The road racing season in NZ has swung into life. Two half marathons in 8 days and what a contrast they were. The only similarities were the distance and the sweltering heat at 9am (Sorry if it's cold and wet back home!)

The first in Napier was as flat as a pancake as the route ran along the seafront and back. A relatively large field set off at a good pace, again the mile markers were in kilometres which come round a lot quicker but there are more of them. I started at what I thought was a reasonable pace only to find that by the 5k marker I was on sub 1:25 pace. Slowing to a more appropriate pace I was pleased to still be feeling ok over the last 10k despite the heat to come home in a PB of 1hr 28mins 21 secs in 24th place overall and 4th in the 45+ category.

The second was run at Eastwoodhills arboretum which was an absolute brute with more than 3000 ft of ascent over the 21k course. The 3 lap course wound through the arboretum which gave some pleasant shade before leading out onto the open, heatbaked hillside for a nasty climb and long descent. On the first climb the previous weeks exertions were still apparant as the legs felt like jelly but settling into the race, things seemed to improve and after leaving 3 other competitors on the last climb I came home in 1 hr 45 mins 36secs for another 4th place.

There are no more local races for a while so off to enjoy the sun!

Mark Dorrell