Mrs Martian, a marathon runner in the making!

Ok, time for something that is completely non design related simply because I have to say how proud I am of my wife, Glen.

Yesterday was the annual Kawerau Half Marathon and 11km Fun Run.  Glen, who has been working hard to get fitter for the last 18 months, entered the 11km fun run a few weeks ago and has been training at least 5 days a week to get ready for it.  Glen has never competed in any type of road race.  The closest event to something like this was the “cross country” races at school where she generally rolled home last.  So understandably she was a bit nervous about her first ever real event.

We arrived at Kawerau with our mate Maggi all half asleep after an ealry start from Tauranga.  We didn’t know the area but found a park and waited for my parents who were joining us for support.  Maggi and I had the job of co-ordinating Glen’s post run nourishment and wardrobe.  We set up home base in the back of the Martian car then made our way to the start point.

The day was bitterly cold and misty but there was an excited buzz in the air.   As Glen stretched and tried to keep warm in her thin running outfit Maggi and I stood by bundled up like eskimo’s and pointed out how nice and warm we were  My parents arrived and parked down the road in a position where they could watch for Glen as she ran by.

We all waited for the timer as it counted down to the start time.   The hooter sounded and we wished Glen good luck as the runners moved off.  I watched as Glen as she jogged off through the pack making her way past the slower starters wondering how well she was going to do.

I was a bit nervous.  She had been working hard and had never run 11kms straight and we did not know what to expect.  I was confident she would be fine because I had seen the effort she had put into her training – but you can’t help worry when your partner is worried.

Glen has estimated that the run would take her about 80 minutes based on her training times around our neighbourhood.  So we supporters to time out to enjoy hot chocolate and biscuits.  Then Maggi and I went across the road to the conveniently placed supermarket for the makings of a hot chicken roll to warm up Glen after her run – a better option than the hot soup we had in the thermos back in the car.

Well, the course was a lot flatter and than where Glen usually runs, allowing her to stretch her legs out to a much faster pace than in training – slashing her estimated time to shreds.  The result: she came across the line at 59 minutes!  She was so quick that she bet us all to the finish line arriving about a minute before we all did!  Naturally Glen was over the moon with her time and we were all was extremely proud of her.  Next time we’ll UNDERESTIMATE her finish time!

Later the results were posted on a notice board and we wandered over as we warmed up with hot drinks.  Glen was amazed to read that she was the 8th woman across the line, less than 5 minutes after the first woman!  She was also only 18th overall to finish.  So in her first ever event she had managed to come home in the top 10 woman and the top 20 overall!

This was the icing on the cake and now she is looking forward to next year when she will compete in the half marathon event.

Glen is also registered for the Rotorua Tough Guy and Girl 12k Challenge next month and is looking to enter the Hamilton Half Marathon in October.

So a big “congratulations” to Glen and keep it up – We’re all proud of you, especially me!