Nelson Shoe Clinic Half Marathon - 2010

Before I knew it the Nelson Shoe Clinic Half Marathon had rolled around and I was so not ready. With all the racing I have been doing over the last month, it has made it very difficult to train properly for it. My coach suggested that we rely on my base fitness to pull me through as the other events I was competing in had more merit to them as they were judged and most were national events.

Unfortunately for me I suffered a migraine the day before the start of the race. (Mine always last 3 days) I was not feeling confident about this race at all and a number of times thought of pulling out at the last minute.

The day dawned to a nice clear sky. Well thats a plus. Hubby drove me down and was going to hang around after we started as he was running the quarter and started 45mins after us. All the walkers and 3 hour plus runners lined up at the start line. Beside me was a lady in a hand crank bike and I looked down and thought..."Wow, that is true persistence and never give up spirit"



Above is the start as in the Nelson Mail. I didn't expect to lead out from the very start but that is how it panned out and it remained that way for the entire race.

I did a comfortable 5km (29:25) and then took note as I passed the half way mark in 63:20....I was really pleased with that as it was faster than when I had walked the quarter last year. I must admit to not liking this course and when you turn at the 10.55km mark it nearly brings you to tears that you have to go back out and do another lap. Yes its flat and supposedly easy but it is BORING!!! and being out the front made it even more so...I had no one to chase or to push away from. About the 15 km mark I hit my wall. My hips were aching and my legs felt like lead. I couldn't see my closest rival behind me and did slow down a little. I had met up with the slow walkers in the quarter and some of the runners from the half and it was frustrating me that they were all over the path making it so hard to pass.



Here I am rounding the bend at the 18km mark. It was here that I gave my self a real telling off and told myself to harden up and just move it as it was only 3 km to go. My times on my GPS show that it worked and I was back under 6min K's again.

I am always thrilled to see the finish line in this race and whipping down the km straight passing the runners was a joy!!! 2:10:31 is my official time and it is a PB for me and I have since found out it is a course record.

I am now on a two week break.........which has slipped into a 3 week break due to illness. I have started jogging to improve my fittness. Will slowly introduce the racewalking again soon...but for now I am enjoying the break.