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Wellington Half Marathon - Run


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Wellington, Wellington
New Zealand
8C / 46F
Precipitation
Total Time = 2h 24m 28s
Overall Rank = 1269/1549
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 117/137
Pre-race routine:

This one doubled as a bit of a weekend away for Mrs Bullfrog and I. We flew down to Wellington Saturday. Went and picked up my race number then to the hotel. 14th floor, harbour views, nice. Happy Mrs BF. I went for a quick, 20 minute jog (as per my training plan) then back to the hotel to watch the Warriors lose, and the Blues win the super rugby final.

Morning of the race was relaxed. My event didn't start till 9. So was up about 7:30 for a bite to eat, bit to drink and left for the race venue at 8. Decided the weather was too bad for sunglasses, but not bad enough to run in a jacket, so popped that all in my bag and was left at the bag drop.
Event warmup:

Did my leg/hip dynamic stretching routine, and then went for a 1km warm up jog, speeding up to racepace for a few hundred meters at the end. And had a Maurten 100 Gel about 10 minutes before the start.
Run
  • 2h 24m 28s
  • 21.1 kms
  • 06m 51s  min/km
Comments:

Despite being nice and early to the race venue I still managed to be a bit late getting into the start chute. So ended up right back in the crowd. As usual with a big run, the first km was pretty slow, there was a lot of traffic to weave around, including a surprisingly large amount of walkers who refuse to start at the back. Once out of the stadium and onto the streets I was able to settle into a rhythm, and hit my target pace of around 6:30-6:40/km.

For the next 10km out to the turn around things went pretty much to plan. I held a consistent pace 6:30-35/km, my RPE had me in the 'comfortably hard' zone I was aiming for. I was working hard, but felt everything was totally in control. I had my first 2 gels (Maurten 160, 40g/carb each) as scheduled at 30 and 60 minutes, ran through the 2 aid stations and had some water and electrolyte mix in both. (With hindsight this was a mistake, I don't think I got enough fluid into me and should have walked 20-30 sec each aid station to make sure I was hydrated.

At the turn around, my plan was to make a decision if I was able to accelerate slightly, or try to maintain my pace and hang on. By this stage my RPE was getting closer to the Hard end of the comfortably hard range to I started to play the 'just 1 more km at this pace, then I can look at speeding up' game. That game worked for 2km, and then I really hit the wall.

Had my 3rd gel as I was close enough to 90min, walked the aid station and tried to take on as much fluid as I could but when I tried to get running again it just wasn't happening. My pace was up over 7:15/km and my legs didn't want to cooperate.

The next stage of the race was 'I'll just cruise for the next km or so, then pick it up again' Unfortunately the pick it up again part never really happened. I struggled to the final aid station
(km 18) where I had my final gel and walked through again to get a decent drink.

The last 3km I was able to pick it up again slightly, but only to around 6:55/km pace. Which I maintained until the final climb back up to the finish were I saw on the watch was going to be close to 2:25. I was able to summon a final push to make sure I finished under the 2:25 mark.
What would you do differently?:

Start further forward in the crowd
Walk all the aid stations to make sure I got more fluid in.
Post race
Warm down:

Was absolutely spent at the finish. Had a couple of bananas and some electrolytes. Then a coffee and ginger slice before heading back to the hotel.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Poor hydration. Not enough training at the higher efforts.
Maybe poor pacing too.

Event comments:

I like this course. It is a PB course, if not always PB weather.
the swag bag was pretty non existent this year though.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2024-06-24 12:00 AM
Running
02:24:28 | 21.1 kms | 06m 51s  min/km
Age Group: 0/137
Overall: 0/1549
Performance: Average
https://www.strava.com/activities/11715647866
Course: Out and back along Wellingtons waterfront. Flat and fast.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Not enough
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Average
Mental exertion [1-5] 3
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Ok
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? No
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2024-06-24 9:39 PM

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Regular
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Auckland, North Island
Subject: Wellington Half Marathon


2024-06-25 7:23 AM
in reply to: #5289092

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Expert
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Middle River, Maryland
Silver member
Subject: RE: Wellington Half Marathon

Good race, Andrew - probably right on the nutrition but you'll figure that out. 

HMs are so tough to pace. 

2024-06-25 9:57 AM
in reply to: jmhpsu93

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Member
3147
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Subject: RE: Wellington Half Marathon
Congrats Andrew! Sounds like a tough race, but you persevered for a PR on this course!

I always carry hydration with me on runs now (training and racing), because I've been in that situation of underhydrated on the run too many times. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. And to be honest, the extra kg of water weight I'm carrying is nothing compared to the extra kgs of general weight I carry (despite my best efforts, these thighs will not budge!).
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