Southland Harriers eNewsletter

St. Pauls Off Road Half Marathon, 10Km, 5km and 2km Fun Run

Sandy Point, Invercargill

100 runners took part in the St.Pauls annual off road event at Oreti Sands this year. It was a stunning day and ever runner and walker that attended got the opportunity to test themselves over the challenging distances, and enjoy some of St. Pauls amazing hospitality.

The last event of the Harrier season went off without hitch, thanks to the organization of Grant Baker and the St.Pauls committee. There were plenty of smiles and a few grimaces crossing the finish line outside of the Old Golf Club Rooms as the strong winds offered a little something extra to the course this year. The smell of the bbq, plus the tail wind at the end of the distances definitely helped with the last push to the finish line. Congratulations to everyone who completed their distances and we hope to see you all again next year.

Half Marathon Race Report-From Nicole Jackson

It was a debate this year whether it would be the 10km or the ½ Marathon. This might sound crazy but I am so glad I committed to the half Marathon distance as it was amazing. It is my 3rd year completing the event and I do love it. The terrain is varied, the views down the beach are spectacular, the cheers from the crowd as you come around to club rooms between laps is great encouragement, and the finish line burgers are the best in town. I may be biased but I am a big fan of small, local events, like this.

I jokingly asked the race director if I would be disqualified for running the course counter-clock wise (wind at my back down the beach) and he just smiled, so there went my race plan!!!!!!

I bit of pre race banter behind the club rooms and we were off. Some at quite the pace, but I have learned over the years that I can finish strong if I am realistic at the start.

After the short stint through the woods and across the dry bog (this year), the 5km runners separated from the rest of us. I think most of us completing the 10kms and half marathon were trying not to think about the beach as we jogged through the rolling sand dunes behind it. I am always up for a challenge and the beach proved to be a beast, the pace slowed and the wind howled. Still the kilometers ticked by, as they do if you just keep going, and as we came around the corner and on to Dunns Road, it was like hitting the downhill after a long uphill slog. The legs felt free, and the heart even freer. Lets go!!

I decided the first lap strategy would work just as well on the second, and it sure did. My second lap was only 2 minutes slower then my first, not bad considering the wind was even stronger on the second lap (or so all the competitors reckoned). There was a real sense of community at the finish line, like we had all shared something a little bit special, and especially hard. There were no PB's but lots of type two fun memories. If you are not sure what that is, you need to come to more Harrier events.

Thank you St.Pauls for a great event, I know I will be back for another or two round next year.