Thanks to his ever-vigilant Carlton teammate Jeremy Laidler and his trusty camera, Sam was filmed preparing for the run, taking off at the starter’s gun and proudly sporting a medal beyond the finish line - in what is clearly another significant moment for the 24 year-old rookie, who has overcome his battle with testicular cancer.
In posting a time of 73 minutes and 43 seconds, big Sam said that he was admittedly a tad sore for the run, but declared that he “pulled up pretty well really”.
“I’ve been back in training for the best part of three to four weeks now, but this was really the first time I extended myself. I wasn’t worried about my time and I certainly wasn’t out to set any records, but I had good fun,” Sam explained.
“There was 85,000 people running, I was probably the 70,000th to take off and I finished around 15,000th overall, which sounds pretty good when you’ve beaten 70,000 home.”
Next on Sam’s “to do” list is a 120-kilometre ride for the Amy Gillett Foundation in mid-September for the Amy Gillett Foundation, and Jeremy Laidler will be amongst a select group of Carlton players also committing foot to pedal. As Sam adds: “This is all money in the bank for me”. . . it’s about getting a good aerobic base in for next year without being silly about it”.
Come October, Sam will join the boys on the annual footy trip, before making for Mexico where an old Norwood mate Dylan Pfitzner will exchange vows.
It’s all in keeping with the grand plan of getting his mind and body right for the 2013 pre-season and beyond - not that the mindset has ever really been a concern.
To view Jeremy Laidler’s film of Sam Rowe’s experience in the City2Surf, click here.
