July 24 - Running with Mona!
Tonight I headed down to the Nike Running Club for a run, pretty much only because it had been advertised that Steve Monaghetti was leading the run. I wasn't the only person who had the idea as there were about 40 other people there, but not as crowded as prior to a few of the R4TK training sessions.Anyway I signed up to do the 8km run which went along Birrarung Marr, behind the Tennis Centre, over the footbridge and along Jolimont Avenue, and then a lap of Fitzroy Gardens and return.
I had a quick chat to Mona before the run, as I was introduced to him by one of the run leaders I knew, and he is a really nice guy. Anyway we set off, and boy can he run, which really shouldn't surprise me so much. He was doing an easy run after his AV XC efforts on the weekend, and had everybody off the bit.
I stuck in the lead group for the first half of the run, but dropped off a little on the downhill section of Fitzroy Gardens. I didn't drop off too far however and came in about 100m behind the main group, having doen the 8km in 34min30sec at about 4.20 pace.
It was a pleasure having had the opportunity to meet and chat to Mona, especially as I had watched him run on numerous occassions, and I am probably more in awe after seeing the legend up close.
On a sidenote, I don't think I will continue with the Nike runs in their current format, a number of runners think it's a race and have absolutely no running etiquette. I actually saw a few of the girls getting pushed out of the way in parts of the run by these show ponies. Very ordinary form.
posted by Chris @ 9:26 am
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