My first 10K race
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I had a bright and early start today as Run Auckland Race 6 kicked off at 7:30 rather than 9 AM as is normally the case. Normally each of these events has a 5K race and a 10K race, but as this was the final race of the series, the organisers had put on a half marathon option as well.
When I got there it was still dark but there was already quite a crowd. I took my camera but didn’t really get many nice shots so I won’t bother listing too many of them. I did like this view of Rangitoto Island though:
As regular followers of my blog will know I’ve been doing the 5K events but seeing as this was the last race of the series I decided that I would do the 10K. Truth be told I was feeling a bit nervous about this distance as I haven’t been training for about a week and the only run I’d had was a gentle 5K on Friday.
The 10K course looks quite scenic when you look at my route map.
It started off with a loop around Lake Pupuke (I think that is what it is called) and then a blast down the beach, up a rather steep hill and then back to the start/finish line. In reality, the scenery was a bit more prosaic. I never even saw the lake as we ran through the suburban streets surrounding it.
The race organisation was a bit of a shambles for some reason. A few things went wrong. Firstly, we started off about 20 minutes late. This wasn’t a biggie but it was a bit annoying. The second problem was that the walkers were supposed to start off 15 minutes before the runners but they started with us. Walker management has not been great the whole series unfortunately. This meant that the first 100 meters or so were a bit of a shambles. The third issue I had was the lack of water stations. At the race briefing we were told water stations would be available every 2.5km but I think the announcer got it wrong as the only water station I saw on the course was at the 6.2 km mark and the finish.
Anyways, back to the race. I was loitering near the front trying to get closer to the back as I didn’t want to get in the way of the faster half marathon and 10K runners when the organisers just started the race. It took everyone by surprise as we’d all expected the walkers to go first. I suspect most people would like to start reasonably close to the front but I found it a bit demotivating as I quickly got passed by first a wave of men and then a wave of women. At one point I was wondering if the walkers were going to pass me too but that never happened. 
After about a kilometer I started to enjoy myself. The first half wasn’t really too bad. It was lots of fun with lots of people around. I always get a buzz doing the races as normally I run by myself and it’s just not the same. Nice but not the same. I started to get really thirsty at about the 5km mark and that was when I noticed that the drink stations were missing.
At about the 6 kilometer mark I started to feel a bit sorry for myself and started grumbling under my breath. I really needed a drink and was feeling rather grumpy. Then, like a mirage, I saw the drinks table and things started looking up. The sun shone a bit brighter, the birds started to chirp and my favourite song started to play on the ipod. I picked up the pace a bit, got to the table in record time and no cups and no drink! The volunteers said “look they’re coming” but the clock waits for no man so I kept on going. The odd swear word was muttered. To compound matters the route headed out onto the beach at this point and I found running on the sand a bit difficult. It was reasonably firm but rather soft in places.
For a few minutes I got very grumpy and down about the whole race but then I saw the I AM A RUNNER wrist band that Amy from The Runner’s Lounge had kindly sent me via Wee Little Me and I remembered that I was supposed to be having fun and so I kept repeating I am a runner! and just like that I picked up my pace quite considerably. The last kilometer or so was lots of fun as I set about hauling in everyone in front of me and I definitely overtook more people than overtook me so that was great. The scenery was fantastic too.
I did a real hard out sprint to the end and hopefully the official photographer got a good photo. They are not out yet but I’ll be sure to post my crossing the line photo when they are released.
So, to the results. I was hoping to do the race in under an hour and normally would have been quite confident that I could have achieved that as I’ve done a few sub 60 minute 10K runs in practice now. According to the provisional results I did the 10K in 53:14! This is my fastest 10K time ever so I’m really happy. I also finished 15th out of 43 runners in my age/sex group which is a lot better than I thought I would do.
I took my wife and daughter out for a nice walk when I got home (we did about 4K) and have been slacking off ever since. Life is good. :)
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You are a runner!
Congratulations on your first 10km, what an awesome achievement. [and you went for a 4km walk afterwards? Outrageous!]
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AndrewE
reply on July 13th, 2008 6:56 pm:
Thanks Marshie!
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Congratulations on achieving a personal best time, and for conquering this race milestone.
Bravo!
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AndrewE
reply on July 13th, 2008 6:56 pm:
Thanks Andrew!
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Congratulations! That’s a great time for your first 10km race!
Looked out for you in the crowd this morning but quite a lot of people. I think that was part of the slightly shambolic organising at the start.
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AndrewE
reply on July 13th, 2008 6:55 pm:
Thanks Aaron. How did you go? Haven’t seen any posts for a while eh!
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Well done Andrew, that is an awesome result considering the interrupted preparation. Why wouldn’t they start the walkers off after the runners? That way they don’t get in the way!
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:14 am:
Beats me!
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Excellent result, you must be proud. It can get really frustrating when these events aren’t organised well, can’t it.
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it feels as though it isnt powerful enough but my gut reaction to this post?
DAMN YOU ARE IMPRESSIVE.
M.
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Thats an excellent time Andrew…Great job on getting your head in the right place towards the end…
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Wow, congrats on your first 10k, and in what an awesome time, better than you were hoping. Great Job! I just signed up for my first 5k and I can’t wait!
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Mega congrats on your first 10K, Andrew.
That is one big lake in the middle of the route picture !!
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Sounds like you did a great job dealing with the unexpected - weird start, lack of water, etc. Congrats on the PR at the new distance. Way to go!
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Bravo! You definately ARE a runner! (I got thirsty reading your post though!)
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That is awesome! I’m so glad to hear that it turned out better than you expected. Too bad it was jumbled, but hey… You are a runner. I could’ve used that saying today!
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What an awesome result - Well done :-)…..
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Excellent, excellent! What a wonderful effort, and page-turner report as well! What a great time!!!
Sounds like the water volunteers expected the walkers first as well, and weren’t ready for the runners, who arrived sooner.
You are a runner, you are a runner, you are a runner!
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:14 am:
It does sound a bit like that. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on them.
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Too COOL!!! That was an awesome race report and it was so cool that you got some inspiration from the bracelet. You ARE a Runner!!!!!
That is a great time!! really great. Reading this I can’t wait to run my first race.
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:15 am:
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That is totally awesome. The picture is totally awesome. Your timing is totally awesome. You are an awesome runner. WTG, dude!!!
By the way, why is that Europeans , Aussies and NZealanders always use the date in 13.07.08. It should be 07.13.08 like the rest of us, Americans!
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:15 am:
Thanks Ted.
Where is this “America” you speak of?
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Ted, it’s the logical sequence, going from smallest to largest: day/month/year. It’s only you ‘Merkins that think the month is more important.
And big congrats Andrew. I’m glad it all came together for you on the day - great effort.
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Congrats on your first official 10k! Well done!
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[...] recently ran his first 10k race, finishing in 53:14. Great work, [...]
You are definitely a runner, and congrats on an amazing run and a new PR!!! You rocked it! Cheers to you for a job well done, and pushing through. Congrats!
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Congrats Andrew. Aside from what appeared to be a rather poorly-organised race it’s interesting how it worked out pretty well for you in the end. Makes you wonder if they’d have had all the aid stations etc sorted out, you might have ended up going a lot slower simply because there was more a reason to stop!
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:16 am:
You know what? I think you are right!
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Way to go Andrew!! Despite all the difficulties thrown your way, you not only persevered but conquered! I love it:)
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many congratulations on a fine first 10k race! you should be very proud!!
sounds like the “i am a runner” bracelet did the trick
–steve
steves last blog post..Build Your Own Volkswagen Bus
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Even though it didn’t go perfectly, you had a great day! What an incredible time.
I think water stations are a bit overrated for runs of about an hour or less. Just hydrate before you head off and enjoy the run.
Again, nice job!
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:17 am:
I suspect I was more in search of a walk break than a drink to tell the truth.
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Congratulations on your first race! And that’s a great time, too, especially for your first race. Is a half on your radar now?
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:17 am:
Definitely. I’ll be doing my first half in November.
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Amazing, Andrew - way to go on the first 10k!! I love that bracelet — I need one of those to look at every time I feel tired or discouraged!
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:18 am:
Let’s see if we can get you one! Visit Amy at the Runner’s Lounge and I’m fairly sure she’ll send you one if you ask nicely. She’s brilliant like that.
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Wow Andrew! Congratulations, and thanks for sharing the ups and downs of the race. Makes me want to find one here in Portland -
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:18 am:
Do it metroknow!
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Awesome! Congratulations!!!!
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AndrewE
reply on July 15th, 2008 9:21 am:
Thanks Twix.
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Congratulations! That is truly awesome.
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I’m late to the party here, but congrats on another great race.
I am starting to figure out what my next goal will be after this weekends Triathlon.
You’ve inspired me. I think I will be signing up for a 10K soon.
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