com/ )  The best thing about Bix is it tastes good with many different flavours and you never get sick of drinking it, this is a big plus as Maurten and Tailwind (both great products)  can be difficult to digest later in the event.  From the website :-

As an Australian elite multiple trail running champion, with wins in over 40 ultra-marathon races across Asia, recovery from training and races has always been my top priority. 

In searching for a solid recovery and hydration supplement, I recognized that critical vitamins and minerals – both in diversity and quantity – were missing from almost all supplements on the market. I had the feeling that in an effort to maximize their bottom-lines, companies in the hydration space, failed to deliver a product that could meaningfully assist athlete performance. 

In order to address this, I began the development of a hydration product. After two and a half years of development alongside a leading German sports scientist, BIX Recovery, an advanced, high-quality recovery drink was born. 

BIX boosts 12 active ingredients scientifically balanced to replace lost electrolytes and assist in immune function. It’s designed with quality vitamins and minerals, in quantities that work! 

BIX is a recovery solution for everyone, that will get you to the top of your game!

What can I say about HumanTecar,  ( https://athleticus.com.au/ ) it looks great, smells great and is awesome for recovery or even pre-run/workout. Read about the science behind it first and then try the products. The compression bandages are just magical after a long event. Put these on and the next day you are recovered, I have used them on a number of occasions and they never fail to astound me albeit the family poke fun at me as I look like a ‘mummy and smell funny’ !

Fractel ( https://fractel.com.au/ ) have your performance headgear covered. I love the colours and the functionality of these hats, I guarantee there is one model you’ll fall in love with.

Shokz headphones, let you keep in touch with the world around while losing yourself in quality tunes or podcasts. ( https://shokz.com.au/ )

T8 running apparel is the best you can get, second to none. Designed for the ultra humid Hong Kong conditions the owners live in.  It is light and does away with any chaffing worries. T8 is the name given to the highest typhoon warning in Honk Kong,  storms and typhoons with gusts exceeding 180kph, which explains the branding. ( https://t8.run/)

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