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Friday, 24 February 2006 |
37:1137:11: That's my time for the 7 kilometer Round The Bays run/walk last Sunday. The first “formal” run that I have completed. I claim that I can shave 2 minutes off of the official time, because that's about how long it took me to get across the start line from when the gun fired. I figured as a novice runner I should start from the back, and thus landed up walking the first few hundred metres, as it was so crowded that the runners just couldn't get started. But my official time looks like a nice enough number, so I'll keep it, whilst patting myself on the back for running at about 5 minutes a kilometer. It was a day packed with coincidences. At the start I stood next to a man who was off to South Africa soon to run in the Two Oceans. At the end I ran into once were colleagues who I haven't seen for quite a while. And in the queue to leave, we met a woman who grew up in our old haunts in Cape Town. I say “we” because when I enthusiastically entered, I entered the whole family. They were not so enthusiastic, but I figured that they could manage to walk the distance. And the entry fee went to charity. Besides, having four of us in the event gave us a better chance of winning a spot prize... The course was set around the bays between Wellington City and Wellington airport. Hence the name. Trains and buses to and from the event were free of charge, as long as you had your official race number handy. So early on Sunday morning we headed down to the station. We were amazed to find half of the neighbourhood all lined up in sporty gear. So the train trip into town was a festive one, with the girls really enjoying all of witty social repartee. We walked to the start, to find a seriously large amount of people milling around. We separated, me to join the runners, Terry to take the girls to the toilet. Go figure. I ran. It was kind of weird: the sound of feet pounding around me. They built up a strange dream like rhythm. This rhythm made it easier to run. There were some funny moments during the run: the Vangelis “Chariots of Fire” theme thoughtfully piped out by some flat dwellers on route, the children on scooters weaving in and out of the runners, and the firemen tapping a hydrant to cool the sweaty mobs. Towards the end of the run I noticed that the sound of feet was being joined by the sound of heavy breathing. It really did build into a trance like state. At this stage the children on their scooters had turned into a real hazard. We no longer had the energy to avoid them, and I saw some very near disasters. And then the finish line, and my first formal time! After I crossed the line, I took my complementary banana and bottle of water (yes, everyone who completed the course got a free banana), and walked back along the course to find Terry. The girls and her were all kitted out in identical ACC shirts, so I figured it wouldn't be too hard to find them. And given that they were about the last people in the field that made it even easier. It just meant I had to walk further to find them. So I ran 7 kilometers, and then walked 7 kilometers. What a martyr. After we had all got our breath back we joined the queue for buses back to the station. And this is where I have my one criticism: next time, could the organizers please lay on more buses? The queue was huge. We were lucky. Two wonderful girls from the Dominion were right behind us. They laughed, cracked jokes, and made the whole queue experience a very happy one. Whoever you were: Thank you! Then a long ride back, and a treat for the Kylara and Tessa, who had done so well: a visit to McDonald's for lunch. Then onto home, where Terry flopped and read a book. I worked on repairs to our house. Again,what a martyr! In the end a long, but fun day. Terry and the girls finish, complementary banana's in hand: comments? [] 11:39:38 AM ![]() |