Training Log Archive: immy

Event: Kaweka Mountain Marathon
 

Kaweka Challenge! (now called the Kaweka Mountain Marathon, but I didn't actually run the marathon course, so it feels weird to call it that...) This took a lot longer than expected... The old short course used to be run in under 2 hours, 1:45-ish, but I'd be surprised if any girls could do this one in that sort of time (really fast guys possibly could). Anyway, the course basically went up to the top of Kuripapango, then up and down a rocky ridge to the Kiwi Saddle Hut. Then back down the same way (!). There was a short run across a couple of bridges, and then it was straight into the climb. And this was some serious uphill - walking with hands on knees and gasping for breath. That was what the whole first hour was like, more or less. Think it took me about 55 minutes for the first 4 km? Hahaha, great. A few guys were in front of me, and one girl, who I stuck behind for most of the climb. She was going at a good pace, but one which I thought wouldn't kill me for the rest of the race.

After about 4 km we were up on a ridge, and there were some uphills and some downhills. Though still mostly up. I started passing people, including the girl in front of me, particularly because they were not fast on downhills. Got to the turnaround point in 91 minutes, and then a disaster kind of happened: at the hut, there were a number of volunteers checking gear. They took me over to this veranda so I could show them all the gear in my pack. But then while I was doing this, the valve on the water nozzle on my camelbak fell off, and it fell through one of the cracks in the veranda!! Then of course all my water started leaking out... I was stressed and trying to find a large stick to get the valve out from under the veranda. Luckily though, one of the volunteers managed to get it out somehow. But still, I probably lost about 3 minutes because of that, and it was all rather stressful... A couple of the guys who I had passed then got ahead as well, grr.

Anyway, I managed to get moving again finally, and passed one of the guys. I started going a bit faster as there were more downhills, yay, and I could actually run! I must have done ok because after a little while I couldn't see anyone behind me. But I still tried to keep pushing. It was all fine until about 1.5 km from the end, when I noticed my legs had really had enough - they were literally about to collapse. I have never had my legs turn to jelly quite so badly. Luckily there wasn't far to go, because I know I slowed down a lot in the end. So so happy to finish!

I think I was first girl, and second overall on the short course, which is cool :) But, there probably weren't that many fast people doing the short course. Also, I know I can do this faster, because there were a few times when I was just being too polite, and waiting behind someone for them to let me past on a downhill... I should have just gone past earlier. Also the 3 minutes or however long it was at the top. And thirdly, I think my legs will be a lot stronger already from having run the course once!

Overall, an awesome race with fantastic amounts of climb and amazing scenery - definitely will do this race again! and maybe even try the 28 km next time? :) Would also love to do some training there - you would get so strong running up those hills. But as they say, the race is actually won on the downhills! Definitely a lot of time to be gained there, if you are ruthless :)