World Masters Athletic Championships.
All the WMA events were based in and around Auckland,
except for the marathon in Rotorua.
Our first run was the 'Welcome to Auckland' 5k fun run on Friday.
This was only 3 laps around the 'Auckland Domain' park, and was very low-key
(just a chance to stretch our legs).
The official opening ceremony of the championships was on Saturday, and
included some colourful native dancing by Onehunga High School students.
| Then Sunday morning, to the start of the 10k. The ladies race was a separate event,
and lined up at 8am, only to be delayed due to a car parked on the course.
They eventually put cones round it, and we set out on the 2 x 5k laps - an
undulating road skirting a park, with a nasty hill at the 4k/9k point.
The gents started later, so had to contend with higher temperatures and humidity.
Alec had a good run, and was delighted to find he was included in the
gold-medal-winning GB/M70 team, while Rosemarie got silver with the GB/W55 team.
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| We were planning to fill the week before the ½ marathon with sightseeing around
Auckland, but the GB team manager was recruiting volunteers for the cross-country
relay teams - so of course we leapt forward, and it was an early start again on
Tuesday for the trip south to Manukau City.
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Rosemarie was first off for the W50 team,
on the 4k course (2 x 2k laps), while Alec had to wait for the M70 race;
both our teams got silver medals, so it was worth the extra effort. |
| Then an even earlier start on Saturday for the ½ marathon, along the sea-front at
Tamaki Drive. We all started together at 7am, with a beautiful sunrise over the
sea. An absolutely flat run, 2 x 10k, out-and-back. There were plenty of GB supporters and
and with their encouragement Rosemarie just managed to catch up to the bronze medal
position (having started at a 'sensible' pace, thinking of the marathon yet to come).
A post-race massage for just $10 (about £3.50) was wonderful value in easing the
aches. Alec again got an M70 team medal, silver this time. |
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We left Auckland the next day, hoping to spend the week touring around,
and relaxing with some walking, but it started raining. So we headed for Rotorua,
where it rained even more.
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Evidence of achievement!
Displaying our haul of medals. |
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