sunday

i was up at 4am to get the auckland half marathon in plenty of time for the start.  which i did

there was a great sunrise which i watched after the full marathon’s set off (half marathon kick off was a bit later)

the start is in devonport, the course then works its way north before heading south down the bus way and over the harbour bridge, before a final loop round before arriving in the park next to my office

so the finish is actually physically only a couple of km from the start, but on the other side of the harbour

i was walking, so i didn’t have to get involved in all that ridiculous competitiveness (it’s not a race, what’s the hurry was my motto)

actually, there was a hurry, because if you weren’t quick enough they won’t let you on the bridge as they need it for traffic!  jane and the girls set up a cheering camp near this location which thankfully i made in time.

kezia took most of these people shots (i did the editing).  most of my photos are the backs of people’s heads in front of me

the chap below came up to speak to the girls when they were cheering to ask where the 10km race started as his girlfriend was running it.  bit awkward as that started on the other side of the bridge so he’d missed it!   Turns out he’s a children’s TV presenter who Kezia watches

i eventually passed the girls.  i could hear them cheering from half a kilometre away!

then the course went on to the bus lane and over the bridge so there were no roadside spectators allowed

i had 3 hours as my target time and did the half marathon in 2hrs 57 so i was pleased with that.

it took me 6 hours 12 to do the full marathon back in 2005 at a time when i was walking nearly two hours a day to and from work.  so it’s nice to have gone a bit faster this time (although half the distance).

it started to rain just as i crossed the finish line so i got the bus back

after the girls had finished their spectating they went to church were jane was on sunday school duty.  and this afternoon it’s been music practice, photos sorting and homeworks for all

(view whilst walking across the harbour bridge)