2012 Melbourne Marathon

A calm, cool, clear day greeted the hardy and foolhardy on Sunday, 14th October for the Melbourne Marathon which included the Australian and Victorian Marathon Championships.  Melbourne University Athletics Club was represented in all events on the card with Andrew Selby Smith and Patrick White tackling the full distance.  Selby Smith, running his 11th Melbourne Marathon, and stepping down from his preferred ultra distance clocked 2:53:00 and took 120th place.  White, making his marathon debut after a long sabbatical from running, flew around the course to take 79th place in 2:48:46.
Personal bests were racked up in the half marathon by Zac Newman (6th place, 69:40) and Melissa Nadia Natasha (41st place, 1:31:35).  There was good running by Adam Hannah (1:33:34), David Sulivan (1:28:28), Nathan McBain (1:32:29) and Kate Scarlett (1:43:06).
Mark Kirwan took 9th place in the 10km race in 32:27, whilst Charlie Sheldon claimed 2nd in the 5.7km in 19:08.
Post race recovery was aided by the hospitality of the Melbourne University Sport staff in the University Hub marquee and the plentiful supply of food, drink and massage.
An esteemed cohort of runners reconvened at the Irish Consulate in Fitzroy for polite conversation on matters of great import over cups of tea.