Date: 15 September
Distance: 21.1km
Time: 2:22
Previous:  2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019

After managing to finish the Kinloch off-road challenge last week, we decided to plan ahead and slot in some events to keep us going through the summer months, and building up to the Old Ghost trail run. Events have become so expensive these days that you have to chose very carefully which ones you want to do. The community events are usually cheaper, and with great spot prizes and cool vibes, what is not to like.

The Hatuma Lime half marathon is the one we’ve done most of all events. This was our seventh time, and I would go back again. Of all the community events we’ve done, this one is just great fun, and seems to grow in numbers and popularity. 

It is an hour and a half drive from Palmy, so we left early to be there when registration opened at 8:30am. Upon arrival, there was a very long queue in the paddock already waiting to get to the front. Due to another event, the hall and usual toilets were off limits, and standing in the breeze in the queue chatting to Matt and Sharon was rather cold. Apart from the breeze, the weather was great and perfect for running, although a lot of kiwis complained about the heat (at only 14 or 15 degrees). Unfortunately for me, that still borders on too cold, but while running, it was okay. Having said that, I would still prefer a warmer temperature.

Since we haven’t done an on-road half marathon in ages, I was keen to test where I’m at. The aim was to try and make it at a 7min pace, e.g. 2:28, but should the wheels come off, I could walk and finish in three hours if needed.

With 15 minutes to go, we lined up for race briefing, still shivering in the breeze. And then we were off. No sooner had we left the racecourse grounds, when Gerry and I found ourselves dead last. On the short out-and-back stretch in the road at the beginning, we could see everyone who took part. In the first couple of kilometres we were going at a 6:10 pace, and even though it felt reasonably comfortable, I knew I would not be able to keep it up.  

Every turn had a bunch of school boys marshalling, and the other marshals and water points were all very jolly, supportive, and with music. At the first aid station we took a banana. They only had whole bananas which we could luckily share, but it was still way too much. It sat in my stomach for a good few kilometres. Usually it would be cut into pieces.

I started to slow down a bit, but still kept the pace in under seven minutes per kilometre, until we hit the hilly stretch in the second half past the rail road. Every here and there I had to walk short bits to get up the hills, but I was surprised to be able to run most of the way. Near the air strip, I was going slower than I hoped. This carried on until the finish, with more walk breaks, even on the flats. At the finish, Gerry’s name was called to collect a spot prize. Unfortunately it was for a massage or something in Central Hawkes’ Bay, which he would likely not use, so he returned it, to which they gave him some tomato fertiliser! We’ve got fertiliser the very first time we did the event in 2011, and I always love a good practical spot prize. 

We didn’t stay for prize-giving, as we still had things to do, so headed straight home. Stopped for ice cream in Dannevirke (we were both exhausted from little sleep the night before), and the ice cream helped to get our brains functioning again. 

I’m not averse to road running. It is always a great way (for me) to gauge where I’m at. Running is running (including walking). Road, trail, off-road, mountain – it’s all just different approaches to the same thing, utilising different muscles and techniques. But all getting you from point A to point B on your own steam.

I had some decently sore hamstrings the next day, especially on the left inside. It is obvious I don’t use my body/muscles equal or symmetrical on both side. This is something I really need to work on if I’m to keep doing longer runs.