Auckland Half-Marathon

Prior to leaving Canada, I boasted to my running buddies that I would be doing the Auckland Half-Marathon. Therefore, I was disappointed to discover that registration was full before I even landed on kiwi soil! With this news, I admit, I let my training begin to slide...sure, I still ran. I even still ran my long slow distances, but speed intervals - who needs them? Hill repeats? Nope, only Teresa could ever motivate me to do those. And yet three weeks ago, in a moment of insanity, I purchased a registration off TradeMe (the New Zealand version of eBay). I knew there would be no personal bests on race day, but I felt it wasn't everyday you get to run across the Auckland Harbour Bridge!

Race day started at 4:18 am today; although my alarm was set to go off two mintues later, it was the sound of Mikaela heaving that woke me up. As any good mother, I stripped off her soiled cloths and bedding and promptly threw her in bed with her father so I could focus on me. I quickly ate, dressed, and crept out of the house. The overnight rain had all but stopped, I made my way through the remaining misty darkness to catch the ferry. The ride across the harbour was a bumpy one complete with several parking attempts, but I soon disembarked at Devonport on the North Shore of Auckland. Tourism propoganda claims Devonport is scenic, but I'm afraid I didn't give it much of a look; my focus was securing my spot in the port-a-loo line-up. In retrospect, I should have atleast watched the sunrise over the harbour as I waited. There's always next time...

At 6:22 am, I joined the runners at the start. As with every race, there was a nervous energy in the air; People shuffling, adjusting iPods, and fixing their gear just right as we awaited the gun. At exactly 6:30 am, 7500 race participants commenced the 2008 edition of the Auckland Half-Marathon & Marathon. It would appear Auckland's characters were out in form, I saw the local Borat, Dorothy & the Wizard of Oz crew, plus Luke Skywalker and his nemesis Darth Vader. In fact, the image of a practically naked man with Sorry Mum written across his bottom is most likely permanently burned into my brain.

Part of the mental game of every race is the identification of people you can catch and reeling them in, at 3k I chose this little wisp of a woman. Through the rolling hills of the next several kilometers, I had her in my sights and then she was gone. When that happens, you always hope you overtook them without noticing, but deep down you know they are most likely pulling away from you. Perhaps she got away while I was taking in the scenery, it was no Bermuda, but Auckland has its moments ;-) At 16k, I relocated my target and reeled her in. As I caught her, I explained that I'd been chasing her for over and hour and asked if she'd pull away again so I'd need to chase her down again. She graciously declined my offer but ran along with me for a couple kilometers and then sent me on my way. Somehow what little wind was in my sails seemed to desert me only a kilometer or so down the road. I stopped to walk. Within thirty seconds, I felt the push on my back and 'Come-on'. She had rejoined me and escorted me until the paths for the Half & Full Marathons diverged. I am extremely thankful for her intervention and words of encouragement. I crossed the line with a personal worst of 2:18:40. Am I disappointed? Nope. It was the toughest run of my life, no Teresa, no Dave, just me and 7499 other people I'd never met.