Copthorne Hotel Off Road Half Marathon - Rotorua 5 March 2017

My first half marathon that was a substantial distance from home.  The first time I had slept somewhere other than in my bed the night before a run.  The first time I have ever run in Rotorua.  It really was a day of firsts!  Did it disappoint?  No it most certainly did not.  I had done all my training (bar a couple I missed for various reasons) and I honestly don't think I could have trained any differently for this event.  I had completed a number of trail runs leading up to this day and I have to say that running around and around Mt Lees just out of Feilding did help the legs with the ups, downs and dodging tree roots!

We arrived in Rotorua around 8.30 in the morning, found a park and then headed off to find out all the information I needed to know for the run and to also pick up my race pack.  So exciting - I got my first ever personalised bib.  This will be one to keep!

Then it was the dreading waiting time for the run to start.  We didn't start until 10am but I was able to meet the lovely Anne-Marie for the first time and we had a little catch up about our running and what it all meant for us.

I also had Belinda and her family there to support me and to cheer for me as I did set off.  It's amazing knowing people are there, calling your name and cheering you along!  The start of the race went with the gun going and everyone taking off.  Then in no time you are stopped again as the people bottle neck trying to get through the small area that leads you onto the tracks.  After that you are able to find your pace again and enjoy the views all around.  And what amazing views they were.

Like always I got about 2km in and wondered why I enter half marathons and would I make it to the end!  Those first 2km seemed to take forever but finally at almost the 3km mark I came across Kerry who had walked ahead to get some photos for me.  I was even able to manage a smile.

From here I carried on around the course, just wanting to run the whole of this first loop.  I discovered this was an achievement in itself as there was a bit of elevation.  Here are some photos of the trails and roads run.

You then approached the finish line and had all the spectators cheering you on as you reached a turn around point and started it all over again.  At this stage I had had drinks at the aid stations, Nuun from my drink bottles and only a small piece of licorice.  I didn't feel I needed to eat but in hindsight maybe I should have had more earlier.  Kerry had found a new spot and as I passed him for the second time I had completed around 13km of the 21.1km.  I will post a very honest photo of how I felt at this time.  I was hot, I was exhausted, I really didn't know how I was going to finish.  It wasn't a mental exhaustion, it was a physical one!

Kerry gave me some of his licorice twists at this stage and they were so good!  I enjoyed them so much.  And I kept on going.  From this stage on I did do a little running and walking.  I did what I needed to so that I could finish the run.  I loved all the trails through the forest, loved dodging the tree roots but I really didn't enjoy the roads that much at all.  They were hot and in the full sun.  After just over 2 1/2 hours I crossed that finish line and gosh was I glad to do that!  For me it was the most physically challenging half marathon I had ever run.  It was such an achievement for me.  I was able to catch up with Belinda and her family again which was great hearing how they had gone as well.

This was my 8th half marathon and I ran it to celebrate my 38th birthday.  I am so glad I set myself this challenge and as crazy as it sounds, I would like to go back and run it again in the future.  For now I am not quite sure what my next challenge will be but I still have some time to decide.