It is good to be back. This past Saturday I had the privilege to line up with about a hundred other brave souls to tackle the hilly and stunningly beautiful Kaiteriteri half. The course loops along Tasman bay, up and down several long and seemingly endless hills (mountains in my book) and finishes where it starts, back on the sand at Kaiteriteri beach. There’s nothing like crossing the line and running right into the ocean for a cool down, does wonders for the legs.
I was a bit nervous, as this was my first foray back into any sort of distance since the LA Marathon, a year and many thousands of miles ago – miles traveled by planes, trains and automobiles, not logged in the running journal. There was no need to be though, once underway the race unfolded and opened up like an old friend, welcoming me back into the fold.
It’s a hometown run without the fanfare of a big city race: no km markets, just a few water stops, roads open to traffic. There’s the solo bagpiper to greet you at the top of a twenty-minute climb, cars randomly pulled to the side of the road filled with families cheering for loved ones, the familiarity of seeing other running club members that you know and know you, and the always up beat cheers of “Good on ya mate! Just a wee bit more now!”
I set the internal clock for 2 hours and clocked in at 2:01: respectable for the hills and unknown terrain, plus without km markers I never knew where I was in relation to the finish. Not that it mattered. I put my intentions out there and let the fates guide me. The ability of mind/body to work in tandem and come so close to goal continues to amaze me.
If you find yourself on the top of the South Island of NZ in March you should run this race: it’s well run by the Nelson Events crew, a great course, and full of all the scenic beauty that NZ has to offer.
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