Almost this time last week it was drizzling with a threat of heavy rain and Naomi and I were making our way to the start line for Bridge to Brisbane.
Last year I was stuck on a bus with the Aussie on the way to see our friend give a speech for quite some time care of the same event. Even though I had participated in several walk/races at this time I don’t think it occured to me that the following year I would participate in the Bridge to Brisbane.
Twelve months later and I was up almost at the crack of dawn on a Sunday no less, to catch a train into the city, to walk to Eagle Street Pier where I met Naomi to catch a ferry across to Captain Burke Park.
Naomi and I sheltered under a canopy for quite some time whilst waiting for the race to start, chatting to a lovely lady who had had her knees replaced and her goal post surgery was to participate in the 5km Bridge to Brisbane. We shared parkrun stories and laughed waiting to get started.
Then probably about 20 minutes before the race started, so did the heavier rain. We got in line in the pink zone, assuming we would take more than 45 minutes to complete the race when I signed us up.
The race began in waves based on the colour of your bib. We set off heading towards one of my favourite landmarks in Brisbane, The Story Bridge. I have never walked over the bridge and have only driven over it by accident when I missed a turn off when following my Satnav! I have to say I was excited to walk over the bridge at long last and we walked across and back which was great.
Then we began the walk towards Southbank. It was at times up hill making me glad I was walking but yet quite satisfied that I was not out of breath too badly.
The further we got into the race the heavier the rain became. It got to the stage that I had to take my glassess off as we walked around Kangaroo Point because the rain was so heavy. We were literally soaked through but kept on plodding.
We hit the 4km mark and started to run, this hadn’t been our intention or plan but it felt good running, especially the downhill bits! The rain was a motivator I think and lead to some funny moments where whilst wiping my eyes because the rain was so heaving that I almost rain into the back of about 3 people. Hasty “sorry sorry sorry” was shouted as I carried on running.
We crossed the finish line in a very happy for me, 43 minutes and 5 seconds. We were just shy of our personal best which was about 20 seconds faster but frankly I didn’t mind. I had completed the Bridge to Brisbane, my muscles were tired in the best way and I am already plotting the next race!