Melbourne Marathon Festival

Last event for the year, Melbourne Marathon Festival.

This is one of my favourite events and I have been doing it every year since 2019 (except last year I missed out on an entry). Its one of my favourites for a number of reasons; it’s a great event, the crowd, finishing on the MCG but most of all it’s an event where I get to catch up with a lot of my running family from all around Australia.

Leading into the event, Running Evolution had four athletes competing across the half and full marathon. This quickly turned to five with an unexpected supporter runner role taken by an athlete that had come to support.

For most, Melbourne Marathon was the goal event and had been training all year round to get to the start line. Mini goals had been achieved along the way which was a promising sign for what could unfold on race day.

The exhibition is always outside The MCG. Each year it gets bigger and bigger! Loved the two big walls of names doing the marathon and the half marathon.

Prior to race day I got treated to a MCG tour and got to walk out onto the ground as they were setting up. It really is such an amazing venue.

NT mob with Aunty Pam and Uncle Charlie

Whilst at the exhibition I was very fortunate to run into Jessica Hull. She’s had a huge last 12 months and so many incredible performances, more recently she competed at World Championships in Tokyo recently (definitely was fan girling with current Australian Athletics Royalty).

Myself with Jessica Hull

Melbourne put on the perfect running weather. Cool, not too windy and overcast.

Pre-race on the way to The MCG

Personally for me, this was a bonus race. No goal in mind but just to be apart of a great event with so many other runners I know. It has taken longer for me to recover from Berlin compared to my fast recovery post Sydney. After returning I didn’t run for a week as I struggled with jet lag and getting back into the work routine. It had only been the last week that I had started to be able to wake up and get back to my routine. This in mind there was no goal for PBs.

Walking to the MCG there was definitely so much chilly excitement in the air (it was cold). Streams of people making their way to The MCG. A mixture of people running the marathon, the half and the 10km event. Once at The MCG the event park was buzzing, people everywhere. Finding friends, having their last minute coffee and preparing before heading to the start line.

The marathon kicked off first at 0630. The 10km was next at 0700. They were all still streaming past us as we had headed to the start line ready for our 0730 start. It really is so good to see so many people out there giving it a go at any distance.

Then we were off! The first couple of kms were definitely a bit crowded people jostling for positions and space. Runners spilling on both sides of Flinders Street and then into St Kilda Road. I was pretty happy that I was averaging 5:30-5:40min/km pace until the climb out of Albert park. Boom, there went my consistency and good momentum. It was a struggle to get back to pace but also aware of the wonderful uphill run it is to get back to the city. Nonetheless I kept putting one foot in front of the other. Survived the uphills and managed to pick up some good speed leading up to The MCG. Entering The MCG always gives me chills everytime I do this event. Gives you that spur to finish strong. The crowd - unbelievable! I don’t think I’ve seen the stand so full cheering people on. It really is the best way to finish a run. 2:05:14 Can’t complain about that. Solid effort considering the last six weeks I’ve run two marathons, with one of them located in Europe. A great way to finish the racing season for the year.

As for the rest of the Running Evolution athletes? It was definitely a great day of racing. First over the finish line was Emma Bacon. Smashed her goal of running the whole way over the hilly course (Darwin isn’t all that hilly). Not only did she smash her goal she also ran a course PB - breaking a time from 10yrs ago. Big congratulations Emma. Emma was the first person that signed up and trusted Running Evolution to coach her. She has definitely gone from strength to strength over the last 18 months.

Emma at the finish line

Next up was Kelly Rosas. Melbourne Marathon is her magical race. It was her first, when she only had just over a month to train for it and smashed it. To running it again last year and running a Boston Marathon qualifying time. This year has been a different year for Kelly. She donated her kidney earlier this year and has to be more careful with her recovery. She won a ballot position for Sydney, her first marathon with one kidney. Cruised through with a sub 4 hour. Backing it back up in Melbourne, the race that holds a lot of meaning for her, she ran an amazing race and came home with a PB, 3:43:01.

Kelly after finishing with her PB

Thomasin Opie was flying! This year she has run so many PBs along her journey to Melbourne Marathon. Her consistency throughout the year and worked through an injury and really worked hard on her strength. This paid off with a great PB in just her second year of running and her second marathon. No doubt there are more PBs and milestones in Thomasin’s sights.

Margaret Roe was a last minute add to the list, running as a runner supporter. With this not on her program and had changed the focus to running a better 5km, like the true trooper she is, she finished it well and not far from her first half marathon time on the Gold Coast. Just imagine if she was planning and had trained for it!

Margaret Roe out on the course

Last one to cross the finish line was Yasmin Jarman. What a year she has had. Sydney Marathon 6 weeks ago: her first marathon. An opportunity came up to run Melbourne Marathon. Going into this run with no time goals and to just enjoy it. Mostof the important build phase leading to Melbourne, Yasmin, was still recovering from her epic first marathon effort. The stars aligned for Yasmin and she was able to pull off an epic run and almost an 8min PB with a time of 4:55:14, sub 5 hours!

I’m sure there are some very sore legs out there today. A true sign of people giving it their all. Congratulations to everyone that lined up to the start line and gave it their all. Times are not everything. Sometimes it’s the way you get through a race and come out on the other end. Enjoy the time to recover. Looking forward to what next year brings and helping everyone with whatever goals they have.