It was a great day for this Annual Fun Run/Walk, the proceeds of which go to the Heart Foundation; in the vicinity of $55,000 dollars this year.
Anthony Haber, and Jackie Fairweather were the major winners, with 3000-4000 runners/walkers joining in the event.
A large crowd enjoyed the fruit and drinks provided after the event and stayed for the presentations and barrel draws. A large entry from the Jogalong was present, and one of their members was thrilled to win the major draw.
Now she will probably be touched for luck, and touched for a loan.
Anthony broke 30 minutes (29:41) to win by 5 seconds, while at this stage I don't know Jackie's winning time. I believe she ran back to the start near Woden, after the event to collect her car, and returned in time for the presentations.
Meanwhile there were a lot of Coolrunners out today, with Luckylegs visiting Canberra for the event. Flashduck had a team of Chickybabes under her wings, and Aki also was seen in her resplendent cool running gear.
Friar had estimated that he would probably achieve 57 minutes or so, following a run at Mt Majura a few weeks previously, but surprised himself with a 54:33, slightly slower than the previous year, but pretty good considering he had to spend countless effort on the selection of which shoes to wear for the event.
Splits, (courtesy of "Forerunner Man" who kept me company on the run) were 5:04, 5:02, 5:10, 5:38, 5:35, 5:31, 5:13, 5:39, 5:31, 5:35.
Great start and did the first km comfortably, passed Kerrie Boden, saw CJ ahead, others passed me and said Hi, about 2km Caroline Campbell passed running on the grassy edge, Colin Adrian also passed, and the Nick Blackaby passed at nearly 3km, then the slow down but didn't feel like a different pace, although you might say this was the slightly uphill bit, and the walkers joining in the event, so there was a bit of a peek at Jim O'Donnell, Monika Short, Dave Mackenzie, Alan Burdon, and Mandy Zygadlo who I was told recruited over 120 to her team, then down past the 6k, and Gabrielle Brown helloed past; when she picked up a water satchel, I caught her but she again eased past, at the top of Kings Avenue, I egged those who had "cut the corner" that the real course was on the road, then Roger Featherston joined me on the road and he fessed that he was here on a family visit from Melbourne (his son works at The Canberra Times), and about 8km said hello to John Suiter on the side of the road spectating, he lives close by, and then it was all go to just before the finishing line to receive a big and enthusiastic cheer from the Faulks family, and over the line to have my time written down by Kerrie Wright, who, despite being injured, manages to keep running and helping at events.
After finishing, caught up with SpeedyGeoff and Katie, and Peter Trotter who injured himself during the event, Valiant Vets (Anne Young, Sue Counsel and Corry Collins), Bob Chapman, Bruce Wyatt, Val Bland, and a few others.
Adter picking up my clothing bag, had a chat to Rod Higgins, who shared stroller pushing duties with his partner, and swapped some stories about previous wind affected events, then a hello to Andrew Sutcliffe who told that he had used grassed median strips for the run and avoided a lot of the bitumen road, and the Chickybabes, I said hello to, then over to the presentations area, found Rad and Kevin, mingled around the presentation area and hada few minutes talking to Haberman, and back to the seat besides the Jogalong team, and the major barrel draw winner, Marg Van Belkom, who had helped pack the CT Red Bags with the goodies, she sounded really thrilled.
After the run, got a lift back to Woden to collect the car, and then home.
Until Next Time.
