April 2009: Levin Great Forest Marathon
By Peter Mc Veigh
What a build up, it sounds so insane.
Six months ago I turned up to the club rooms out of curiosity.
What an incredible group of people I met.
I could never believe that anyone could walk for so long, talk about nothing and keep a group of people entertained. But after a couple of hours, you are looking for someone to talk to. So all the training is not about fitness, it’s a MIND game.
Trip to Levin
3 pm Friday we travel to Levin by minibus (Thanks Russell for the drive down). Forty questions on the way.
Good time to relax and chill out. We picked up our race packs and checked into an awesome motel. Then all out for dinner – Thanks Kathy you organised a great weekend!! – Lamb shanks were incredible and then it was back to motel, via countdown, for some last minute items.
If you think about it, the Great Forest Marathon is aptly named, as you lay in bed drifting off to sleep with the sounds of chain saws (or was that Russell)
Wake up:” Breakky, shower and get ready – must remember to bring gloves next year as so cold!
Start time: 7 am
Sun just starting to awaken, nerves are… well no nerves really everything in place and all ready to go.
Spent the first ten km with Liz and Jenny, I thought this was a race so how the hell can you be doing your itinerary for a trip to Tonga while busting a gut in Levin!!
Five and a half hours later it’s all over. When I finished I was totally spent, understandable, but I think I learnt a great lesson.
I though walking was all about physical endurance, but it is not.
Walking is all in your head.
I have met so many great people; my life has changed so much over the last six months, what an incredible group of over achieving people I have met.
I am not normally an emotional person but the emotions that ran through me as I crossed the line were intense.
Maybe I’m getting soft, but I think that it is because I have found an incredible group of people who are more than happy to help someone else achieve which I have not had before.
I Thank you, one and all. This is truly a weekend I will remember forever.
