Race Report - Run Auckland 10km

Sunday 12th July
Takapuna, Auckland – 10km Run Auckland Race
1st Age Group, 3rd Overall female

And so I find myself again lining up at the start of a race out of my comfort zone for a hard hit out. My coach is keen to mix up my training a little in the build up to Kona, throwing in the odd short sharp nasty to give my muscles a solid blast.

My entire sporting background before triathlon is running, yet as I’m stood on the start line I feel like an alien in unfamiliar territory. It feels strange to be stood on a start line in running shorts rather than a wetsuit, to be surrounded by runners talking split times and goal finish times. It is freezing cold and the wind is howling so I attempt to bury myself in the middle of the start line trying to steal some warmth! I spot a few fellow triathletes from squad and feel relieved to know that I’m not on my own!

The gun goes and we are off. I have seen one of the Olympic Distance triathletes from squad on the start line so I decide to try and keep pace with her initially. As we scramble up the embankment from the beach onto the road I tuck myself in on her shoulder and begin to wonder how long it will be before she drops me. We are less than 2kms in to the race and my legs are feeling surprisingly good, if not a little frustrated with the pace. I’m cautious that it is still early days but I decide to pass my pacer who gives me a curious glance as I power past.

I spot another squaddie, Deno, ahead and decide to try and close the gap between us. My legs seem to be relishing the pace and effort so I decide to carry on past Deno and to try and hold the pace for as long as I can. At the 7km mark we hit the beach and spend the next km running along the sand – my brain had skimmed over this detail when reviewing the route the night before so it is a little shock to both the brain and the body.

Once off the beach it is up a hill - only to run back down it and to find myself on the beach once again for the final km of the race! By now my legs have got the wobbles and have suddenly gone from relishing the fast paced challenge to screaming for mercy. Deno whizzes past me and I attempt to stay on his shoulder but his legs make short work of the sand and I drop off the back. The finish line is in sight so I put my head down and ignore the screaming muscles – instead focusing on the pink top of the girl just in front of me!

As I cross the finish I get a round of applause and learn that the owner of the pink top had just finished 2nd which put me as the third overall female and first in my age group. No time to hang around for prize giving though – it was straight home to start my long ride!