The last BIG test!

18km!!!!!!!!!!! That’s how much I ran/walked on Saturday.

It was the last big test before the half marathon in 2 weeks. And let me tell you, it was tough, especially since my knee, and kind of my whole right leg, started to hurt after about 14km. It was the first time that I actually really felt pain, besides the sore muscles and exhaustion pain that seems to have become a ‘normal’ thing in my life right now. This was different, it was real, something is not right, kind of pain. Which is a bit concerning. But I managed to finish the 18km, even though I walked a bit more towards the end than I wanted to. And now my knee and leg are fine again so I’m hoping it was just because of pressure and stress and not because something is actually wrong.

I have pretty much been following my training plan to the book, so I’m mostly confident that I will be able to complete the half marathon. The only thing I’m still worried about is the Harbor Bridge cut of time. Just for those of you who haven’t read about this in a previous post: The Auckland Half Marathon goes over the Harbor Bridge (the highlight of the course). However, due to traffic and safety issues, everyone who has not crossed the Bridge by 9.20am will be picked up by a bus and taken to the other side. Furthermore, you need to have been past the 13km mark (right before the Bridge) before 9am otherwise they won’t even let you on the bridge. I don’t have a specific goal as far as finish time goes, but I really do want to run over the bridge and not be driven over it on a bus (there is a reason why they call it the bus of shame). The half marathon starts at 7am which technically would give me 2 hours to do 13km which would not be a problem at all. However, as there are thousands of people doing the half marathon, it might take some time until I actually cross the start line. So it might be 7.15 or 7.20 by the time I actually start. And that would leave me with 1.40hours to do 13km and that might not be so easy to do.

So I wanted to do my last big training run under ‘realistic’ conditions to be able to assess what my chances are to make it to the Bridge in time. Therefore, I drove over to the North Shore to run as much as possible on the actual race course. As I also wanted to do kind of a loop around where I parked my car (so that I don’t have to walk back to my car for several km after finishing the 18km), I parked the car sort of halfway along the course, ran a 4km loop and came onto the race course at about the 4km mark. Then I followed the course until the 13km mark and then did a 5km loop back to my car. I reached the 13km mark after about 1 hour 40min. I did lost some time in the beginning because I didn’t really know where I was going and had to check the map a few times (I love my iPhone) and the first bit was also very hilly (more hilly than the actual course). And besides that, I think the adrenaline and excitement on the day will also help to make me run a bit faster. So I’m carefully optimistic. Now I just have to make sure that I do cross the start line by 7.20am the latest. Might have to push some others out of the way ;-)

Oh, and if you read this and have any experience with running (half) marathons, especially the Auckland one, and can give me any advise how long it might take until thousands of people have crossed the start line, I’d really love to hear it ;-)

Well, anyway, besides the knee issues on the last 4km and the usual soreness the next day and blisters on my feet, it was actually an alright run and I’m rather positive now. I do feel like I still have some reserves so hopefully I can go all out in two weeks.

Until then I will keep up my two 6km runs during the week and will probably do 10-12 next Saturday. I’m also hitting the gym 3 times a week but am thinking I might have to reduce that a little for the next two weeks to make sure I’m fit and ready for the big day.

Not long to go now! Will keep you posted ;-)