Waiheke Wharf 2 wharf 2016

Hannah and I ran the Waiheke Wharf 2 Wharf 2016 25km race on January 16, 2016. I am just playing catch up with the writing on this blog because I was busy with my PhD dissertation. Anyway, the last time I ran wharf to wharf was in 2011, and I only ran the 7km race. This year, for whatever reason which very quickly became unknown to me in the race, Hannah and I decided that we were good enough to do the 25km race... perhaps it was that only the 25km finishers were awarded a super-nice copper medal! Vanity :)

The race started early (8am), but we were already up at around 5.30am - took care of the dogs, had our coffee and a light breakfast, packed our extra clothes in a small back-pack, and off we went to Matiatia ferry terminal. A ferry would bring the runners to the start point at Orapiu. Reaching Orapiu, I went (together with at least 20 other guys) for a quick pee behind the bushes. Unfortunately for Hannah (and 30 other girls!), she had to queue up for the two available portable toilets.

The horn went off, and we started racing (I mean, slow jogging) up the steep slope! The race course (in fact, the whole island Waiheke) is famous for its steep slopes other than its beautiful scenery... but who is admiring the scenery when you can hardly breathe! The 25km race course proudly boasts about the three steep uphills before you hit the relative flat portion of the run. Our plan was to conserve as much energy as possible, but still fast enough so that we could get to the finishing line before it gets too warm, and we started melting in the hot sun! I was feeling relative good, running up those gruesome hills, and even have to wait for Hannah on couple of occasions. There were water stations about every 3km, and people in the water stations were dressed up in different themes - from pirates to red-hat ladies. That really helped to cheer me up during the race.

At around 11am, the last 5km, I felt that everywhere hurts and I am dying. It was 29degC out, there was no breeze, and exhaust from cars and buses were pushing the temperature higher. I was hungry, and (according to Hannah) I HIT THE WALL! I couldn't run anymore, my mind said run but my legs just refused to move. Hannah stayed with me on the last 5km, encouraging me,  giving me short distance goals... She would said "let's run to that corner and then we will walk.." "let's just try to run to that lamp post" "2 more km..." However, the only thing that went through my mind was "Why?"

Finally, we ran through the finish line, and with some awkward maneuvering,  volunteers at the finish line managed to put the prized medals around our necks! Yay! We made it (and I didn't die)!

Fast forward a week.... Hannah had convinced me again to go do a 47km run.... that story I will let Hannah tell you about it.