Running the half marathon in New Zealand • 15 September 2024
Before arriving in Dunedin I knew that it was going to be a unique period of trying new things and pushing myself to new limits. The day I arrived I searched for “half marathons near me” and was immediately met with a link to one of Dunedin’s biggest events of the year, the Dunedin Emerson’s Marathon! I signed up on July 6 for the half marathon, something that didn’t seem too daunting considering it was over two months away…
the weeks PRECEDING the race
I will be candid when I say that I did not train nearly as much as I had hoped for this race. The combination of adapting to a new lifestyle, education, social life, weekend trips, being in the gym, and time for self meant my training was rather sporadic and did not stick to a proper regiment. I have never run a race in my life so as race day approached I started to accept the fact that it was going to be an extreme challenge and learning curve for the entirety of the race. I have never taken on a physical challenge like this before which also created a certain degree of nervousness given I haven’t met my physical limit in this manner before. I signed up for this race under the presumption that I’d be doing it alone, however the week of the race I was happy to find out other friends and acquaintances would also be racing. My friends and I put together a massive carb load dinner the night before and I ended the evening with a solid stretch.
Race day
The nerves weren’t as high as I thought they’d be, however it was quite a unique feeling waking up knowing I’d go to sleep having run a half marathon. I had a decently sized breakfast and my friends whom were also racing with me came to my flat before the race, (the starting point happened to be right in front of my flat).
Some last second stressing and before I knew it the race had begun! My thoughts were as follows:
Mile 1: THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE. I AM RUNNING TOO FAST. MY LEGS ARE ALREADY HURTING.
Mile 2: I am still running too fast and my legs hurt more than they should.
Mile 3: I am almost to the first water station, after that I will magically be healed. I am sneakily following these two girls, I like their pace.
Mile 4: Maybe I should eat my first snack.
Mile 5: I am still running too fast but I seem to be doing fine. I think I’m ready to pass these girls.
Mile 6: I passed the girls, time to find somebody else to follow. Wow, I’m almost halfway done. I’m definitely drinking gatorade at the next station instead of water.
Mile 7: I’m over the halfway point! I found somebody new to follow.
Mile 8: This feels too good! I don’t know how I’d be able to do this without music. Time to eat my gel.
Mile 9: Almost to the water station again, should I even stop?
Mile 10: I stopped for water.
Mile 11: I am getting so close. I feel great, I think I’m really going to pick up the pace now.
Mile 12: Some of my favorite songs are playing and I’m starting to get the chills.
Mile 13.1: I’m gonna do it! I cross the finish line as Paradise by Coldplay is blasting in my ears.
The last three miles I was filled with energy, profound thoughts of proudness and accomplishment, and most importantly I was having the time of my life. Gliding through the streets of Dunedin as people cheered me on, some fans holding signs that said “Hit me for turbo” and hitting them maybe a little too hard. Listening to some of my most influential songs whilst accomplishing a new physical feat. Life was at such a high! I truly had a phenomenal time and completing a race is one of those things you have to do in order to feel the energy in that way.
I ended with a 1:43:45 time at 7:55 per mile. I was super proud of this time! The runner’s high is so real! I felt like I was on another planet for the last portion of the race and at different parts for the remainder of the day.
to be human!
Humans can do such amazing things! The amount of energy, ambition, desire, and appreciation for accomplishing an adventure like this is something I will truly cherish to have been a part of. One aspect that running the half marathon has taught me is that pushing myself to new limits isn’t something that I hope to do a couple more times throughout my life, but so many more. Here’s to a life full of redefining the limit!
Find photos below, they aren’t too flattering!
DU Abroad 