Date: 18 September 2016
Distance: 21.1km
Time: 2:21
Previous: 2011, 2014, 2015

If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right. 😀 Photo by Caroline Williams.

Shortly before the start, with all the Hatuma Lime Half branded Ts.

Gerry even donned his T from last year.

The out-and-back section, before heading into the countryside.

We started off on an easy jog so before the end of the out-and-back section we were already right at the back of the pack.

An easy run, with Graeme keeping us company.

Gerry and Graeme enjoying the open road.

A glorious day to be out in the country for a run.

Water point with fruit chew toffees! What a nice treat.

The third water point, signalling the arrival of the last quarter of the race. Water points doubled as change-overs for the 4-person relay teams, so were spaced roughly 5km apart. Plus a bonus water point roughly two kilometres from the finish.

All photos by us, except where otherwise indicated.

The Hatuma Lime Half Marathon reminds me of a mini-Rotorua marathon: once you’ve done the first busy section through town (in this case, the short out-and-back stretch outside the race course), you head into the country where on a good weather day, you cannot ask for a better setting while you make your way around a lake (Lake Hatuma here). Great community support on country roads where you can just cruise along admiring the scenery, until you reach the final quarter of the event – the stretch from the airport (a small rural air strip in this instance) which takes you back through town, not as scenic and also the toughest part to the finish. Continue reading →