Specifics Event Reviews

Sunday 22 June was the Shoe Clinic Wellington Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km run and Kids Magic Mile race. I had a few of my clients in the different races and a few brave ones out supporting them in the wet and windy conditions. I'm really proud of all my guys, their results were great. For once I thought I'd get some of them to do the website write ups so see how Jo, Victoria and Estelle found their races.

Victoria Smith - 10km
“What am I doing here?” I anxiously said to Shane Tindall as he met up with us just before the start of the 10km run. “Having fun!” he replied. “I can think of a thousand ways to have fun that don’t involve getting wet and cold” . I thought to myself.

Setting out on the first two kms of what was supposed to be for me a run/walk affair I started to think that this was going to be much harder than anticipated. Then I saw the sign “40 km”. “Oh no!” I certainly won’t make it.”

After running for 1 ½ kms I thought I should walk, as Shane had suggested, even though I was doing it out of order. I walked about 500metres but as the rain came down I thought “I am going to be out here for ages” so decided to start running again – well jogging really. Rounding Freyberg Pool I realized that I was quite enjoying it “Shane was right” I thought. I am now warm and it is fun going with all these other people (most of whom were passing me).

I decided to have a toilet stop at Waitangi Park and took my time changing out of my Polypro top. Setting off again I went and was amazed to see Estelle on her return as I neared Point Jermingham. Great to see her as I hadn’t seen any of the other Specifics Training people up to that point.

Next was my cousin Jacquie scarily close to Estelle even though she had done no training for this race.

On the return just as I was trying to work out when my next walk should be, I saw an overweight woman who though very red in the face and arms, was really going for it. “I just want to get to the end without stopping” she said “my mother who is much fitter is behind and I don’t want her to catch me.” This was very impressive. She also told me that she had lost 25 kilos. I talked about my 15 and how I was also extremely new to running. I decided that if she could do it then I was going to run the whole way back at least. I stopped to pick up a drink as Marie my new friend went on and as I was starting to catch her up, saw Shane and Karen’s friendly faces cheering me on. It was a real bonus to see them. Thanks guys for coming to support us when you could have stayed in bed!!

I soon caught Marie up and we swapped life stories as we ran. We made plans for our future goals and soon we were past TSB stadium. Marie was starting to tire and I needed to keep my pace up so went on but by the time I had reached the top of the ramp there she was coming up the road and I was able to cheer her on and wait for her once I was over the line.

It was a real bonus to have made it home 30 minutes earlier than expected even with a toilet stop and to have made a new friend in the process. Thanks Shane.

Jo Willmott - 1/2 marathon
The day started early with many nerves! But as soon as I got there, they dampened somewhat, and I was wanting to hurry up and start!! The run felt harder than any training run and I managed to start struggling from half way! The wind was pretty nasty at some points on the return trip, but at least the rain had stopped! I managed to make it to the end - without stopping, with what seemed like a sprint finish (but definitely didn't look like it). The amazing buzz you get at the end makes it all worth it, leaving you looking for the next run so you can get another fix!

Estelle Wilson - 10km
I learnt two valuable lessons today about running in winter, 1. you should always wrap your dry change of clothes round a hot water bottle. This is just fabulous when you finish all cold and wet. 2. To enhance number 1 always pack a change of socks and shoes. The latter I forgot but the warm clothes made up for it, although i'm sure I remembered the socks and shoes in the early hours of the morning.

We knew the weather wasn't going to be flash but I don't think it was as bad as the tv3 weather girl made out. Yes it was raining and yes it was a northerly but us Wellingtonians are use to the wind, it gave us an edge over the Auckland racers who would have called it a tropical storm as it was probably strong enough to blow over a few of their deck chairs.

Just after 9am we cheered the half marathoners off and ran back into the warm only to be told 10km runners report to the start line. By this time I'd lost the couple of friends I was with. The 10km race started with a lot of elbowing, shoving, excuse me's and sorry's. I saw a mate nip down the outside of the road cones and thought I'd follow him, 500 metres on I gave up he was way too fast. By the time we'd gone a couple of kms everyone seemed to have sorted themselves out and it was game on. I wanted to try for under an hour as my last two 10km races have been just over by a minute or two. I knew this course as I run 7km of it at lunchtimes during the week. I'd put all my favourite "go-get-em" songs on my mp3 and settled in for the run trying to tell myself it was just like my lunchtime runs. Yeah right!!!

I made it out to the 5km turn round point without incident avoiding the chaos that they call a drink station but as I turned round I felt like a salmon swimming upstream. There were hundreds of people running the other way and I couldn't look at them as I felt like the world was spinning round me. Very unusual and not something I'd want to experience again in a hurry. Mental note to self, check out what was really in those cups of water they were handing out. I was looking out for my fellow Specifics Training runners to shout encouragement and just as I was about to give up I saw Victoria Smith. My first thought was holy cow batman she's not that far behind, my second thought was obviously she threw Shanes run a bit, walk a bit instructions out the window. Awesome work Victoria. So after high 5's we both carried on, I didn't see anyone else till after I'd finished but that was ok more time to concentrate on that target time.

As I followed everyone through Queens Wharf I checked my watch, 15mins till the hour. The little devil on my shoulder said "you're not going to make it" the little devil on my other shoulder (yes I have two) said "you can make it, just pick up the pace". At the train station I checked my watch 6mins, devils still arguing "you're going to make it", "no you're not". Ignore them carry on. Onto the ramp, 2mins, little devil said "it's a long way up that concourse, you're not going to make it". Fortuntely I listened to the other little devil, picked up the pace and came in 59:08. Well thats the unofficial time on my watch and I'm sticking to it.

The other Specifics guys and girls weren't that far behind me (with one or two already finished). I think the weather made everyone run faster as the wind started to pick up when the rain stopped. It was a good race, I'd do it again, maybe, in a couple of weeks, maybe.

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