20.11.2009

ONE WEEK TO GO - Great Australian Run

 

There’s only one week to go to the Great Australian Run!

Thousands of runners, joggers and walkers of all abilities are gearing up for Australia’s premier 15km road race on Sunday, 29 November.

Entries close at 8pm this Thursday, 26 November, so if you or your friends haven’t entered yet, what are you waiting for!

And if you have kids why not enter them in the junior (ages 11-14) or family (ages 3-10) events on Saturday, 28 November - a great weekend of fun and fitness!

Special Athletics Australia offer for the first ten people who enter the Great Australian Run today!

The first ten people to email info@greataustralianrun.com.au and quote ‘Athletics Australia‘, along with their contact details and entry confirmation number will receive:

-          Two double passes to the exclusive Great Australian Run Runner’s Forum

Hosted by Steve Moneghetti, the Great Australian Run Runner’s Forum on the evening of November 27 will provide guests with a special insight into the world of international distance running.

The stars of the Great Australian Run will be present including Olympic marathon champions Sammy Wanjiru and Stefano Baldini, Australian distance star Benita Willis, Olympic bronze medallist Deena Kastor, and the winner of the world marathon majors Irina Mikitenko.

-          A limited edition 2009 Great Australian Run poster signed by the stars of Australian athletics

Autographed by dual world champion Jana Pittman, Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan and world championships bronze medallist Craig Mottram, this is a great collector’s item for any Australian sports fan!

This year everyone is jumping onboard!

 You never know who you might meet on the start line at the 2009 Great Australian Run!

A number of sporting and entertainment celebrities have signed up to participate in this year’s event.

Cathy Freeman, Sonia O’Sullivan and Craig Mottram will be jogging the course, V8 supercar drivers Rick Kelly and Paul Dumbrell will be pulling on the runners, Mieke Buchan from Triple M’S Hot Breakfast, and even Ryan Moloney who plays Toadie on Neighbours will be amongst thousands of runners and joggers lining up on the start line at Albert Park.

The stars of international athletics will also be out in force on the course, with 14 Olympians racing around the streets of Melbourne, including the past two Olympic marathon champions - Kenyan Samuel Wanjiru (Beijing 2008) and Italian Stefano Baldini (Athens 2008).

Beijing Olympians Collis Birmingham and Benita Willis will lead the Australian charge, the event doubling as the Australian Road Running Championships.

Top tips from Buster

With only one week to go to the Great Australian Run, Craig ‘Buster’ Mottram provides us with some of his best preparation and race tips which apply not only to the elites but the casual jogger as well.

One week to go:

-          Now the hard work is done it’s time to relax and let the training come out.

-          Decrease volume and intensity of all runs leading up to the race.

-          Make sure that during this stint of hot weather you drink plenty of water and sports drink high in sodium.

-          Try not to change your diet too much. Stick to the trusty meals that have got you to this point in good health.

-          If you want to focus on a pasta/carbohydrate type diet prior to the race don’t over do it. A couple of pasta based meals in the days leading up to the race is plenty.

-          Keep relaxed. I like to get a few DVD's the day before I race and relax at home. This is a good time to stock up on fluids the day before your race.

-          As well as the DVD's, try and get out for a walk the day before the race, this helps to keep the body active and ready to work hard.

On race day:

-          Rise early and have a light breakfast at least two hours before race start.

-          Take your own toilet paper to the race. No one likes getting into the porta loo and finding there is only a cardboard role left!

-          During the race be conservative. The last 5km is tough. A long stretch up St Kilda road can prove lonely if you’re slowing down. Make sure you are in control and finish strong. It is always a great feeling to be able to pass people in the final kilometres.

-          Lastly relax and have FUN, after all it is a FUN RUN!

 

 Log onto www.greataustralianrun.com.au to register now!