Diary of a half-marathon
Amonth ago I wrote a column about preparing for my first halfmarathon. I wrote that column for two reasons. I needed a way to make myself accountable, to ensure I actually went through with it. I also thought there might be a few other non-runner participants out there who could relate.
Turns out I was right. The struggle is real for a whole heap of us. I’ve learnt that running is a deeply personal pursuit, but also a powerful way of bringing people together.
I had so many conversations about running the half-marathon in Queenstown after that column was published. The encouragement was fantastic, the advice was timely.
I talked to experienced athletes who warned about the dark places you can visit in the final few kilometres. They were right.
Here’s how it went.
Despite a bleak forecast, conditions couldn’t have been better. Overcast, a bit chilly on the start line, but pretty mild overall.
Running into a friend from university who was doing her second ‘‘half’’ helped the time go by before we headed to the start.
The sight of the Wakatipu rugby team in their Speedos provided some levity.
I ended up well back in a massive crush of runners who were being sent away in waves every four minutes.
Despite the 8am start, it was nearly 8.30am before we crossed the start line. It was great to run into former Stags and Highlanders winger Pailate Fili while we waited in the queue. There was a real buzz about the place, lots of nervous excitement.
I didn’t feel particularly nervous, but I should have.
Eventually we were off. With so many people around, the pace was almost too comfortable, the focus was on not getting tangled up with anyone else and a couple of kilometres had passed in no time at all.
My plan was to run very much within myself and just get through to the end.
Having the family amongst the crowd at Shotover Bridge was a nice surprise, and also gave me the chance to ditch a polyprop.
Knowing they were going to try and be at the marina – about the 14km mark – gave me something to look forward to.
The 10km-to-go sign was a welcome sight, but things were tracking nicely. Time was never an issue for me, but two dodgy calves were. There had been a couple of twinges but I’d packed some Cramp Stop and, whether it was the placebo effect or not, that seemed to do the trick.
I walked through every aid station, stuck to the water and kept away from the sports drink. It was something to look forward to, as much as anything else. Thank you to the many people who spent their day manning those stations.
Seeing the family again at the marina was great, but from there I was on my own. My longest training run had been 15km, so this was uncharted territory.
I made a covenant with myself that I would not walk, dialling back the speed to try and make the most of the remaining petrol in the tank.
The real crisis started after the final aid station, with 4km to go. It was the equivalent of the short run from my house around the floodbanks, but I might as well have been starting the whole race again.
Each step was a step closer, but those steps were becoming more painful.
The trickle of people who had been passing me had turned into a torrent, but I’d almost stopped noticing. After winning an internal argument with myself for so long about whether I would walk or not, I was genuinely surprised when I realised that I was walking – and couldn’t even remember when I’d started.
The prospect of shuffling through town was about as appealing as starting again. Then a guardian angel ran past, offering a few simple words, ‘‘you are so close’’.
I got moving again, the final lag through Queenstown a blur of noise and half-seen faces, up that final torturous climb and down into the finish line.
That finish-line feeling. So hardearned. The sense of accomplishment at having achieved something you weren’t sure was possible.
Thank you to all those who provided messages of support. Thank you to my family. One hundred per cent will do again. Will I see you there?
A guardian angel ran past, offering a few simple words: ‘You are so close’.
This article was supplied by Southlandsport.com