Malcolm Gunn

Harbour City half marathon 25 years on

Posted by Malcolm Gunn on 28 June 2010 | 0 Comments

The twenty fifth running of the Harbour City Half Marathon has managed to sneak up on me somehow.  In 1986, I ran the inaugural event in 1:21, coming 121st.  Back then I ran most days.  Now, 25 years on, I cycle daily and run about three times a month.  That's no recipe for a personal best, but buoyed by my enjoyable half marathon experience in February and enticed by the siren of a special 25th anniversary finisher's medal, I signed up for the event on the back of a 75 minute test run around Northland and Wadestown and little else by way of preparation. 

Race day was foul.  A keen southerly with rain squalls had everyone sheltering in the Westpac Stadium until the last minute before facing the weather and the starter's gun.  It was a sombre affair, no music to lighten the mood and an announcer on the PA system who barked instructions as to where everyone should be with no hint of welcome.  It was the perfect match for the weather.

Soon we were off into the southerly down Jervios Quay, most people content to hold their position until things opened up, but with the occasional runner dodging about trying to get ahead, cutting across others - possibly these are the same people who cut me off in their cars while I'm on my bike approaching the Karori tunnel - at least they have same attitude.

It was cold, it was wet and it hurt.  It served me right too.  I was unprepared and more importantly, I was running for the wrong reason.  I used to run for the love of it.  All I needed was the feeling of running.  This, by contrast, was a calculated exercise in want.  I wanted the medal, and I got it - eventually.  Actually I was pleasantly surprised to go through 10km in under 50 minutes.  It seemed slower.  Soon it was. Cobham Drive hurt - there and back.  The tail wind back around Evans Bay Parade was welcome, but favoured those with leg speed (youth).

It was a good 8 minutes slower than the February run.  I'll put it down to the weather.  Never mind that the course record was broken.