Melbourne Marathon 2013 - a photo story!

You see so many good things when running a marathon that I've always wanted to share it from a runner's perspective.  So this year I took my camera along!  Here's a bit of what I found.  (Apologies for some of the wobbly photos, but hey, I was running!)

Sun rise. Sunday October 13, 2013.

Marathon day has arrived.

Arriving at the MCG.

First stop, bag drop.

 

The calm before the storm.  The MCG is home to many iconic Melbourne events:  test cricket, the AFL Grand Final .... and the finish of the Melbourne Marathon.   

 (Hope its not this dark when we get back here!)

 

Another Melbourne icon:  Flinders Park Tennis Centre, home of The Australian Open .... and the start line of the Melbourne Marathon.

Yep, a wedding dress. Did this bloke borrow it from his wife?  (Nearby there was also someone getting into a roman soldier's outfit; beware that chaffing!)

This bloke had not 1 but 2 cameras.  And he used 1 to good effect to photograph the other one!

Lots of charity runners on the start line, for lots of good causes. 

The three best lookin' blokes on the course! 

Pre-race nerves. 

It's cool. Its 5 minutes before 7am. The national anthem is sung, then...

... the gun goes and you walk/shuffle/jog/then .... run.... over the start line!

 

The race begins ..... up hill!!  (And I'm allowed to run on the tram tracks!)

Down Flinders Street  (not a tram in site!)

A famous Melbourne site:  Flinders Street (train) Station. Some of our oldest city architecture ...

... and some of our newest (Federation Square).

The beautiful Arts Centre spire.

The MCG sits in the distance .... longingly awaiting our return...

St Kilda Road's National Art Gallery

This is not a drink stop. Repeat, this is not a drink stop!

Most creative cheer squad award looks like being given out early ...

 

Temptation .....

I loved this girl's running outfit ....

..... and this guy who wanted me to take his photo while he was smiling!

The Shrine of Remembrance. Our war memorial.

Only in Melbourne do you have to look out for trams during your marathon.

Not a good sign #1.  This is the first few km's and you're in trouble if you're needing aid already ....

Not a good sign #2.  A queue at the porta loos .... already!

Legends: 'The Spartans'.  Minimum entry requirements = 10 marathons. 

This guy's done that 3 and half times!!

Marathoning = permission to litter!

The beautiful boulevard that is St Kilda Road.  Just imagine this in autumn (fall).

 

Overhead this group chatting about the guy in yellow - a crazy runner from the USA who has done 460 marathons!  His friend (white hat) had only done 180!

Yes, those guys on the right are teeing off!  The Albert Park Golf Course.

Fore! (And whatever you do, don't slice it!)

Icon # lots!  The race track of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix. 

But we go the opposite direction  (and not quite so fast!)

 

Volunteers .... bless em.  A smile, a drink .....

.... and then they clean up after us.  THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!

Best supporter costume entrant ...

Either most inspiring or most stupid runner entrant!

Wow - another Spartan. Yes in front of me also. 

Wonder if I'll be capable of that when I'm his age?

 

 

10km mark. And first time we see the runners looping back.  

 

Exiting pit lane.  Bet Michael Schumacher never had to deal with this congestion!

I can only imagine the world of hurt this guy will be in today ... (didn't stop to ask him if he had ever heard of the term "running shoe"!)

 

Start line of the Grand Prix track.

 

Down Fitzroy St.  Bit early for most of these locals.

Waiting for Mum to cheer her on.  Good on ya Dad!

The wind kicks in here as we reach Port Philip Bay.

Is that a drop of rain I feel? .....

 

Next contestant in the 'best running costume' competition 

In the distance in the Able Tasman ship .... Port Melbourne.

Good leg tattoo for a day like today:

#takewhateverhelpyoucanget!

 

20km mark. Check out the beautiful houses along the bay.....

..... not bad views .

Depending on how you're feeling this is either glass half full ... or half empty!

One of my favourite photos of the whole run!

Down onto the esplanade ...  that ice-cream shop looks tempting

It's a long haul along Beach Road, good thing you've got things to look at ...   

like really bad running outfits (2nd from left!)

There was chatter that his mates were breaking out a beer for him!...

 

Kids handing out lollies and high fives .... always welcome!

THANK YOU KIDS!

 

His t shirt and flag read "God Is Love". 

 

Always a joy to find a fellow charity team runner!  So encouraging.

 

Back up past Luna Park, the steep Fitzroy St, and turning back onto St Kilda Rd.          

The return journey begins ....

 

In my opinion all marathoners are super heroes .... some just dress a little more like it!

 

Wedding dress #2 ...

Winners:  Best cheer squad on the course ... by far!

 

35km mark - and, having just sited the MCG, the course swings you away on the nasty last loop ...

.... but its too much for some. The tears have started ....

.... and the hamstrings start to cramp.

The half-marathoners have a tempting short cut .....

The Shrine is now on the right, but .....

... it sits atop the final hill.

Push! Push!

 

... pushed too hard.

And here comes the rain. 

Drink cups are sent flying by the wind!...

.... but the fans keep cheering.....  THANK YOU FANS!

 

A typical view of Melbourne .... in the middle of winter!

The MCG beckons.... somewhere over there amidst the clouds.

40km and the rain starts to wash the sweat down the face ..  yuck.

 

A last minute entrant in best running costume.

At this stage the MCG may as well be on another planet ....

 

Lane closure. Ambulance. Someone is down and the paramedics get to work 

THANK YOU PARAMEDICS.

Unfortunately this is about just 500m from the end!

Brunton Avenue, the final stretch.....

gonna make it ....

 

entering the tunnel.... 

... the hallowed MCG turf ....

... the rain is bucketing down now ....

... but there's the finish line ...

"I'm so happy. I'm so sore. I'm so happy. I'm so sore".

A drink and medal for the hard work.

Sucess!

Real success. 

 

Really real success.

 

 

 

So there you have it. My 2013 Melbourne Marathon in pictures.

Thanks for joining me on the journey! 

 

And if you're really keen and want to support the cause ... here's the link to my fundraising page. THANK YOU READERS!!

 

http://melbournemarathon2013.gofundraise.com.au/pages/search

 

Inspiration comes in many different ages, sizes and not always after the race...

Last month at Run Melbourne I had the pleasure of doing the event with 7 special team mates.  I’d like to introduce you to them and share their tremendously inspiring stories …

 

Their journeys are about overcoming obstacles to meet their goals. This is a common theme for runners, indeed for life, but one that we sometimes don’t celebrate enough.   

We were part of Team World Vision, who had over 120 inspiring runners each doing something other than running just for themselves. Running for helping others takes your running to a whole different level.

 

Running with friends and helping each other achieve their goals also takes your running to a  new level. I had the delightful role of being “chief encourager” of those in the team to help make their commitment come true.  (Some might say I was “chief annoyer” but that’s for them to tell their story!!)

 

This is Tysha Baldwin.  (far left)

Only at age 5 can you look so happy at the finish line! 

Tysha's 5. She ran in the kids 3km race and did her first ever fun run.  She raised $380 in the process.

Wow. What an example she is setting to the rest of us. 

 

Her ‘before’ and ‘after’ videos are priceless. Well worth a watch.

(Click the link to watch – and if you can’t resist that cute face  you can still support her World Vision fundraising till August 231^st ….    http://runmelbourne.everydayhero.com.au/Tysha

 

 

This is Tysha’s dad, Carey. 

I love this guy like a brother. He ran his first half marathon having only taking up becoming a runner not that long ago. He also experienced the ups and downs of getting injured in the last couple of crucial training weeks and going into the race with that unknown feeling.  He smashed it.

 

This is Mel. 

Mother of two youngies and running superstar. (Only Mel could look so healthy at the end of her first 10km race!)

I took this photo but I didn't say "now all line up in height order!"

  
Mel went through the stress of being mum and having a training schedule interrupted by kids illnesses, sleeps (or lack of) and a visit to Japan mid training season where she only snuck in 2 runs.

She powered home. 

Mel’s blog gives a wonderful account of what she experienced. Fantastic . Read it.  (She even refers to us as “her friends”!!!  J)

http://aheartfilledlife.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/run-melbourne-10k/

 

 

This is Doug. (And his delightful wife Jenny and daughter Fiona)

 

 

Doug sent us all an email at one stage saying:

“I’m very disappointed but I’m going to have to face the almost fact that I will not be running with you in July. I injured my Achilles tendon late March and not been able to run until just over a week ago. I had two attempts at running after treatment; both of which ended up with me hobbling back to the car.

Just cant see it healing by July. Not a happy Doug L

 
So getting to the start line was a victory – let alone the finish line. (Which Doug did in the normal wonderful style we love him for!)

 

 

This is Chrystal

 The rose surrounded by us thorns!!

 

Chrystal had that wonderful experience of surprising herself with her time!  Also a super mum, she  trained hard but was really unsure about what it means to actually run 21km.  Well now she knows – in a very convincing way!

And these two spunky guys are my sons – Benny and Aaron.

 Aaagh ... that water tastes good .....

 Some weird kind of pre-race warm up of your hands!

 

Aaron had been training in humidity in the weeks before hand and experienced massive doubts. His times got slower and he learnt a lot about how this running thing is a about 90% mental – and the last 10% is also mental! He rocketed home in 19^th overall for the 5km event.

Benny had “training shock”. That feeling when you realize you have just 2 weeks to get ready!  But, true to Benny’s great spirit, he got out there and had a red hot go.  I love watching him just love the joy of being sporty.

 

 

 

Each one of these runners – and that’s what they are – achieved great things. They delighted me with what they achieved, what they learnt, and what they shared. They all have big hearts and gave much of themselves – and they are better for it!  And so are those they helped through fundraising for Team World Vision.

Here’s a great 'before’ shot. This selfie is about 6.30am before the start. We loved the nervous energy and praying together.   

So what’s next?

Melbourne Marathon Running Festival is October 13^th.  Carey is running his first full marathon. Aaron and Benny are signed up for the shorter distances. Join us?

 

Who would have thought I would conclude this blog with a quote from Michael Jordan. He sent it to me during my training:  

It WILL hurt. It WILL take time. It WILL require dedication and sacrifice. But it WILL be worth it.

(Well actually he tweeted it so maybe it was for more than just me . Maybe for you too!)

 

 

Such great fun. Go enjoy the powerful benefits of physical activity with your friends.