Mount Stromlo: Location of the ANU's Observatory, favoured by mountain bikers, and home to countless ducks, cockatoos, and inquisitive kangaroos. Rain was forecast. Lots of it. So when our crew arrived to set up, we were relieved to find it not raining. “Who knows? Perhaps it will be a nice day” we said to ourselves. The ground was sodden from the previous day's rain, with large puddles at the edge of the grassy Robert de Castella Cross Country Running Track which was our start and finish point.
The rain held off, but we faced other difficulties. The megaphone wasn't working! I set it down, it began to make a low, discontented crackling sound. This was the only noise it made all day. So as a result, I had to shout a lot.
Then a stiff, cold breeze picked up. Our finish arch began to wave about in an ungainly manner. Concerned that its flailing about might harm the race clock, or a passerby, we took it down as soon as the races all started.
In the 2km race, Tara Holmes (under 17) took the line honours overall in 7:31, and set a new Girls Under 17 course record in the process. Felix Botticchio (under 13) was fastest boy in 08:42.
Further course records tumbled in the 6.3km race. Kodi Clarkson was the men’s winner, breaking his own course record from last year, with his super-swift 21:40. Sarah King also lowered the women's record, winning the race in a fine 26:33, while Shiree Yap busted the F50-59 previous best time with her fleet-of-foot 31:26.
The 15.4km race amongst the men was a reprise of the Cooleman Clip, with Bradon Suter (58:44) setting a new men’s best time, and edging out Brayden Clews-Proctor (59:06) for first place – though this time by a slimmer margin than in Race 1 of the Series. Ian Prosser in the M60-69 also bested the age group record for this course with his winning 1:18:13.
Sarah Parkins was the fastest woman in the 15.4km with 1:10:25. Special mention to all our over 70 finishers: Peter Allen and John Harding in the 6.3km race, and Peter Clarke, John Kennedy and Diana Schneider in the 15.4km.
And thanks and congratulations to all the mothers who celebrated Mother's Day with us at the Stromlo Strides.