Cathay Pacific Auckland Half Marathon 2009 Race Report
Well, I ran the Cathay Pacific Auckland Half Marathon this morning. 
I’ve been looking forward to this event as it is my first race of 2009 and also my second half marathon. I’ve also been really worried about my pace lately. As you may know I’ve been doing low heart rate training and my training pace has gotten really slow. I’ve tried to run a bit faster of the last few weeks but it just hasn’t really happened. This event was the test of if it works or not. I figured if I’m slower than the previous half marathon then it doesn’t work or at least it doesn’t work the way I’ve been doing it. Although if I managed to PR…well then it would depend on by how much. For the record my first HM time was 1:59:04. How did I do this time? Well read on. 
This event is a bit odd in that you have to guess your finishing time when you enter. They then give you a custom start time and the idea is that everyone finishes at about the same time. I must admit I was a bit dubious about this as I pictured horrific congestion at the end but that never really eventuated.
I left home with my Dad at about 7:45 and he set off with the 8AM starters. Yes, I do live close to the start! I hung around for a while and then set off with the 8:30 starters. I was supposed to start with the 8:35 starters as I’d been optimistic and put down 1:55:00 as my predicted finish time but while I was waiting I started to think that that might be a bit unrealistic and I’d try and do the same time as last time.
The 8AM start wave was reasonably small – maybe about 50 odd people. I made sure I was up front as there were a lot of 11K walkers starting with us (there was an 11K event on as well) and I didn’t want to get held up.
I made a point of taking it easy for the first two kilometers as I’ve always gone out too fast in past events but it turned out that they were my second and third fastest kilometers of the race so I guess I still went out too fast.
The first 5K was very comfortable. One of my goals was to chase down my dad who had started off 30 minutes before me but I saw him coming back (there was an out and back section to start) as I was heading out and I knew it would take a miracle for me to catch him.
The next 5K wasn’t too bad. The sun had come out by this time and the temperatures were rising. I think the humidity level was 89% as well so conditions were good but by no means ideal. At about the 9K mark we hit the first of the two hills and I didn’t find it too bad. I think the fact that I’ve been training on that hill meant that I was not afraid of it so that was good.
I struggled after the hill however. KMs 10 – 15 were hard mentally. I hit that patch where you start to question why you run races for time and whatnot. Having said that my times weren’t suffering too badly so we’ll just leave that there.
I’d arranged to meet my wife at a certain point (about 17.5 km in) for photos and all of a sudden I realised I was almost there and there was no way she’d be there! So I called and changed our rendezvous point. My mum, wife and daughter cheered me on:
And I must admit it was a real boost having them there. About 2 km later at the 19.5 km mark I had another great surprise when I spotted my cousin’s family. They’d come to cheer my dad and I on and it was very special to see them. My cousin’s husband told me that my dad had just gone through so I felt a burst of energy shoot through me and I sprinted off to chase him down.
I never caught him but I did manage to smash my old PR. My time was 1:52:25. An improvement of 6:39! My aim had been to hit 1:55:00 so beating that was an incredible feeling. I guess the low heart rate stuff works!
Interestingly I figure I could go a lot harder if I look at my heart rate stats. I averaged 159 bpm but my max was 166 bpm. That is nowhere near my max heart rate so I probably could have pushed it a bit more. I think I pretty much maintained the same effort throughout the race. I even even-splitted which is a first for me.
Here’s my route map:
I’ll have some more photos later in the week as the Marathon Photos folks were out in force today.
For those of you interested in the low HR stuff, Chris, sent me a great link that has some very useful information in it.
Comments
37 Responses to “Cathay Pacific Auckland Half Marathon 2009 Race Report”
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Andrew … Awesome!!!
You really are inspiring to us who fall off occasionally (regularly!) Fantastic times and it just goes to show that proper preparation prevents p*ss poor performance! Well done!
Twitter: billjw05gmail.com
Well done Andrew, great effort, always nice to register a PR!
Bruces last blog post..Cycling update, and getting some rest
Well done Andrew, taking 6+ minutes off a PB is an awesome effort!
Andrew(AJH)s last blog post..A drive to Shep
Fantastic result Andrew
Kristys last blog post..Good News has Arrived…
great job and I love the picture. you look so CALMHAPPYATPEACE.
MizFits last blog post..RandomTwitterTriggered Facetime.
Awesome Andrew! 6+ minutes is an incredible improvement, especially over 13.1 miles! That is inspirational in and of itself.
When you pop-up the map, it’s as if you’re running in your own backyard … that’s great that you’ve got a race that close to you.
I guess I can stop asking you if the lower HR stuff works. I’ve been slowing down my LSR’s because of hearing about great returnes on the races from it, and also from the results I’m getting on my shorter distances lately.
Congratulations! Keep up the great work and I hope you have a bad day of eating after the race … you can afford it!
Spartan7s last blog post..Trail Exploration
Awesome! It’s impressive that you managed to shave a full 6 minutes off your PR. Love the photo, too. You were obviously having a good time.
I like the approach to the race, with the staggered starts. Never heard of that being done, but its very cool. That way, the whole group gets an emotional lift at the end.
Congratulations!
Gregs last blog post..The Science Of Wellness – February Edition
Twitter: livefitblog
Congrats on the new PR!
For some reason, I find it really amusing that you made a phone call during a half marathon… after you’d been running for 15km. Maybe that’s common, but I’m impressed
Cograts on a new PR!! And you look incredibly happy in the picture
suzannes last blog post..Weekly weigh in and goal update!!
That’s terrific! I am signed up for my first race, but it’s just a little 5K.
It must feel great to finish 6 1/2 minutes better than your previous!
Pauls last blog post..Undeserved Admiration
Twitter: weightasec
Way to Go Man! What an awesome post and I like how you kept us in a bit of suspense as to your time. Great job as well on the PR. You are amazing and it shows that no mater what you can do what you have set your mind to doing.
Robs last blog post..Progress Can Be Made
Congrats on an outstanding run, and your PR! Amazing stuff! Very interesting with the HR too!
Melanies last blog post..the concept is easy….
Great report and congratulations on the PB. Sounds like you had a fun race.
The staggered start seems a bit unusual to me but only in that they set off the slow people first. Split starts are reasonably common in the cycle races I do but the fast people go first. This means they don’t have to continually overtake the slower riders as they go. I guess it’s perhaps less of a safety issue in a running race but I imagine it would be really annoying if you were a 1.30 half marathoner having to weave around 2.30 people. Not that I’m saying there’s wrong with a 2.30 half marathon BTW, having run one in around that time once myself!
Great race report! Congrats on the PR!
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Twitter: tippytoediet
YES! Nice work…it makes me want to stop my chores and get out there and keep jogging…I’m so excited for my first half-marathon! You can see the excitement in the picture…your family must’ve been so proud and you must’ve felt amazing!
Well done, very inspirational:)
Jeff Honeycutts last blog post..Do Your Chores!
Great race report and congrats on the PR! Keep up the great work. I once ran a 4-mile predict-your-time race and the field was more spread out than races usually are!
David H.s last blog post..Craving that long run
Twitter: runningbecause
Truly awesome, Andrew. Might you go sub 4 hours for your full???
Jeffs last blog post..Swimming Sucks. . . The Rest, Not So Much
Heh…need you ask about the eating?
Twitter: AndrewENZ
I was worried a bit about congestion but it never really eventuated. I think everyone built in a bit of a buffer.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
It was amazing having all my family there.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
Slow down Jeff!
I was originally planning on setting a time goal for my first marathon but most folks say that is a major no no.
I just want to experience the joy of completing it for my first one.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
I have to ask this because i forgot the last time. After a race like that are you extremely sore? Or because you have trained so well in the past that that’s not an issue anymore? Just curious.
Robs last blog post..Yes, Another Workout Post 2/22/2009
SSSSSSSSAAAHHHHWEEEEEETTTTTT !!!!!!!!!! That is friggin awesome. Congrats on nailing this one down !!! Your post-race report was truly awesome. Again, CONGRATS !!!
Teds last blog post..Thanks for your support!
Twitter: seetedrun
Wow! Wow! Wow! PR by over 6 minutes! What a fantastic time…
I’ve been contemplating training at slower paces and lower heart rates, and always mean to do it on my long runs, yet I never seem to achieve this. Invariably I like to run a bit faster since it feels better and my form improves. Running slow actually hurts my knees more than a good pace. Of course, I don’t go THAT fast, but I think you know what I’m getting at: I am not as disciplined as you!
Great race!
Vavas last blog post..16km – And Another One Bites the Dust
Congrats on the PR Andrew!!! Way to go!!
Jasons last blog post..No Pain!!!
My ankles and calves hurt a bit in the afternoon but by the next day they were fine.
Twitter: AndrewENZ
Way to go Andrew. Congrats on the PR. Sound like a perfect day with your family out in force.
Tonys last blog post..Another Good Run
Great race, great results, Andrew!
You are a great inspiration, and a great example to follow! I just started my journey to becoming fit and to becoming a regular runner and your story keeps me motivated and on the road!!
Keep running, man!!! And keep posting…..
have you considered a podcast, by the way??? Think about it!!! I’m sure you would be great!!!!
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Well done, that’s a cracking result.
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bloody brilliant… congratulations andrew
dietgirls last blog post..Hei Suomi!
Twitter: shauna
Exceptional Race!
I’ve been paying attention to your low HR training. It is still hard to believe, but your numbers don’t lie. What a great race and dang you are fast. 6 + min improvement. Jeepers!
Daves last blog post..Hot and Cold
Excellent job on the new PR!
Great race and a great race report. Congratulations on the PR!
mikes last blog post..Breathe Better Than Boots?
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Andrew, Great job on beating your PR, I always seem to get a boost of encouragement when I need it by reading posts like these. Keep on keepin on and all that.
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Tonys last blog post..Huh? who me? yeah you fat man!
Great Job Andrew!!
Belated congratulations on the new PB time Andrew. Well done indeed!
Aaron Hochwimmers last blog post..Technically Running in Shanghai
Oh wow, it seems so gruelling. Oh well, I will try to task inspiration from you and keep on putting one foot in front of the other…
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