My Profile
@louisej
AUSTRALIA Raving since 2014 Half Fanatics https://lifeandlentils.blogspot.com.au Active 7 years, 6 months agoAbout Me
My Races
Organize, track & review your races and personal bests here.
50 States Map
Half Marathon
Marathon
Ultramarathon
(Marathon or Ultra) + Half
Marathon + Ultra
Other
Future Races
Personal Bests (1)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Marathon | Half Marathon | Milsons Point, Australia | Sep 18, 2016 | 2:14:58 |
Future Races (7)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Marathon. The Authentic | Marathon | Athens, Greece | TBD | |
| Gold Coast Marathon | Half Marathon | Southport, Australia | TBD | |
| Great Ocean Road Running Festival | Marathon | Lorne, Australia | TBD | |
| London Marathon | Marathon | London, United Kingdom | TBD | |
| Melbourne Marathon Festival | Half Marathon | East Melbourne, Australia | TBD | |
| New York City Marathon | Marathon | Staten Island, NY | TBD | |
| Runaway Sydney Half Marathon | Half Marathon | Sydney, Australia | TBD |
Past Races (5)
| Race | Distance | Location | Date | Result | My Raves | My Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Marathon | Half Marathon | Milsons Point, Australia | Sep 18, 2016 | 2:14:58 |
|
|
| Sundown Marathon Singapore | Half Marathon | Singapore, Singapore | May 31, 2014 |
|
|
|
| Newcastle Festival of Running | Half Marathon | Newcastle, Australia | Apr 6, 2014 |
|
|
|
| Canberra Times Marathon Festival | Half Marathon | Canberra, Australia | 2014 |
|
|
|
| Airtel Delhi Half Marathon | Half Marathon | New Dehli, India | 2013 |
|
|
Sydney Marathon
Sydney's most scenic run
Sydney Marathon
I have had this run on my bucket list for about 6 years... in fact it was going to be the first half-marathon I would run, but fate had other … MORE
I have had this run on my bucket list for about 6 years… in fact it was going to be the first half-marathon I would run, but fate had other ideas and it was my 11th.
The weather this year was perfect, overcast, cool but not cold and the occasional breeze. The tradeoff for these perfect conditions was that Sydney was not it’s dazzlingly beautiful sunny self but I’ll take a comfy run any day.
The course itself was less hilly that I was expecting with the hardest of the uphills in the first 2ks up to the centre of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This is the one morning per year the bridge is closed to traffic so it’s pretty special. The course weaves around city streets, makes a quick detour into Hyde Park before heading out past Darling Harbour into Pyrmont where you turn around and head back though Darling Harbour then through the new scenic Barangaroo Precinct before coming back under the harbour bridge glimpsing the finish line from the Overseas Passenger Terminal. From there it’s and easy 1k around Circular Quay and to the finish line at the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
In terms of swag there is a measly bottle of water, and medal and a newspaper at the finish line. You could pre-order post race meals in the botanical gardens for crazy prices. At registration you can order at race day singlet for the cost of postage ($6.50) it’s ok quality. You also get free public transport on the day.
I registered late at a cost of $120 so it’s an expensive run, but I guess that’s what you pay for the opportunity to run over the main deck of the Harbour Bridge, around an major city finishing at the Opera House.
Sundown Marathon Singapore
Midnight Run... Fab Atmosphere... HOT
Sundown Marathon Singapore
I happened to find myself going to Singapore a week before the event, so I emailed the organisers and they were kind enough to allow me to register even though … MORE
I happened to find myself going to Singapore a week before the event, so I emailed the organisers and they were kind enough to allow me to register even though registrations were long closed.
I was a bit nervous leading up to the event as it was a midnight start and I was struggling to get into the timezone. For me the 12 am start was a 3 am start. But I need not have worried. The atmosphere at the start was fantastic. I should mention I missed the expo… which was a the weekend before the race so I had to pick up my bib etc from the event organisers office. Not great timing for foreign runners.
The start and finish line was at the F1 pit building. There were heaps of people about, bright lights, plenty of porta loos and lots of loud music…. the atmosphere was buzzing. There was heaps of entertainment and stalls for pre and post race time killing. In the lead up to my race I killed an hour by watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty which was playing on an open air big screen.
The half marathon set off at 12:30am and even at this hour it was HOT. The humidity was oppressing even though I am used to the heat having lived and trained in Delhi for 4 years. The course itself was okay… some areas where ordinary city streets with not much to see. At some point we headed off the beaten track and it was dark… they tried to highlight obstacles with glow sticks which was helpful, but it was a bit disconcerting not being able to see your feet when running on a non-paved surface. The best of the course was definitely about the last 7ks. This was where you got to really appreciate the city skyline at night…. the Marina Bay Sands really is something special.
Being tropical and so humid of course it had to rain. For me that rain started at about the 19km mark. It wasn’t too bad and definitely cooled things down a bit. Though it did mean that the atmosphere post finish wasn’t so fun as the movie screen and a lot of the outdoor stalls had been packed up and people weren’t milling around.
It’s hard to recall now but I think the course was definitely lacking in hydration stations… extra were needed due to the heat. The electrolyte drinks were way too diluted.
The finishers medal was kind of nice and there was a pretty good New Balance race singlet for all runners as well.
Overall I really enjoyed this race and production.
Newcastle Festival of Running
Fab scenery but oh the hills.
Newcastle Festival of Running
I entered this race as part of a challenge to myself to run two half-marathons over back-to-back weekends. This was the first of the two. This event was a typical … MORE
I entered this race as part of a challenge to myself to run two half-marathons over back-to-back weekends. This was the first of the two. This event was a typical small city event. No real expo as such… a few small tents in a field and a long line-up for bib and T-shirt collection.
I made the mistake of booking a budget pub hotel with the room being smack-bang above a night-club. The room vibrated from about 9pm – 3am…. arrgh
At the start of the race the weather was cool and overcast. The course is basically a bunch of out and backs. The first 5ks was relatively flat and the run out to the light-house and back was lovely and scenic, though the path was a bit narrow and congested. After heading back from the lighthouse the hills started, at first they were undulating but then it became a serious climb, which after summiting was a long downhill run to a neighbouring beach front. At the beachfront there was a turnaround, which was also the start-line for the 10k event. Thankfully I got around that before the hoard of 10k runners were released. They came charging up behind me about 5 minutes later as I was heading back up and over the hill. Once coming back over the headland there is another up and back to the light-house and another out and back which takes you torturously close to the the finish line. At about 19km it started to lightly rain. Soon after I finished it began to bucket down, as such there was no one handing out finisher medals but rather you had to go and find them and help yourself in the organisers tent. The medal was pretty ordinary. I felt bad for those that placed as all medal presentations had to be delayed until later in the week due to the torrential rain.
Overall it was kind of nice for a small city event, though I would’t run it again… the out and back nature and the hills aren’t worth it.
Canberra Times Marathon Festival
Scenic run around Australia's capital
Canberra Times Marathon Festival
This was my third Australian half marathon, and one to tick off the list of covering every Australian state and territory. The half- marathon is one of four events held … MORE
This was my third Australian half marathon, and one to tick off the list of covering every Australian state and territory.
The half- marathon is one of four events held at the Australian Running Festival… as the country’s capital I guess they get to call it that.
The expo is non-existant… one temporary shop in a park selling race t-shirts and a few bits and pieces of running gear.
The course itself is largely flat. It starts our making a loop of Australia’s parliament building, then heads towards the very pretty artificial lake Burley Griffin. Most of the course is reasonably scenic except for the roughly five or so kilometre out and back along a freeway.
The course starts and finishes at Australia’s Old Parliament House.
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon
Nice event... shocking air quality!
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon
This was my third consecutive go at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Each year it seems to get better in terms of organisation. They really seem to take feedback on … MORE
This was my third consecutive go at the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon. Each year it seems to get better in terms of organisation. They really seem to take feedback on board. However, the one thing they can’t get right is the date. I have run this event three times. Once in September… oppressively humid! and twice in November… dangerously bad air quality but great temperature. Ideally this race needs to be run in late October and definitely before Diwalli when the air pollution goes from bad to dangerously bad.
Due to the high prize money and the fast flat course this race attracts quite a few elite runners, and as an out and back course it’s inspiring to watch them heading back towards you on the other side of the street at a cracking pace that sees more than one break one hour.
Delhi is surprisingly green and leafy and the course takes in the best of New Delhi. Starting and finishing a the Commonwealth Games Stadium.
Even though it’s a great event I wouldn’t add this race to your bucket list… it worked for me because I was living in Delhi.