Running on the Wrong Side of the Road

Have I been in this country two months already?   Must be, because I signed up for the New Plymouth Half Marathon pretty much right after I arrived, knowing I had two months to train, and look, here it was this weekend!

I decided to make the race a reason to visit NP for the entire weekend.  The weather was PERFECT.  Skies were blue and not a cloud was to be found on Mount Egmont!

This is the same mountain I've been tramping on, but the skies haven't been this clear in 2 months!

I drove up to NP early Saturday morning to catch a used book sale (more on that in a future blog), and to check out the course.   The start and finish was at Pukekura Raceway, a thoroughbred racing track.

Other than driving the route to see where all the hills were, I took it easy for most of the day--- strolling again along the coastal walkway and watching some Kitesurfers and Windsurfers do their thing. 

They make it look so gosh darn easy!

Call me a dork, but I got a NZ jersey shirt on sale, and just HAD to wear it for my first NZ race.

After some pasta and a surprsingly restful, quiet night at the hostel, it was raceday!    1200 runners and walkers participated.   The course was described by the organizers as "undulating but scenic".  I made it my goal to use my quads of steel and power up all the hills ---- I was able to do just that, and didn't let a single person pass me on any hill!

Action shot!

(graciously reproduced from photo man's website--- thank you Deane Riddick!)

So, after 2 hrs 2 minutes and 21km of scenic farmland rural running (on the wrong side of the road, mind you), and tons more farm animal spectators than human being spectators, I finished! 

This. is. the. fakest. smile. of. my. life.   More of a grimace at the fact I'm ready to collpase.

In addition to a medal and a powerade, every finisher got a chocolate fish, or "choccy fish" as the locals call them.

It's a NZ treat of a fish-shaped, strawberry flavored marshmallow dipped in chocolate.  Not the first thing I had in mind to eat after running 13.1 miles, but of course Linz the chocoholic downed it, STAT. :)

I relaxed the rest of the day in New Plymouth, hitting up a farmers market (will blog more about this next time), and surprise calling my mom from a pay phone to her cell to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY from New Zealand!!!

In summary, a weekend of sunshine, scenic running, and chocolate.... three things that ALWAYS make me happy!

Cheers from your favorite international runner!