We were up around 7.30 and set off at 8. It's only a 10min train journey into Sydney (though it was a 2km/20min walk to the station!)

As we arrived at James Park there were 1000s of people, there was music playing & it was a great atmosphere. Our official start time was 9.05 but it was 9.15 as I crossed the start line. The first few hundred metres is downhill and trough a tunnel, as I came out of the tunnel David Bowies Lets Dance was playing. Then the hills started. I'd been told about heartbreak hill which is around 8km in, I hadn't been told it starts at 6km in but the 4km before it are also uphill! And it lasts until 10km in - so basically 8 of the 14km are uphill!!!! It's not that steep, it's just long!!!!!

The views were great though, and every 500-1000m there were bands playing & it was a great atmosphere. It was bright and sunny and around 16oC (though it felt warmer!). I was really pleased to get to 10k & was starting to enjoy it when slpat! Someone stepped out in front of me, I tripped and hit the deck! Ouch! Still I carried on, and it helped it was mainly downhill from 11km and it felt great to turn the corner just after 12km and see Bondi Beach! It was less great that they make you double back - that last km felt long!!! But I made it to the end with a time of 1hour 46 ranking just over half way for females in my age group :)

I collected my medal, got patched up by St. John's ambulance and went for a lie down on the beach before Pam and I went for a well deserved drink. If someone had have told me a year ago I'd be living in Australia, doing a 14km run, in Sydney to Bondi, and then I'd go out drinking in my gym kit, I'd never have believed them!!