I'm so lax!

Oh boy am I lax!
The half and been and gone. Note to self: a fleece costume with full head piece is not appropriate running gear for a steaming hot day!


I did my slowest ever half I think. I couldn't see properly out of the eyes after I poured water over my head and it was steaming hot underneath!


The crowd support was really good - especially the kids - and only a few people mistook me for a rubber duck and only one boy thought I was a chicken.


I'm now concentrating on repairing my hip and getting a good base rather than roaring around doing what ever takes my fancy. I've already had to remind myself I can't do a marathon and, worse still, a 68ker!


My next event is a 5k! What luxury! Should be short and sweet.

Arthur's Half

Well I didn't even qualify for slow runner! I walked it due to huge hip pain. Still it means I probably got to enjoy the views more than the runners. It's a really good course with enough challenge to keep it interesting. It started at Shadbolt Park in Green Bay and meandered around the edge of New Lynn, through Glen Eden, along West Coast Road and then left the marathon course and headed uphill for 5ks! - Carter Road and Shaw Road to Scenic Drive. The Half course then rejoined the marathon course and we met up with the tail end Charlie - he ended up winning the trophy for perseverance. We travelled up and down along Scenic Drive until it hit the roundabout with the Dr Seuss type sculptures in Titirangi. After marching past the cafe society enjoying the fine weather it was downhill - down Titirangi and Godley Roads. Godley Road was soooooo long but we finally came to Portage Rd and the finish was in sight for us - not so for the marathoners, they had a horror 7k loop to complete before they were done.

The weather was brilliant and the only fly in the ointment was that they decided to remove the first drink stop - the one prior to the big climb - before we got there - thank heavens for camelbacks! The drink stops were about every 6k so it was a long hot climb to the second one which fortunately was still there.

The prize-giving was well run with breaks for food and spot prizes between presentations - I won some compression socks - do I look like Paula Radcliffe! Don't think they are really me!

What to wear?

I'm down to three or four choices for my costume for the adidas half. One is probably not a goer because a crucial part would set me back around $300! I'll have to try the various options for ease of motion.

Simon and Dan Hunter are conspiring together on a costume which will be 'interesting'. It may even give me the opportunity to keep up with them, at least until I peel off for the park and they carry along towards the long trek around the bays....and back.

Just found out that the cut-off for Arthur's half is .....4 hours so it definitely looks a goer. No costume but!

Trying out Arthur's Half

I decided to try out Arthur's Half route today! I started in Titirangi so I could finish there and go to a cafe for lunch. The first half went well. It was down hill or flat. I made it quite happily to Glen Eden and bought two slices of ginger crunch there as my glycogen levels were feeling a bit depleted. I ate one then and saved the other one for later on. West Coast road was long but not too boring....and then I hit Carter Road! It is uphill nearly all the way to Shaw Road - 4kms! It goes up over 130m to Scenic Drive.
Scenic Drive was OK, just had to hug the edges and slosh through a bit of mud. Heading from centennial Drive to titirangi Village always seems further than I remember - a bit depressing.
I was glad to get into the village and sit down for some pasta salad and a yummy latte. I also managed to beat the rain - brilliant.
A bit more hill training and I'll be ready for Arthur's Half and Auckland should be heaps easier!

Inspired again!

After the lows of Rotorua, the Gold Coast marathon has inspired me again. I'm thinking of doing Arthur's Half in September and Three Bridges marathon in December (I owe it to Mel).
I've been to the cross-training seminar at the gym so hopefully I'll get over my running addiction and make use of the resistance and cardio machines!
Now to see if I can train for a marathon and lose weight!

Gold Coast 42k - tick!

We're back from the Gold Coast. I went to do the half and ended up doing the marathon! The day before the event we met Phil C at Harbourtown and he said that he was hoping to get Margaret through her marathon in 7 hours (she's 80!). I thought I can do that!
So in pouring rain I went back to the registration tent and once Simon had retrieved my race number from the apartment I upgraded. The girl on the counter was very surprised - most people were downgrading!
The race day dawned with pouring rain and winds. Lucky by the time we started it was just slightly overcast and there were a few drizzles.
The event went well with the ladies relaxed and enjoying themselves. The only fly in the ointment was the official who tried to pull us off at 25k. He said we had gone over the cut-off - noone was aware of any such cut-off and Margaret steamed off refusing to be thwarted.
The shock did manage to reduce the number of toilet stops so we made good time and by the next new cut-off we were 1 minute over and by the time Dot and I got to the next cut-off we were under the cut-off time! The organisers had agreed to keep the finish open longer but in the end it was totally unnecessary! Dot and I passed tired entrants as we gently coasted into the finish and Margaret and entourage finished under cut-off time too!
All the stress was forgotten by evening and we had a good story to dine out on. Most of the support workers were fantastic - encouraging and caring. Our 'tail end Charlie' woman on her scooter was a real star.
I came through feeling great and even managed a day at Movie World the next day no problem!

Intervals, intervals...and more intervals

Having never really got the point of intervals I've now become a convert! I had to force myself on my run a few days ago to keep the pace and not change to an intervals session. They are just more entertaining, the boredom of the constant plod plod is broken up by the occasional gallopy gallop (and associated gasps of air). Whereas I used to promise myself after this 100m, 500m or k you can have a walking break it's become a case of 'another 200m and you can speed up for a 100ms'. My most exciting intervals were at the gym on the treadmill when i cranked it up to 14kph! That 150m flew by and fortunately I didn't fly off the end of the treadmill.

Only 8 days until the Gold Coast! I'm looking forward to it - especially a bit of sun! It will certainly be a case of spot the pasty Kiwis!

Counting down to the Gold Coast

It's 16 days until the Gold Coast Marathon (or half in my case). I've been doing really well with my training and actually quite enjoying it (don't tell anyone!).

This half marathon lark is becoming a habit! I keep feeling like I should do the full Monty but then i try to tap into the memories of my hideous Rotorua and thankfully the feeling goes away!

I've put my name down on the list at the Gym of women doing Auckland. I felt a bit pathetic saying I'm doing the half but it's all for that Roadster number so I can cope.
I've entered Auckland - hurray! Now I have to think of a costume. It needs to be comfortable, able to be run in and not too hot - pajamas!