Run 61. Christmas in the City. 14/12/2019.
Most fast times are run in front of big crowds so with peak Christmas shopping here, I headed into the city to see the sites and run in front of the big crowds. I have run the New York Marathon and all those people cheering for you as you run through Manhattan definitely provides a lift to your spirits and therefore a faster time. But nobody in Melbourne’s Bourke St Mall seemed interested in urging me on.
Only the second time I have run a 1:45 half on this challenge and not surprisingly both involved running in the CBD with those “cheap” city kilometers.
I made the Myer windows the key destination and the turn around point for this run. No way to avoid multiple interactions with the metro tunnel works so no point even mentioning the roadworks (apart from just then). Crowds lined up for the viewing weren’t too bad so got my picture and left in no time. Quite a lot of police presence given the history of this area. Also took the opportunity to take a second selfie at the big Christmas tree in Federation Square – I, like everyone else, was in the spirit.
Hard enough to avoid pedestrians in the city at the best of times, but at this time of year there are lots of shopping bags being carried and that adds to the challenge.
Felt good on the way home and was able to finish strong to get a 1:45:34. More than 10 mins faster than my first attempt. Game on.
My Three Learnings.
Big crowds are only helpful if they are out of the way and cheering.
Christmas shoppers aren’t usually watching where they are going.
Christmas appears to be a happy time, but slow for everything else.