Rotorua Marathon: Missing out on couch time well worth it

Cherie Smith

I'M A 39-year-old mother of two and I am not a runner.

I watched the Rotorua Marathon last year inspired by those back-of-the-pack participants who struggled with far bigger obstacles than myself, yet they were out there and I was on the couch. This time last year, I started some boot camp training and struggled to do the warm-up lap of the park.

As my confidence grew, I started some short forest runs encouraged along by David Massey, my trainer, culminating in the 10km at the Rotorua Running Festival late last year.

I enjoyed being able to achieve some goals I'd always thought were impossible.

So I plucked up the courage to head down to the Lake City Athletic Club Marathon Clinic meeting, and set out to do the Rotorua Marathon. Ridiculously nervous, I nearly chickened out before I'd begun.

But I can honestly say joining the clinic has been the best decision. I couldn't have made it through the training without my amazing pack group.

There's nothing like three hours running in the forest to form a bond. It is support money just can't buy.

Completing the Rotorua Marathon has been a bucket list item I didn't think I could achieve, let alone as a runner.

The 5hrs 31m it took me were simultaneously my best and toughest moments, and my life will never be the same. It's a day I will tell my grandchildren about.

I loved the Hamurana section. Supporters yelling "go Lake City" still rings in my ears. I felt like a runner. Achieving my own objective of running the whole way felt great and so too did the unexpected pleasure of picking off other runners.

Also, my children have seen me strive for my goal, they've seen that sometimes you have to work really hard - and miss out on a lot of couch time - but that the rewards are worth it.

They've seen me walk the walk, excuse the pun.

I've learned that I am capable, that any sort of body can run a marathon, it's really the brain that needs the training.

Lake Rotorua, I'll be back.