Sunday 19 February 2017

Wellington Round the Bays, 10km

Finally today, I ran my first 10km since my injury in April last year (10 months ago!) and it was awesome!

Wellington Round the Bays is not an event I had considered before, mainly because of the distance from home, but as I was asked to be an ambassador for the #StepItUpNZ campaign which came with two free entries to the event, it was an easy decision!  (Who doesn't love a freebie?!).

I trained carefully for this event - being aware that overtraining could set me back, I stuck to two or three runs a week, with cross training, and only did two longer runs of 8km and 9km each.  

Hubby would be my "plus one" for the event, and it would be our first fun run together. I kept telling him he could go on his own, (he is much faster than me!) but he insisted on running it with me (how sweet!).



The obligatory flat runner post for instagram!



All week the forecast had been for rain or showers.  I definitely avoid running in the rain whenever I can, so I wasn't sure how I'd cope with a 10km in the rain.  Thankfully, the conditions were overcast and still (no wind in Wellington?), the harbour was just beautiful and flat.

On our walk from the car to the start line


















After the warm-up and race briefing, we were off!  I usually run with music, so it was kind of strange only hearing the huffing and puffing and foot slapping of the other runners around me.  

Hubby was wearing the Garmin, so I couldn't see what pace we were doing.  It was kind of refreshing to just run by effort rather than numbers. He just kept updating me after every kilometre with "you're doing well".  I didn't really know what that meant, but he knew I wanted to go under 60 minutes so I assumed we were at least going to meet that.

The crowd thinned a little around the 5km mark as we passed people (and other people passed us too!).  It was at this point I muttered the words "I'm feeling it!" but hubby either didn't hear it, or ignored it (actually a good move on his part!).

The final 3.5km of the race was a small out and back section, where you got to see the half marathoners and the 10km leaders on their way back in (some seriously fast guys and girls!).  I was so relieved to see the turn around marker that I think I said "yay!" out loud.

With one kilometre to go, my husband asked "How much have you got left"  meaning: "Start running hard now!"  I picked up the pace a little but it wasn't until about 200m to go when I could see the finish line that I gave it my absolute all.  

I approached the line telling myself not to grimace, (because race photos!) but I'm pretty sure I was grimacing!  I crossed the line with nothing left in the tank, and a new PB of 56:26!


Official results. Pretty stoked to be in the front half of the field for once!



After the race. Still smiling!

After the race I got to catch up with some old friends and meet a lot of runners from the Instagram runners commmunity.  So awesome to meet these people in real life!

Hubby and I bought a medal each ($5! Why wouldn't you?).  Nice one, Cigna.



Funky medal for the non half-marathoners

Overall it was a well run event, I'd love to go back next year!

So what's next?  I'm signed up for the Greatest Virtual Run virtual run in April (I'll do the 10km) and I'm keen to pop down to Great Forest Events at Waitarere Beach for the 10km there (8th April).  

As for the rest of the year, who knows? I'll keep building my running base and see what happens from there.