We both did the training, ate the right things, avoided booze and did the tapering thing to keep our legs right for the big day. But one thing happened that nobody could prepare for - THE SUN CAME OUT!!!
By 9am it was 20 degrees and the sun was shining like the Auckland sun does on the East coast - hot and hard and in your face.
Jon's story
My inexperience as a first timer meant, in hindsight, I had not drank enough fluid in the early stages on a warm day. I had ran at the pace I knew from training I could sustain and enjoyed the first 20km or so. But I think the result of dehydration was by half way the legs were just starting to feel a bit more sore than I had planned. I was ready for some pain and to have to "hang on in there" but had thought that would happen somewhere around the 35km mark. Well it didn't! I was in a world of pain by 25kms and had about 17-18kms (or about 2 hours) to run when all my legs wanted to do was stop. With 7kms to go I started to get cramps in both legs and it became unimaginably hard. People were collapsing, throwing up, waving for St Johns and all kinds. It was like a scene from Saving Private Ryan! Those of you who are familiar with Tamaki Drive will know the small hill that you climb at Mechanics Bay towards Quay Street. To put my pain into context, I almost couldn't manage it. That 300 metres of gentle incline nearly broke me. It was the only bit of the course I had to walk though. Don't tell anyone but I cried at the end. I don't know why - I was just so so so exhausted, distressed and a physical wreck.
So how do I feel now? Physically I am almost recovered after a few very sore days. Mentally, I am very proud. I missed my goal time by about 20 minutes but I reckon I endured and conquered more pain that I would have done had it gone to plan. And what's 20 minutes over the course of 42kms?! So in a way, I am even more proud of what I have achieved. I will do another one because I know I can break 4 hours - my training taught me that. I'm now off to do something I haven't done for weeks - buy some beer and crisps and sit on the back of the ferry home with the sun on my dial!! Lovely! Here is Claire's story, of whom I very very proud. Well done Claire. Love you!
Claire's story
I still can't believe that I did it to be honest, my recollection was a very busy start, I didn't expect there to be so many people and the first 3km was just spent dodging people and trying to actually run! There was so much support and I did high five any kids (or adults) who offered any potential opportunities. The route was very alien to me, and a lot hiller than MrH had led me to believe. At 8km I saw a friend and her family, she cheered so loud and that really kept me going, I was just starting to enjoy it at this point. I didn't realise we would be running on the wrong side of the bridge either and when I turned the corner and saw the hill I did swear quite loudly and two camera laughed really loudly!! Then there were the drummers who were amazing and really spurred me on! I did pinch myself on the bridge but I didn't stop (like a lot of people did) to take photos, it just seemed wrong. The downhill bit on the bridge was brilliant I was really enjoying it at this point but I was very hot, as we headed into Herne Bay I could of just stopped, thankfully all the supporters wouldn't have a bar of it! I got to the tank farms and so many girls were being sick, too much sun and Powerade (by the look of it) and I did give myself a pat on the back at this point. I felt so near but I knew there was a few km's to go, my legs felt so heavy and slow! As I approached Wynard Quarter I felt really emotional and started to cry, sorry to the couple having brunch, they must have wondered what was the matter!!
All throughout the race at each km mark, I had looked at the photo of me and Grandad and I asked him to keep me going! So when I saw the 20km marker it just hit me I had nearly done it, big girls blouse I am bubbling and running! I managed to regain some composure and when I saw all the people and the HUGE screen and I knew I was going to finish! So I did it. Then I it dawned on me, we hadn't arranged any meeting point and unlike other races we had done, there was a lot more people! I had my phone, so I did find my Mum, who had been patiently watching only to miss me as Mr7yo wanted to go for a wee!! I then ended up walking around Vic Park looking for Jon, I was really starting to worry if he was ok. His work had a 'hostility' tent, so I figured he would go there. On one of my many scouts looking for him, my Mum called to say he was at the tent and to come back quickly (another 2km I reckon of walking around there) he just hugged me and said "Never a ******* again!!". He looked awful and for about 10 minutes, didn't talk or look like he was with it. I got him a water, some beer and food and eventually he perked up. We had done it, and I too, was so very, very proud of what Jon had achieved, love you heaps darling.
And in case your interested here is my eclectic playlist that I did just for that day!
Scream - Dizzee Rascal
Sandstorm - Darude
Feel So Close - Calvin Harris
For an angel - Paul van Dyk
Go - Moby
Charlie Brown - Coldplay
Tubthumping - Chumbawumba
Insomnia - Faithless
Babel - Mumford and Sons
Four Winds - The Killers
Playing with Knives - Bizarre Inc
And I Will Kiss - Underworld
Spectrum - Florence and the Machine
Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?- Moby
Hopeless Wanderer - Mumford and Sons
You've Got The Love - Source ft Candi Staton
Wow - Snow Patrol
Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
The Scientist - Coldplay
Natural Blues - Moby
Super Love - Avicii ft Lenny Kravitz
Shake it Out - Florence and the Machine
Wonderwall - Oasis
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris ft Florence Welsh
One Day Like This - Elbow
The Importance of Being Idle - Oasis
Open Arms - Elbow
The Sun and The Rain - Madness
Bling (Confessions of a King) - The Killers
More importantly that all that we have exceeded $3150 for Alzheimers NZ. Thank you all for donating so generously. We are delighted with what we have achieved and hope that someone benefits in some small way as a result.
So bye for now. Wave if you drive past us one day!!
