On August 8^th I completed my 11^th City to Surf, approximately 14.5kms.  The 1^st was in 1999 at the invitation of relatives who wanted to do it at the turn of the century. Aside from the early start, it was great fun.  The atmosphere was fantastic.  I decided I wanted to do this every year. 

The four of us completed the course but I was the only one keen to do it again.  The following year I convinced Marie it would a good idea so she came along.  Though pleased she had done it, that was it, “not doing that again” was the familiar cry.    I had the bug.  I wanted to do it every year.  Occasionally I have found someone who will come, just the once, but mostly I go on my own. 

Every year I tell myself that my time doesn’t matter and every year I look at my watch during the race and say to myself  “goodness if I hurry up I can do it under 2 hours again”.  I also compete with strangers on the run.  Conversations with myself go along the following lines “Gosh, he looks nearly 80 surely I can go faster than him” and I pick up the pace.  And (this is true) “my God that women’s got only one leg, surely I can beat her” and so on as I power walk, & jog myself to and through much pain. 

This year I joined in with Simone Thurtell and a group of listeners to ABC Grandstand.  Being the ABC the goodies were minimal, a red cap to run in.

To get there I’m on the train at 4.45am from Cardiff.  Arriving at about 7.15am, there is plenty of time to get organised.  I walk briskly to Hyde Park from Central Station.  Hyde Park is alive, with scores of people milling around.  Some are warming up, others chatting and others obviously waiting for friends.  There is a friendly cheerful buzz happening.   I collect a plastic bag put my gear in, which is then tossed on the truck and taken to meet you at Bondi Beach. One year I caught a later train and missed the truck by just a few minutes.  I was studying at the time and had brought some of my books with me. I rang my husband in Newcastle for a solution, don’t they always have one?  His suggestion was to ask a local hotel.  I did, didn’t work.   My back pack weighed about 14kgs and I had to carry it. I did chat the whole way with a lovely man who actually offered to carry it for me but I soldiered on.  That year was my slowest time. As my old jumpers are all gone, I do freeze a little until the start of the race.  Next year I’ll pinch an old flannel shirt of my husbands.

They give you a chip to tie on your shoe which triggers when you cross the start and ultimately the finish.  This year with the ABC I started in the “Back of the Pack”.  A few more people to weave through and I am already thinking about the extra kms I’m doing with all this dodging.   I swear I never remember how many hills there are.  Just when I think I’ve climbed them all another appears. This year the weather was superb but I had done very little preparation and was feeling the pain quite badly.

The characters on the run are distracting and heaps of fun.  Superman, fairies, pencils, and even an “Abby” from NCIS are hugely entertaining.  Bands play on route and the local inhabitants are outside cheering you along.

Rounding the bend and there was Bondi Beach in all it’s splendour.  Out came the camera for a couple of lovely shots.  Then came the glance at the watch “maybe I’ll still do this under two hours”.  I started to pick up the pace and the pain with it.  I can see the finish; my legs are as heavy as lead but I always have enough left for a sprint home. It’s over I’ve done it but my poor feet are killing me.  I head to the pick up point to collect my gear.   It is very efficient and I have my stuff in but a few moments.  I try to do lots of stretching but the lack of preparation is going to take a toll.  I have a routine which involves a walk to a Hot Bread shop for a pork roll, coffee and a cake then back to the beach to find a spot to rest and enjoy the food.

This part I don’t enjoy – in the queue for the bus to get back to the country train.  You can wait for ages and on tired legs it’s quite agonising.  The next few days are fairly painful but I do recover quite quickly. 

Anxiously I check my time in the Herald on Tuesday 2hrs 04secs, 04secs….bugger.     20secs at least would have been the photos I stopped to take.  Maybe if I can do just one more year under 2hrs I’ll be happy.  City to Surf number 12 here I come.

Carol Clima