For years, the prospect of a win has taunted.

The challenge in succeeding recreationally is immense, and even somewhat impossible professionally. The taper, the physique, the mindset all must combine for the right moment: a combination, still, eluding Bayden.

With no particular agenda, in the midst aiming for a higher goal, you can imagine my surprise that this combination occurred for Geelong Cross Country Club’s “The Injury Clinic 12,600m Handicap“.

Thursday’s impressive speed track session with Bayden, a small 2.5 km jog on Friday, rest-day Saturday primed my racing form. Annoyingly, I struggled to rest overnight. I forgot my running watch in a rush to reach the race’s payment deadline. Only just there in time, I recounted the horrors of finishing the event second last, knowing that I could do worse than running through injury.

9 am. The start horn blew. I motioned into the warm-up, patiently aware that my handicap stretched my start time another 42:50. Relaxed, without the watch, I was lucky to keep my senses attuned to the appropriate start-time.

Off the mark, I felt weary and more or less concerned. My back, through the warm-up, remained an ongoing weak point, accentuated by the track sessions. I focused on form and enjoying the conditions.

Compared to last year, the weather amazed! The whole landscape was bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun. The bucolic backdrop soaked the winterly rain, yielding a gentle running surface and buffeting the increasing morning temperatures.

Without data, the speed is an unknown. The first 4 km must have flown by in 3:45-3:50’s region. I just came good. I ran down a number of starters, almost at one every twenty seconds. As I rounded the reservoir, the winds were even in my favor.

5 km in and a short steep pinch spiked the heart rate. I floated for recovery. I reflected, perhaps as I usually do, that I would be happy at this point to finish. No thoughts came to mind about the impending result. A large 1 km gap to the next set of runners and the drinks station at 6 km brought to question why I had not been passed.

Into 8 km, I recovered possibly back into 4:00’s and found I still had not been passed. Ahead a large cluster of runners, I normally never pass, seemed motionless. Like before, the starters disappeared in wake every twenty seconds, albeit encouraging my form and my performance.

A count at 11 km indicated 13th. Having never even experienced even a top ten, I wasn’t particularly planning a victory speech. I kept form consistent, and prior to descending the reservoir wall, found myself surprisingly in third. I pushed the body, edging near reasonable limits.

Without disaster I reached second. I dashed harder. The finish line eluded among the trees.

First place missed my grasp. The difference: two seconds.

I was happy.

Honestly, I had no idea what I had placed at the time. I can only write this in retrospect and first place, I later learnt, had an additional minute head-start. Their penalty was my gain. Hooray for the first ever Negative Split race win!

My appreciation and thanks goes to the competitors, club and sponsors at the Geelong Cross Country Club.

Wurdiboluc Reservoir Race

12.6 km @ 4:10 min /km

1st | 52:34