Owai had lots of success at the 2024 Auckland Marathon and Half Marathon on 3rd November. In the marathon, Joel Bickers ran to a superb 9th overall with a massive pb and lots of other Owai runners ran personal bests too. In the half, Mariano Piagentini ran a pb and took out the age group win. Simon Mace wasn't too far behind and we had great participation levels in both races.
Joel Bickers heading out along Tamaki Drive
Well done to all our athletes who took part:
RESULTS:
5km: Tanaka Chivasa 23:14; Jessebelle Ng 23:45; Theodore Ng 27:27
11km: Josh Nishitani Hart 42:56; Monique Peattie 1:14:22; Jessie Casson 1:26:03
Half Marathon: Mariano Piagentini 1:13:31; Simon Mace 1:15:27; Caitlin Peers 1:23:43; David Toomey 1:28:11; Eoin O’Rathallaigh 1:29:38; James Clendon 1:31:16; Nathan Hayhurst 1:31:55; Anthony Lo 1:32:26; Elliott Lowe 1:39:35; James Parker 1:39:51; Charlie Li 1:39:56; Graeme Christie 1:40:08; David Lockhart 1:49:24; Winona Lee 1:49:25; Unmesh JN 1:50:27; Kaitlyn Booth 1:55:49; Jovina Chia 1:57:00; Pia Gordon 1:57:53; Dan Forder 1:59:27; Emma Hawkins 2:08:55 (pacer); Oscar Mahy 2:17:54
Marathon: Joel Bickers 2:34:33; Harvey Walsh 2:45:10; Mitchell Carlyle 2:49:48; Haoting Ma 2:51:23; James Fisher 2:53:14; Keith Burrows 02:55:46; Dion O’Neale 3:04:22; Kathleen Hudson 3:09:48; Jie Huang 3:19:55 ; Tharindu Jayasinghe 3:23:14; Bethany Bromfield 3:29:42; Matt Cope 3:47:13; Ketina Chivasa 3:50:59; Ben Baird 4:16:42
Haoting Ma is a well-known figure on the local running scene. He loves running marathons and is easily spotted in the crowd, usually without his singlet! He's done 30 now and he's only 25 . Here's his race report:
And just like that, another Auckland Marathon has crossed the finish line! It was a wildly windy Sunday, with the Southerlies swooping in like an unexpected surprise party - especially since Saturday and Monday were all calm and cozy! Seriously, who ordered this gusty wake-up call? It’s not every day you get a windstorm for breakfast!
The wind turned out to be a significant factor for the day's experience. As we merged onto the motorway from Smales Farm at the 10km mark, we were immediately confronted by the unyielding gusts. Although the forecast predicted a steady wind of 26km/h, the exposed stretch of the motorway made it feel much more intense. Ascending the Harbour Bridge became even more demanding, as the wind created an experience similar to running into a solid wall. It was only after we passed Shelly Beach Road at the 18km mark that we finally broke free from the relentless gusts hitting us head-on.
Haoting Ma at full stride
Runners who managed to join a group or form a “train” had the advantage of drafting behind one another, making it easier to combat the relentless wind. Unfortunately, many of us didn’t have that luxury and were left to face the gusts alone, which sapped a significant amount of energy. Half- marathoners got a break after enduring the intense motorway winds, as they turned straight toward the finish line. But for marathoners, this was only the beginning, as the course led us out to St. Heliers and back. The outward leg wasn’t too challenging, with the wind relatively calm, but the return from the 31km turnaround at St. Heliers was a different story. We encountered a brutal headwind all the way back into the city, and many runners struggled, slowing down or even hitting the wall in the face of the unyielding gusts.
Despite the blustery gusts, our fearless road warriors in their blue and red singlets charged ahead like true champions! A big round of applause for Joel Bickers, who soared to 9th place with a jaw- dropping Personal Best of 2.34.33! What a legend!
Mariano Piagentini ran an awesome half
The beauty and challenge of marathon running truly come to life on days like this. As I've often said, you can use ChatGPT to cheat an essay, but you can't use it to cheat a marathon. Such days are a genuine testament to the effort you've invested in your training. As an experienced runner with 12 years under my belt, and having completed 30 marathons in 7 years by the age of 25, including many sub-3h finishes, I hold a straightforward philosophy: running is a natural movement. The more you run, the more your body adapts to it, making the act of running easier and allowing you to go longer, farther, and faster. This principle is especially crucial when preparing for a marathon. I firmly believe that the mileage you can maintain in the weeks leading up to the race is vital. The greater the sustainable weekly mileage, the more favourable your marathon outcome will be.
There’s no doubt that the wind had a considerable negative impact on race day; however, ultimately, it is your training that determines your boom or bust. Leading up to the Auckland Marathon, I had been consistently running about 100 km per week for roughly 12 weeks, peaking at 144 km just two weeks before the marathon. This extensive mileage during the preparation phase was crucial to my finishing time of 2:51:23. Without those miles in my legs, I would have also struggled significantly against the headwind on the way back into town from St. Heliers.
What this means is that, in marathon training, you shouldn't stress excessively about the strategic technicalities. The key to improving your marathon time is to run farther and more frequently. So, let go of the notion that every run must meet a specific time or distance requirement. Simply step outside and gauge how you feel; your body may respond differently once you've covered 1km or 2km. Remember, even running just one more kilometre is an accomplishment worth celebrating.
Ensuring you have adequate nutrition and hydration during race week is also crucial. This involves consuming enough carbohydrates and staying well-hydrated. It's important not to experiment with anything new on race day; if you've always trained with gels or a specific breakfast for your long runs, stick with that. However, I often emphasise that if you’ve properly prepared during race week, having breakfast or gels on race day is more about psychological reassurance than physiological need. Even if you skip breakfast or gels on race day, it likely won't have a major impact on your performance.
Conversely, if you haven't done your homework properly during race week, no amount of breakfast, gels, or electrolytes will save you on race day. As a sub-3-hour marathoner, on the morning of the Auckland Marathon, I only had two sachets of gels, and that was sufficient. However, if you anticipate being on the course for four, five, or six hours, carrying extra gels or fluids is not a bad idea.
When it comes to race day tactics, pacing is crucial, especially on a challenging course like the Auckland Marathon, where the first half features significant undulations. For those running their first marathon, my advice is to focus less on a specific time goal; simply finishing is a victory in itself. It’s essential to keep in mind that if the first half doesn't feel like your slowest pace, you are likely going too fast. By the time you reach 25km, if you don’t feel energised enough to maintain your pace indefinitely, then you are going to have a tough day in the office. A common mistake runners make is getting too swept up at the start line, fuelled by their training, carb-loading efforts, and the crowd, leading them to push too hard too soon.
On a course like the Auckland Marathon, it’s vital to pace yourself wisely. Use the first 6km, which includes the hills of Devonport and Takapuna, as a natural warm-up. After conquering those initial hills, settle into the race, and seek out groups or runners who share a comfortable pace; if you can find a pace group led by dedicated pacers, then that's an
added bonus that can help keep you on track. Once you reach the motorway at 10km, it's time to establish your rhythm while remaining alert and composed. Keep that steady pace and feeling until you hit the turnaround point at 31km, at which point you should reassess your strategy. As I always emphasise, in a marathon, the real race doesn’t begin until you reach 35km. For a comprehensive breakdown of all the hills in the Auckland Marathon, check out an article by my friend Hayden Shearman from Tempofit. Hayden is a highly skilled runner, an experienced coach, and an outstanding Athletics NZ commentator, and he’s put together a great resource to help runners prepare for the course’s unique challenges. https://www.tempofit.org/hills-of-the-auckland-
marathon/
From first-time marathoners to seasoned racers, Owairaka athletes have once again demonstrated resilience, conquering both the wind and the iconic Harbour Bridge. The club’s success was a testament to their hard work and camaraderie, making this year’s Auckland Marathon one to remember. Here’s to more milestones and victories in the year ahead! As we approach the end of the year, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you on behalf of Owairaka Athletics to all our members, friends, the broader running community, race organisers, coaches, and officials. Your invaluable support has contributed to another successful year in running. We truly appreciate your ongoing help, and together, let’s empower more Kiwi athletes to reach their
aspirations! Kia Kaha!
Comments