Rotorua Race Report

Friday night, 2 May 2003 and the curse of marathons past, the Rotorua 1999 looked like it was about to revisit us. It hosed down all night, and the road was awash round the back of the lake as Dave Ellis (who had a major sense of deja vu as a survivor of 99) and I did a reconnaissance drive on Friday evening.

By morning the skies were starting to clear and blue was poking through, and with a forecast of 12-15 degrees and light southerlies it was shaping up as a perfect marathon day.

Dave and I went to the start area and aimed to meet up with Bill Trompetter at the 3 hour board, but by the time we got to the start the assembled field of about 1700 was so densely packed the closest we got was the 3-1/2 hour marker. Still, we bumped into John and Anna Robertson looking nervous but fit, and the cannon duly fired us away.

Off we set through the streets of downtown Rotorua, heading towards the western side of the lake and Ngongotaha. Dave, John and I ran together in the early stages and we could see Bill up ahead, so set off to catch him, finally doing so at 5km. Up ahead we could also see Rob McCrudden, running in a big pack that included the usual sub-3 hour crew like Bernie Portenski and Max Dravitski. Bill, Dave and I caught up to Rob at about 10km, and we got plenty of catcalls about it ``not being a Valleys pack run, you know'' as four orange vests ran along together. We soon settled into a solid but comfortable pace, and though we spread out a bit we were in touch with each other until around half way.

Past Ngongotaha the course becomes very undulating, with some testing wee climbs and sudden downhills, and Dave had moved comfortably ahead before the first major hill at Moerewa (virtually halfway). My pace was bang on my 3 hour schedule, and on the way through a drink station at 21km (1hr 27), we had another wee Valleys reunion as Bill and I were caught by Wendy Cottrell (running in the colours of Feilding Moas, en route to being the fastest woman first-timer and 3rd overall). Over the top of the hill and feeling good, I set my sights on catching Bernie, and tagged onto her at the bottom of the Moerewa hill. She was brilliant to run with, making wee comments like `relax' and `don't fight the hill' as we chuntered along back down at lakeside level.

At this stage I was feeling great, relaxed in the legs, breathing well, a bounce in my stride. There was growing aching in my quads, but nothing to be too concerned about. We went past two officials at 25km, who put our positions at 53rd and 54th overall, with Bernie 3rd woman overall at that point.

Onto the main highway, we successfully negotiated the last marked climb on the course, a 1km-long grind at about 26-27km, and relaxed down the other side. Just past 31km, another runner came up behind us and Bernie quickly decided we ought to tag on behind him. I joined and we made a three-runner train for about half a kilometre but the slight increase in pace was just too much, I had to slow up, and with increasing pain in my legs, all I could do was watch as they ran away from me, despite Bernie's urgings that we had done all the hard stuff and it was ``all downhill from here''.

The next 10km taught me exactly what `hitting the wall' is all about. A failing body, a fatigued mind, shot to bits, I could do nothing to stop my pace withering. I had figured hitting 30km in 2hr 10min or better would give me a good shot at 3 hours. After all, it's only 4:30 per km pace from there. We hit the 30km board in 2:05, with 55min to run the last 12km. That last 12km took 1hr 10min.

The final quarter became a matter of survival, rather than speed. Finishing became the only goal. Bill caught me just past the Rotorua airport -- I think he said something to me but my oxygen-starved brain was too fatigured to register it. I think I swore back. A little after that I stopped to stretch my quads, this seemed to help a bit, but my pace was slowing dramatically, my energy levels were low and runners were going past me with ease. With 3km to go I was desperate for an energy lift, and again stopped to walk at a Powerade drink station to make sure I got a good drink, then shuffled on. Even the sight of other runners going through similar dramas -- stopping to walk, stretching wrecked muscles, stumbling on -- wasn't enough to lift me.

The last 2km were sheer pain and despair. I could see the finish at Government Gardens, but with the steam and smell of Sulphur Point in my nostrils could do nothing to lift my pace as I experienced the continuing anguish of seeing runners passing me with seemingly energy to spare. One old guy motored past en route to winning his age group in a race record, 3:08 for the mens 65-69 years age category!

I finally crossed the line in 3:14:54 on my watch, 3:15 officially.

My strategy had been to run 30km in under 2hr 10min, then rely on my conditioning to get me home in under 3 hours. But the demanding course was too much for my legs it was a struggle in the final quarter of the race.
Still, 97th overall and 41st in open men looks good on paper. Unfortunately it is more as a result of a continuing reduction in standards at what was once NZ's premier marathon, than a stellar performance on my part. 11 years ago Dave Ellis ran 2:27 to finish seventh. This year Todd Stevens ran 2:30 and walked away with a national title and $3000 in his pocket. Only two women ran under 3 hours.
For those of you who haven't done Rotorua, it may be on the decline but it is still a great event. Well run by experienced people, great support from the locals, a beautiful and very testing course, lots of drink stations. Next year is the 40th anniversary, so a good time to make your debut, or return to an old friend.

By Simon England.
Valleys results here.