Run 3 – Route 78 Tram 06/05/2019
This time I chose the straightest of all the tram lines – route 78. And given that Usane Bolt ran 37.8 km /hr running in a straight line whereas Michael Johnston could only manage 32.3 km / hr running around corners – this seemed a likely fast course.
Add to this the learnings from run 1 meant I avoided the 7 sets of traffic lights at the Montague St interchange to the freeway – replaced by the overpass on Ingles St.
Big learning is that route 78 includes Chapel St and the shoppers in Chapel St do not stay in their lanes. Neither Bolt or Johnston had to deal with this.
But this excellent plan fell over, as did I, as I made my way along Victoria Parade to the start of the 78 tram. My foot clipped a gutter on a side St and I crashed to the ground, fortunately my knee broke my fall. I was able to recover quickly (just like Craig Mottram at the 2006 Commonwealth Games) but I was shaken and had lost valuable seconds. I didn’t even stop to wipe the blood from my forehead, although turns out it was only sweat.
The fall had put me behind and whilst I did beat the 78 tram down Church and Chapel St (thanks peak hour traffic), I was unable to make up for lost time and didn’t even beat my previous best time from run 2.
Official time of 1:54:34 not brilliant, but very valuable given the learnings of not falling over and Chapel St congestion.
My three learnings
Don’t fall over
Straight line probably faster than bends.
Shoppers don’t stay in their lanes.