tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14771943798294929622024-03-14T19:14:40.043+13:00Running MadRunning Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-67567037689502530522012-08-17T09:29:00.001+12:002012-08-17T09:30:30.239+12:00Palmy Half in the ManawatuIt was a wet day, having rained overnight and still drizzling as I set off for the Start/finish line at the Massey campus.
<P>I caught up with Monz before the 101 Class group warmup at 9.20am. There was some light jogging, followed by some drills. Then we had a group photo taken just outside the Sport Manawatu marquee.
<P>Race started at 10am, and we were off. It would rain off and on throughout the course, and by the time I was heading back from the race course through towards the Esplanade, I was well and truly soaked.
<P>My knee held up despite some pain. The last hill up towards the finish line at the final 1km stretch was mean. It was going to be my heartbreak hill, but I battled it and managed to get over it, even managing to sprint the final 150m into the finish chute.
<P>To mark the 30th anniversary of the Palmy Half, everyone was awarded a nice bright shiny commemorative medal.Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-91780496474229591402012-06-14T10:30:00.000+12:002012-06-14T10:30:03.940+12:00Club event 5kmClub event with 5km and 10km options.Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-39556332766759563222012-01-30T13:24:00.002+13:002012-01-30T13:26:43.314+13:00Hooper Loop Trail RaceEven though the day before was ominous with dark clouds and patches of rain, race day dawned bright and clear and we were all optimistic that the weather was going to be favourable for racing.<br /><br />We got to registration and checked in and got our packs checked and signed off on. For the 12km Hooper Loopers, we had to carry some compulsory gear which included: polyprop top, hat, gloves, map of the area and windproof/rain jacket. All of that fit into my hydration pack – I had about 750ml of water as well.<br /><br />We watched the Jumbo-Holdsworth runners off at 8am, then we were off from the trail head at 8.30am. The first bit was easy – fairly flat with some undulations before we hit River Ridge track which was the steep uphill bit. It seemed to go on and on forever. We must have been climbing for about 45-60minutes, though I’m not really sure. It was so tough going that I never even had a chance to look at my watch as I pushed and pulled myself up over and around tree roots. I was lucky that during this hard bit of the race, I had some company – one behind me, and about 2 just slightly ahead of me, so I could follow them pretty much, but occasionally when I lost sight of them, I had to keep my eye on the orange tags nailed into the trees to make sure I didn’t wander off and get lost. Near the top the wind was quite strong, but we were pretty well protected by the bush around us. It was very cold wind – but that was very much welcomed, as it was like air conditioning on our over worked and over heated bodies! <br /><br />When I got to the top I was greeted by a marshalling team (second and last checkpoint) and started running as it was starting to flatten out. I was surprised how fresh my legs were. Climbing obviously uses different muscle groups from running on a flat. Pig’s Flat was called that for a reason. It was mostly broadwalk, but it was flat until we got to Gentle Annie, which was the fun downhill bit. Running has never felt easier! <br /><br />At the almost last downhill, I rolled my right ankle quite severely, limped it out but kept running. It came right – I was relieved I didn’t injure it badly. The last 1km was a flat sprint to the finish line just outside of Holdsworth Lodge. The organiser for this year, Liz, was there at the finish line to congratulate the finishers and shook everyone’s hand. That was a nice touch.<br /><br />A BBQ lunch was provided –bread and sausages with fresh vegetables and fried onions and mushrooms.<br /><br />It was an amazing experience and we all enjoyed ourselves even though we were exhausted! We might just be back next year!<br /><br />Just before the race (I was pretty nervous!):<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAdqARdIMZI/TyXjrIplpDI/AAAAAAAAACo/dDsPvpXEEew/s1600/DSCN0554.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lAdqARdIMZI/TyXjrIplpDI/AAAAAAAAACo/dDsPvpXEEew/s320/DSCN0554.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703214833330398258" /></a>Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-64142131953906517762011-11-01T14:23:00.005+13:002011-11-01T15:30:24.059+13:00Not a walk in the park: AKL Half marathonJohn and I were up at the crack of dawn so that we could make it down Queen St to catch the ferry sailing across to Davenport where the start line was. We made the 5.10am ferry, so that gave us plenty of time before the start of our event. It was quite a buzz to be amongst so many people, all preparing for a big run.<br /><br />The organisers did a good job with the number of port-a-loos available, but there was still quite a long queue prior to the start of the race. I guess it's always going to be a logistical problem with over 8,000 participants looking to empty their bladders at around the same time.<br /><br />Just before the start, I embedded myself in the middle of the pack - it was hard to see much past all the other bodies cramped around mine, a bit of a disadvantage being so short I guess.<br /><br />The race started at 7am and we were off. It was a calm cool morning, but the sun had risen and it was certain to get much warmer as the morning progressed. The first part of the route was "undulating" (as described in the route info.... An experienced <br />friend who had done Auckland before described it as "hilly"). So prior to the race, I was trying to ascertain the exact definition of "undulating" - for example, how steep does it really get? How long are the uphill parts?<br /><br />But even in my darkest imaginings, I did not appreciate what a toll the "undulating" parts of the first half would take on my body. I felt fine while I was doing the hilly bits, and seemed to be on target for a decent time right up to the 10km mark, but by the time I got to the start of the Harbour Bridge, I was feeling the fatigue. <br /><br />I knew that once I got over the bridge, I would only have just under 6km to go, and I had been told that the rest of the route would be completely flat. So I pushed myself up the bridge, one step in front of the other, refusing to stop even as bodies around me peeled off as more and more people started walking the bridge incline (it was also getting pretty hot by then). I was feeling pretty chuffed when I finally got to the top of the bridge, even mustering up the energy for a quick cheeky thumbs-up and smile for the camera. What came after that was a whole lot uglier....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdXa2odos-w/Tq9RoFT30XI/AAAAAAAAACQ/rp1MDMZkIkY/s1600/topbridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fdXa2odos-w/Tq9RoFT30XI/AAAAAAAAACQ/rp1MDMZkIkY/s320/topbridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669840204944888178" /></a><br /><br />Just past the bridge was a little loop which seemed to go on forever. I could see runners heading back on the other side of the road, which only meant there was a turnaround point coming up, but I'd turn a corner and would still be unable to see the turnaround point. And right up to the turnaround point was a bit of an uphill incline. Only, it felt more like scaling Mt Everast. That's when I started to fall apart mentally. And when I finally got to the turnaround point, my body had disconnected completely from my brain and was no longer receiving the messages of encouragement to keep moving - it was only transmitting pain signals. My calves started to cramp up and every time my feet hit the ground, it felt like hot needles were shooting up my legs. I gulped down as much Powerade as I could at the final water station (16km), but it did not seem to refresh me at all.<br /><br />The final 5.2km was slow and painful (at least it truly was completely flat by then). The finish was pretty cool though. The crowd that lined the sides carried me through the final 500meters into the finish chute. It was finally over! And despite the struggle and agony, I felt pretty good at having completed it and having been part of a record crowd of some 15,500 participants in all events.<br /><br />As the organisers had promised - it was more than just a race, it was an experience. As for whether I would do it again next year? Hmmmm... You'll have to ask me when my sore bits are no longer sore.<br /><br />Not a pretty sight (at finish):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5_pgvPbFzE/Tq9XOivSOMI/AAAAAAAAACc/3UrEt_thEzo/s1600/finish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 263px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5_pgvPbFzE/Tq9XOivSOMI/AAAAAAAAACc/3UrEt_thEzo/s320/finish.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669846363237660866" /></a>Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-4269321142193730692011-05-16T13:16:00.002+12:002011-05-16T13:41:51.256+12:00Full circle: Curves to VauthierHas it been a year? How time flies. <br /><br />A year ago I marked my re-entry into formal running events with the Curves to Curves 21.6km run. This year's event was sponsored by Vauthier, and I chose to do the half option which is a 13km run from Bunnythorpe back into town.<br /><br />The day started out with blue skies even though the weather forecast had been predicting stormy rainy weather. On the bus We even joked about how wrong the weather people had been... but upon arrival at Bunnythorpe, the skies darkened considerably and we could see that rain was in store before the day is over.<br /><br />It was drizzling slightly off and on when we started at 9.30am. But just as I arrived at Kelvin Grove, the heavens opened up and it simply poured with rain. By the time I reached the Bridle track, there were puddles everywhere.<br /><br />Overall it was a good challenging run, and a good event with bananas and sausages for everyone at the finish.Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-52242155523665693412011-04-21T08:27:00.002+12:002011-04-21T08:46:01.179+12:00Inaugural local eventThe classic (cycling) race on April 16th went well though it was quite a different experience for me to ride mostly on my own throughout most of the final relay leg of the 160km race around the Manawatu country roads.<br /><br />Team Saddle Bags made a effort - we had a proper team meeting 2 weeks ago and everything... sorting out the logistics of getting ourselves and our bikes to the transition points at the right time. But there was a major flaw to our plan - we underestimated ourselves. And at the last minute, we had to scramble when we realised there was a hole in our plan. Or maybe someone just decided to do something else completely. <br /><br />In any case, being the last rider, I got to my transition point 20minutes after the last rider had arrived, so the minute I got my bike off the car rack, I was off. Ten minutes into my ride, it started raining.... and it did not stop once throughout my entire ride. <br /><br />We were clearly in the back of the pack. I passed 4 riders very early on just outside of Colyton, but was completely on my own until the finish. And so I arrived in town completely soaked, no other riders around me, and a few marshalls braving the rain awaiting the final stragglers. An appropriate end to a very lonely ride...Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-38776318181890083522011-04-04T10:58:00.002+12:002011-04-04T11:04:14.415+12:00Weekend event at Waitarere BeachThe Great Forest 2011 event sponsored by Brooks was held at Waitarere Beach just outside of Foxton/Levin on Saturday, Apr 2nd. Claiming to be NZ’s premier off road running and walking event, there was a variety of options available, from 5km to a full marathon. This year attracted a crowd of around 2000 runners and walkers.<br /><br />I set off towards Foxton Beach from Palmy just after 8am. It was slightly chilly but it was a clear day without a cloud in sight, and so as the sun rose behind me, the day promised to get a lot hotter! I got there in plenty of time to pick up my race pack (which was pretty much just my race number and timing chip). There were already food stalls and a coffee barista operating out of the back of a specially fitted car boot/trunk. It was a pretty festive carnival-like atmosphere, complete with a big top which housed Registration. <br /><br />The event centre(big top) was just at the edge of the Matariki Forest, and the run would take us through a mixed terrain through the forest, mostly hard packed gravel and clay, some loose sandy bits, a stretch of soft pine needles, with a short sprint finish through a grassy patch. I opted for the 10km run, and caught up with a couple of friends who had been my teammates in the round-lake-Taupo relay run. I knew Bernie was going to be slightly faster than me, and so I tried to hang onto her from the very start for as long as I could. By the 6km mark, I was surprised to find myself still keeping pace. It started to become a mental game, and I clung on (by my finger nails, I think). The last 2km was painful – we were out of the forest by then and the sun was blistering. I finished 18 seconds behind Bernie, and set my own personal best which I was quite happy about.<br /><br />It was a brilliant day for running – no wind, though a bit hot by mid morning. The course was excellent – scenic, but you had to watch your step with loose bits of gravel and uneven surfaces. Not too hard for a clutz like me to fall flat on my face, which fortunately didn’t happen though it nearly did. The toilet facilities were also excellent – no port-a-loos, instead there were a couple of trailers with proper clean flush toilets. Always a good thing, as I don’t do port-a-loos.<br /><br />Overall, it was a very good day for all of us. I hope to be back next year!Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-1355321336267201822011-02-14T09:06:00.006+13:002011-02-14T10:00:00.047+13:00Athletics track events: M GamesThe weather over the weekend couldn’t have been better for a camping-type weekend. Even though there was a hitch with the borrowed tent (i.e: I didn’t know what went where and how it all worked...) So I had to play damsel in distress. My knight in shining armour had a wooden leg, but he was a very nice guy and together we managed to get the tent up. That was a relief!<br /><br />Friday evening the first event was the 1500m. I wasn’t sure how it would go. I hadn’t timed myself for that distance in a long time and I was a bit nervous about the competition and the pace. But it worked out OK when I finished with the Gold. Later on, I collected the Bronze for the 200m. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdHhsNZNWKU/TVg6ngZNOEI/AAAAAAAAABg/n3SfzSINCic/s1600/P2110005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdHhsNZNWKU/TVg6ngZNOEI/AAAAAAAAABg/n3SfzSINCic/s320/P2110005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573268989255956546" /></a><BR><span style="font-style:italic;"><Center>Just after winning the 1500m (Gold)</Center></span><br /><br />Saturday morning’s event was the 400m. By then I had gotten to know a few of the other competitors and between events would hang out chatting and watching the other races with them. The 400m was a tough race but managed to grab the Silver. I was pretty happy with that as it was a close one and I almost dropped that spot at the end.<br /><br />I left the stadium around lunchtime and wandered around Wanganui’s main street where I was quite tickled by the fact that some things have not changed since I lived there back in 1998/1999. Some of the shops were exactly as I remembered – or some with minor changes. There were differences too, of course, but everything looked like it had been spruced up a bit more.<br /><br />After lunch, I was back into the serious business of my next event in the afternoon. The 100m was fast and furious. I came off the blocks fast (which surprised me) and was off to a good start but lost some ground around the 40 or 50m mark when my heel started to hurt. I barely clung on to finish with the Silver. The pain became increasingly worse, so I went to the Games Village to see a physio. He said I tore something in my foot. I forgot what exactly. Well, I can’t pronounce it anyway. He did an ultrasound on my foot, then strapped it up and told me to rest it.<br /><br />Overnight, I agonised over my last event – the 800m on Sunday. Should I pull out? Should I run anyway? Would I aggravate the injury if I ran? Would I always regret it if I pulled out?<br /><br />Sunday morning, I got up early to dismantle the tent. The foot was no better, but I headed to the stadium anyway. Once there, I realised I was never going to pull out before I even started. So I found myself on the start line for the 800m. Within the first 300m, I knew I was not going to be able to keep up and dropped off the pace and had to be content with holding second. I finished with the Silver and though I was disappointed at what could have been a Gold, I was happy I started and finished the race.<br /><br />So 3 days, 5 events, 1 Gold, 3 Silvers and 1 Bronze medals (+ an injured foot).<br /><br />Overall it was a great weekend, met some really cool people and I had a blast!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2Co0EDINpg/TVg6Wbt_mKI/AAAAAAAAABY/03Jqw1KfrBI/s1600/P2130018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2Co0EDINpg/TVg6Wbt_mKI/AAAAAAAAABY/03Jqw1KfrBI/s320/P2130018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573268695943190690" /></a><BR><span style="font-style:italic;"><Center>My weekend haul</Center></span>Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-23286200561370592652011-02-05T15:53:00.003+13:002011-02-05T16:08:25.542+13:00Masters Games DuathlonI got up early this morning (too early!) to prepare for the race and make the 75km drive over to Wanganui. It was a rainy and dreary morning, though when I left it was only raining lightly and I was hopeful that it would be dry over in Wanganui.<br /><br />There wasn't much traffic on the road that early in the morning, but as I drove towards Wanganui, the clouds became greyer and greyer and it wasn't just raining at some spots, it was pouring cats and dogs.<br /><br />Fortunately it was only lightly drizzling when I got into town and made my way over to the start point. I was one of the early arrivals. The briefing was supposed to start at 8am, and I wanted to make sure I made it. It turned out I shouldn't have worried about it - the briefing didn't start till 8.45am, 15mins before we were due to start.<br /><br />I did meet a couple of women from Auckland, though, which was nice. We chatted the time away and made me forget my nerves for a bit!<br /><br />When we started it was drizzling, so got a bit wet, but it dried up quite quickly. The first 5km run leg headed back towards town with a turn around at Kowhai Park. It was a 2.5km loop which we had to do twice. A part of it was on a soft shellrock track (easier on my knees!) and the other part was on road.<br /><br />The 30km bike leg was also a double loop, each loop was 15km. It was fairly flat, which was good!<br /><br />The final 5km run leg was a repeat of the first leg. Getting off the bike and trying to run was tough. The double loop did my head in a bit. And everything was definately hurting. I just tried to keep moving.<br /><br />Not sure what my time was, but I brought home the gold medal! I haven't won any medals since high school!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0lsRpPc47R0/TUy-qzjVTkI/AAAAAAAAABQ/kVB_1Tm4AVM/s1600/P2050007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0lsRpPc47R0/TUy-qzjVTkI/AAAAAAAAABQ/kVB_1Tm4AVM/s320/P2050007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570036481752649282" /></a>Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-66010969654909590232010-12-13T10:47:00.002+13:002010-12-13T11:01:03.095+13:00Three for threeMy third event in 3 weeks was the Wanganui (3 Bridges) half marathon on Saturday (Dec 11th).<br /><br />I was worried about the heat, but it turned out to be an overcast day with a slight wind. The start finish line was at the Boat Club. Other race options were 5km, 10km, and the full marathon (walk and run). The half marathon was a 2 lap loop around the 3 bridges - Dublin, City/Victoria and Cobham. I took the first lap slow, but started to surge after the first lap. I was feeling pretty good around the 12-14km mark. For the final 2km, I was already moving, so even though it started to hurt, I kept pushing through till the finish.<br /><br />The plan was to do slightly better than my Taupo time, but it ended up exactly the same - 2 hours 5mins. It felt like a really good run, so I was a little disappointed with the time. But I suppose it's pretty good considering the longest training run I've done since my last half was a 70min run. I need to train smarter, I think. And more speedwork obviously needed.<br /><br />It started to spit just as I was finishing my first lap, but it never got too heavy until we were all sitting on the grass at the finish waiting for prize giving. It drizzled and I got pretty cold sitting there waiting without a jacket. Turns out I should have just gone home. I think everyone who was there won a spot prize except me :(Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-74834850240939765352010-12-06T10:22:00.005+13:002010-12-06T13:54:29.278+13:00Two events in one week<strong>Taupo Cycle Challenge</strong> (Nov 27th, 2010)<br /><br />We did this as a team of 4, with me completing the 4th and final leg. The route was a lot of fun, with a few long downhill. There were the uphill parts too of course. Hatape Hill was a heartbreaker. Because it was so hot, many people got off their bikes to walk it. The temperature on the day soared to 32degrees. I was very tempted to stop as well (several times), but hung in there barely and somehow by a miracle got over it.<br /><br />The rest of the route into Taupo main center was great, particularly at the finish line.<br /><br />Our team time was 7:26:12 with my individual time at 1:57:20<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0lsRpPc47R0/TPw0Na9nUfI/AAAAAAAAABA/IuTUX1SFeg8/s1600/hatape3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0lsRpPc47R0/TPw0Na9nUfI/AAAAAAAAABA/IuTUX1SFeg8/s320/hatape3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547366246194303474" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Old West Road Race</strong> (Dec 3rd 2010)<br /><br />This 10.6k run is an informal run between Massey and AgResearch staff. It was a hot day on Friday, but managed to finish in 61:53 (unofficial time for now), beating my last year's time of 65:35.Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-39356479052491719172010-09-06T06:21:00.001+12:002010-09-09T15:12:47.484+12:00Off road at Kinloch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0lsRpPc47R0/TIhQpC4hAlI/AAAAAAAAAA4/M5XweR8H2sc/s1600/05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 202px; height: 303px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_0lsRpPc47R0/TIhQpC4hAlI/AAAAAAAAAA4/M5XweR8H2sc/s320/05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514746409793946194" /></a><br />My first off road half marathon.... and I am hooked.<br /><br />The Mizuno off road half marathon event was held in Kinloch, about 20km from Taupo. Kinloch is a gorgeous little get-away place with many beautiful holiday homes in the area.<br /><br />The course was over an undulating terrain with two fairly gentle but long climbs and a large part of it was over the W2K mountain bike track. I was rather surprised to be feeling quite good in the first half of the race after the initial steady climb. Despite wiping out once quite early in the race, I picked myself up (with the aid of a couple people behind me) and kept going.<br /><br />My calf muscles started to protest somewhere in the middle part of the race but I adjusted my running and ignored it the best I could. There were a few amazing views at the top when we finally got there - looking over at the lake, which was a good distraction from the pain.<br /><br />The final 4km was pretty rough but I worked through it and turning the last corner and seeing the finish line was the best thing ever. I finished in 2:30:27, and just about gulped down a bucketful of GU drinks and water, and stuffed a chocolate fish which they were handing out, into my mouth.<br /><br />It would have been good to carry some water with me. I had thought I would be OK without water for a half event in such cool weather, but that probably contributed to the calf cramps. It wasn't until we were walking back to the bach when I fell onto the side of the road - with severe calf cramps in both legs. It felt better after stretching it out, but it's pretty sore even two days after the event.<br /><br />So, will I do an off road event again? Hell yes.<br /><br />(Event on Sept 4th 2010)Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-14009717220433480592010-08-02T08:59:00.000+12:002010-08-02T09:37:06.671+12:00August 1st Taupo half - my first official halfThe weather wasn’t the greatest. It was overcast and there was a slight wind coming in from the lake. But at least it didn’t rain (not till later anyway). I started in the back of the 5th wave and tried to settle into a steady pace within the first 3km. That was hard to do with that downhill bit right off the start line. But I think I managed to stay disciplined and keep to my pace.<br /><br />My first 5km split was slower than I would have liked it to be, but picking up the pace after the 10km marker wasn’t really an alternative either. I did put in a few short surges, overtaking a few people on the narrow footpath as we headed back into Taupo, but would settle back into a steady pace until the last 2km when I tried to sprint it. I passed as many people as I could on that last hill and through into the finish line. It was strong finish which I was happy with, but when I noted my time, it left me wondering if I didn’t give it as much as I could have throughout the earlier parts of the race. My legs felt like they didn’t quite belong to me towards the end (they seemed to have a mind of their own), and at the finish my left knee was so sore I was walking with a limp. But that cleared up quickly enough after I walked around a bit more.<br /><br />Overall, I think it was a good course. It was fairly flat, and I was already anticipating that last hill – which really wasn’t too hard to do when you know the finish line is only 500m away. I did push through some pain towards the end, but I guess for my first official half marathon, I did an OK job.Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-91653515070736767612010-07-05T09:30:00.000+12:002010-07-05T09:34:51.281+12:0010km club eventRan the 10km event sponsored by the local running club yesterday. The weather could not have been more perfect - it was a sunny, crisp cool winter's morning. Excellent conditions for running. It was also a relatively flat, fast course.Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1477194379829492962.post-60214254458115972892010-06-16T08:45:00.000+12:002010-06-16T08:47:43.255+12:00PreviousSome of the previous events going back to my first cycle event in August 2009:<br /><br />Cycle: Fielding Festival: 20km August 20/09<br />Cycle: Hunterville: 43Km October 24/09<br />Cycle: Rotorua Bike the lake: 42km Nov 8/09 (1hr 42min)<br />Cycle: Lake Taupo Challenge (team) 40km Nov 28/09 (1:56 second leg)<br /><br />Run: Old West Road Race:10km Dec 4/09<br /><br />Cycle: Taranaki Round the mountain (team)(36km) Jan 16/10<br /><br />Duathlon: Palmerston North Women’s Tri (3km/12km/2km) Finished 6th Feb 27/10<br /><br />Cycle: Mangatanoika bush cycle 60km Mar 14/10 (2 hours 42min)<br />Cycle: Rotorua-Taupo Flyer 50km (team) March 27/10<br /><br />Run: Curves to curves 21.6km run May 16/10Running Madhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13915962487539143619noreply@blogger.com0