2023 (Part 1)… It’s been a year!
Busselton Marathon 2023
February 11th, 2023
https://www.busseltonrunnersclub.org.au/brc-bay-run
Busselton Runners Club is excited to announce our much-loved February event has a new name. BRC Bay Run will still have the same great format and distances for you to choose from, tickets will be on sale 6am Tue 1 November until 3 February or until sold out. Following a review of last year’s event, we are happy to report we have increased the number of available tickets for the Half Marathon and 10km runs.
There are four distances available; Marathon (42.2km), Half Marathon (21.1km), 10km run and 5km run. Walkers are welcome to participate at the back of the pack for the 10km and 5km distances.
Aid stations: three at approximately 3–3.5 km apart. Two on course and one at or near the turn point. Aid stations will have both water and electrolytes, and bananas. You are encouraged to carry your own particular food requirements.
Entry requirements: The field is limited to 200 runners. All runners must be able to complete the marathon in 4 ½ hours or less. If you are not confident that you can complete the marathon in this time, please consider registering for a shorter event instead.
Start time: At this point, start time will be 5:30am. This will be confirmed closer to the event.
Pre-race
This is last event to complete my goal of running a marathon in every state and territory in Australia. Here’s a short recap.
MARATHON IN EVERY STATE & TERRITORY IN AUSTRALIA
1. ACT Canberra marathon 2014 (3:30) … Best first marathon experience ever!
2. VIC Melbourne marathon 2014 (3:23) … Personal best.
3. QLD Brisbane marathon 2018 (4:07) … Social marathon with a friend.
4. NSW Sydney marathon 2018 (3:36) … Comrades (South Africa) qualifier.
5. TAS Hobart marathon 2019 (3:43) … Probably my most average/common marathon.
6. SA Kangaroo Island marathon 2021 (4:30) … Most eventful marathon (see blogpost).
7. NT Outback marathon 2022 (4:26) … Lots of red dirt.
8. Busselton marathon 2023 … Read on!
In the months leading up to Busselton marathon I ran approximately 50km per week (in other words, not enough). In the October prior (2022), I ran Melbourne marathon in 3hrs 54min. Considering Melburnians had been in Covid lockdowns with no events for two years, I was pretty happy to break 4 hours. In January (2023), I ran Two Bays 28km in 3hrs 10min. I hoped Melbourne marathon and Two Bays might carry me through to Busselton marathon and I could run another sub-4 hours. That was my only goal.
Hubby (Brad) and I flew to Perth and drove two hours to Busselton. I had never been to Western Australia, so we booked a few extra days to explore the sights between Perth and Busselton. I was really looking forward to a grown-up holiday. I booked accommodation in Busselton, which was literally 200 metres from the race hub. Knowing it was a very early start, I didn’t want to ask my hubby to wake up too early to drive me to the start line. The day before the race, we made our way to the bib pick up area. Busselton is a small beachside, country town. It is beautiful and somewhere I could imagine having a holiday house or retiring. The coastline and water are a divinely clear, aqua colour. Busselton is a little taste of heaven.
Busselton Jetty is one of the most recognizable icons in Western Australia. It currently stands at 1841 metres in length making it the longest wooden piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. It is now used exclusively for tourism and recreation, but it has a colourful past as a working jetty. In the early years of European settlement in the Busselton/Vasse region, agriculture was the main commercial activity undertaken. Crops such as wheat, barley and oats were grown. Livestock such as sheep, pigs and cattle were also raised. Some of these were exported from the area as early as 1858. The timber industry was also underway with the government offering large concessions and special timber licenses in 1850. A light beacon was erected in 1836 as a navigational aid.
Race day
My alarm was set for 4.50am. After a very quick and concise preparation, I walked to the end of street and entered the race hub. There were approximately 75 runners in the full marathon distance, so it was a very small crowd compared to other marathons I have participated in. The weather was perfect for racing, fresh but a hint of warmth. I chose to run in shorts, a no-brand singlet top and my Flipbelt to carry fuel and my iPhone.
I was excited but nervous to run Busselton marathon. It was the final marathon to successfully complete my goal of running a marathon in every state/territory in Australia. Plus, I had never been to Western Australia, so it was exciting and new. I was grateful to be travelling and racing again. On the flipside, I knew I was underdone. Ever since Covid-lockdowns, my running had been inconsistent. I had gained weight and lost motivation.
The start line and gun sound reminded me of a country town event. The race director used his voice to count down and runners casually began their marathon journey. I started feeling positive and decided to listen to my favourite tunes on Spotify. Several months have passed since writing this report so I am not attempting to go into any details, however I do remember Brad meeting me on course around 14km. I was maintaining 5.20min/km pace and I was surprised by how good I felt. The weather was pleasant, and course was flat and comfortable. Life and running seemed relatively easy.
I maintained my position in the pack and took in the scenery as I continued to run along the foreshore path. There was minimal fanfare, but the marshals and volunteers involved were very friendly. I daydreamed happily until I reached about 29km. That elusive 30km wall hit hard! I seem to have a physical and mental block at 30km. I recall seeing Brad again somewhere between 32-34km. He asked how I was feeling and offered salt and vinegar chips. He knows my history of “3-hours sugar then I only want salt,” but I dismissed him. I was not happy. I had gone from feeling good to feeling completely f**ked! And that’s what you get for undertraining.
I tried to change my tactic by listening to an audiobook by David Goggins. I loved his previous book, “You Can’t Hurt Me” and I thought his most recent release, “Never Finished” would be perfect for my final Australian marathon finish. Listening to Goggins just made me mad. We can’t all be superheroes! I became defiant and ended up walking more than I ran. I simply gave up. I crossed the finish line in 4 hours 12min (sub 6min/km pace). After two years of constant lockdowns and no events, I struggled; however, I still felt grateful for the location, event, community and the satisfaction that I achieved my goal to run a marathon in every state/territory in Australia.
Post-race
Once back at the hotel, I showered and reflected on what went wrong. There was no denying it, it was my mind, not my body that gave up. It took me a little while to get over the disappointment in myself, yet I remained appreciative of the opportunity and experience.
Final thoughts
If you’re visiting Western Australia for the first time and you want a destination run, go to Busselton. It is such a beautiful part of the world and I would definitely return there. People are friendly, the race is low-key but well-organised, the scenery is spectacular and the water is divine. I am very grateful this was my final marathon destination run in Australia.
