Club News
Waiterere Forest Run 4 Apr 2007.
Whilst most of our Olympic members were sweating it out at pack runs in Johnsonville and/or assisting with the marshalling at the National Triathlon champs and the Porirua Grand Traverse this weekend several were participating in the Waiterere Forest Run. Denise, Kate, Sandra, Rose, Karen, Geraldine, Cindy and Tineke all ran the half marathon, whilst Carol Brieseman walked it, Miles Coverdale and Cathryn Wood ran the 10k event. Unfortunately injury prevented Bianca from participating in the half herself but her husband Shane ran his first full marathon there this weekend.
The start of the half was crowded to say the least and minutes were added to our finishing times right there at the start. We finally worked our way out from the crowd and were on our way. The first 15 k of the event was under the trees and comfortable and soft underfoot. It was very well organised with drink stations every few k and clear black signs indicating the kilometres done at regular intervals. The course was flat throughout, no hills worth mentioning for us Wellingtonians. At the 16 k mark the 16 looked like a 19 to me and it all went downhill for me from there onwards (the course remained flat).The black numbers indicating the distance done started to dance right in front of my eyes as I got more and more tired. It was also time to speed up in the last few kilometres but we were exposed to a slight breeze and the sun. It got hard for most of us there even though the terrain was firmer and faster. Just as well the start of the half had been at 8 am and the agony was over for Geraldine just before 10 am and for the other half runners very soon after. I don't think any of the Olympic runners had a pb but you have to appreciate that this is a 'slow' event because of the soft underground. It is certainly one worth going to next year. The event was very well attended by participants from the region and at prizegiving Rose went home very happy, receiving a spot prize of a $200 Brooks voucher.
Report by Tineke Hooft::[Results (off site)]::[Olympic Results]::