Lessons from the Start Line: Lee Morgans Top 6 Rules for Race Day

“Remember the most important thing to choosing the right shoe is choosing your left shoe”

For my first run in 1974, I had a pair of ‘3 striped’ super runs. It was a big expense at the time but from a confidence perspective, my bright blue and gold runners were better to many others who wore tennis shoes when the firing gun went off at the Adelaide Town Hall as some light rain fell. At the time I thought that those optimistic participants with mediocre shoes had a morning off from church as they obviously had plenty of sole (soul)! Rule #1: Wear good running shoes!

Speaking of rain, the 1991 event had appalling wet and windy conditions. I remember the paper number bibs were put to the test down Anzac Highway. Many under prepared runners had to back track and pickup their detached running numbers causing chaos. Coming into the finish line runners, I did a reasonable time of 48:28 – but other competitors had their numbered bibs in their hands, and they looked like modern day postage couriers. Rule #2: Fix your Number Bib well!

For several years in the early 1980’s the race commenced in front of the former “The News” building, on North Terrace. There was no electronic timing in those days, so it was chaotic. An interesting experience was heading up North Terrace with “Less fit or novice” participants coming out of the side alleys as we headed to the AMP corner heading into King William Street. I can still remember some well-meaning spectators (some with children in pushers) at this corner being traumatised by a massive wave of 10,000+ participants heading their way! Thank goodness, the City Bay runs now have electronic timing and a much safer start line and this prevents the surprise of “novice’ runners jumping out from behind bushes and alley ways when doing modern day runs. Rule #3: Keep safe and be patient at the start of the race as the electronic timing records your time accurately.

Over the last 50 years, I have enormous respect for the St John Volunteers. In 1981 for my seventh run, and a father to be, I was super intent to do my best time ever. The weather was very warm 29 degrees, and the water locations were well utilised. Fortunately, I did my best time to that date of 41.41, but unfortunately, I collapsed at the finish line and apparently carted off to the First Aid tent where not only had I experienced the distance from Adelaide to the Bay, but my passing out gave me the feeling of an outer world experience like going to the moon and back! Rule #4: Don’t get too intent on achieving a fast time – after-all it’s a fun run.

In 1998, one of my neighbours Andrew joined me in the fun run. Unfortunately, we separated in the run, and I waited at the end of the fun run. I waited and waited… then nearly an hour later Andrew arrived battered and bruised and he claimed his jogging shoe had a “blow out”. He later admitted that he tripped up with other runners. In 1993, my twelve-year-old son also had a bit of a fall. Rule #5: Keep a safe distance from others as you are running and appreciate our first aid volunteers.

Finally, I have numerous stories of getting to the starting time ‘Just in time’. I recall having an extremely short sleep after my engagement party in 1979. I remember getting to the Adelaide Town Hall starting line one minute after the race had started, and with some fast running weaved around the tail enders and did a time of 43.19.  I recall the trip departing Mt Gambier at 6pm on a Saturday night, staying over in the CBD then doing the run, then returning to the CBD and then driving 5 hours back to Mt Gambier, on the same day. Between 2011 and 2014, I flew down from Alice Springs to partake in the City Bay Fun Run, allowing plenty of time but a significant expense! Some say it is an obsession, but maybe it is called a lifetime commitment to get to that starting line! Rule #6: Ensure that you have make safe prior arrangements and prepare to arrive on time for the start of the City Bay Run.