On April 19^th, 2015, the Auckland Run Series 10km race number 2 was held at Te Atatu Peninsula and saw RPM ladies running the course to do their best over the 4 laps.

Karyn Heatley, Joanna Boardman and Jaki Dwight all arrived at pre-registration, dressed in winter woollies to shield off the cold morning, sea breeze. However by the time the race was due to start, the sun was awake and the day was beginning to heat up quickly.

The course was anticipated to be “easy”. However it must be said, that this was simply a false sense of security that had settled in to the group with unfounded reticence. The clarity of the matter proved to demonstrate something slightly different.

The 2.5km loop began with a short flat section before descending down a gravel path into bush before emerging at the bottom of a short but steep hill. They pounded up this with all their might, to avoid being trampled by the throngs that were close on their heels. A short distance further presented a second and steeper ascent that was sharp enough to take your breath away. By the time breathing had returned to a rate that was manageable and hearts had stopped trying to exit chests via rib cages, the end of the loop quickly came into sight and a confidence again began to build. However before reaching this key point, a third, smaller hill –a grassy knoll really, came into sight. The shift in altitude was almost too much to take but the RPM Ladies powered on.

As the sun was heating up, secret areas of shade appeared on the course; a welcome escape from what was soon to become a blistering heat. It became a pleasure to run through these sections for the moment of cooler air before emerging again in to the scathing sun.

The aid station provided much needed water to people who seemingly had just escaped the desert. But seriously this was welcomed whole heartedly. 4 Laps later, the end was imminent and the race was conquered. Well done ladies. Three weeks practice until the next event.

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