So this year saw me packing my bags (in my usual pre-race rush) to get down to Rotorua for annual run around the lake. This is one marathon that is fast becoming an annual event on my race calendar. Its a good honest course (i.e. you physically want to die in the last 5km), it has a brilliant atmosphere and the spot prizes offered here are out of this world thanks to some very generous sponsors.
I went in to this race with no big expectations. All I wanted to achieve was to come in under the 3hr mark, preferably a little faster than the 2hrs59 I ran last year. I was feeling pretty good - coach Keegan has had Candice and I doing some really strong sessions over the last few weeks; and Tanya Momo had given me a couple of legendary massages that left my legs feeling super light.
At the boom of the cannon we were off. I always seem to have this habit of starting out a little too quickly, so this year I really made sure I stuck to my pacing plan for the first 5km, despite runners shooting past me at sub 4min/km pace. I had to constantly check my watch, as I was convinced I must have been running 5min km's - I was being passed left, right and centre, and felt like I was running a tad slow. But no, my pacing was spot on, so I made the decision to ignore everything and just stick to that. My aim was to stay as comfortable as I could for the first half, and then wind it up a bit in the second.
I knew I was sitting comfortably in 3rd place, and was pretty happy to catch 2nd place once we hit the back of the lake. Knowing Gabrielle O' Rouke was sitting in 1st place I resigned myself to trying to hold my 2nd place, happy in the knowledge that this triathlete could make it on to the podium amongst pure runners.
So you could imagine my suprise to catch Gabrielle on what is fondly called Heartbreak Hill, and pass her! At this point I really had to discipline myself to stick to my pacing, instead of trying to race off into the distance, despite the fact I was sure she was hot on my heels.
While running I noticed a cyclist on a mountain bike in a high vis vest, who cycled along at a steady state constantly glancing back. I ran along, thinking "wow, someone has the most awesome support person. They are pacing them the entire way and making sure they aren't losing them. That's commitment!". It took me until the 32km mark to realise this was the "Lead Female" bicycle, and he was in fact, glancing back at me. Yup, this is definately not a position I find myself in!
Once I hit 32km, my aim was to just run strong for 10km. I met an awesome runner (Aaron) who was keeping pace with me for most of the run, and the encouragement he kept giving me was awesome. Likewise Rog, who I had given permission to rant, rave and yell at me to get me through what I anticipated being the hardest part of the race.
I was convinced Gabrielle would run me down, I just hoped to keep up a strong enough pace that it would be closer to the finish than further, as I didn't know how I would have matched up in a head to head! It wasn't until the last 2km that I realised if I wanted it, this race was truly mine.
Crossing the finish line was awesome, even if it was one of the slower winning times in Rotorua. I was happy to see training buddy Candice cross in 3rd place not too far behind me, knowing she had completed this after a decent training week.
Gabrielle and Candice definately kept me working and I feel privleged to run against strong athletes like them.
A big thank you to the race organisers, Event Promotions and the Lion Foundation for yet another brilliant event. Next year is the 50th anniversary race, a must do if a marathon is on your bucket list.
Also to Skyline for the excellent dinner they put on for the winning athletes, event organisers and associated VIP's - the meal here was definately worth running a marathon for!
