2018 New Zealand Centurion Qualifier. The 21st Sri Chinmoy 24 hour race in New Zealand. October 6th -7th. AUT MILLENNIUM STADIUM: MAIRANGI BAY, AUCKLAND.
I am one of those people that anything new gets me out of my comfort zone. Good news for me this is my second trip to race in Auckland. Last year I was sick. Being sick cost me my race. Failure sent me into a mental funk that lasted till June of this year. This year I returned Healthy, Familiar, Fit and Ready to Race.
The one wildcard with the early spring race in Auckland is the weather. Always cooler than OKlahoma. Rain almost every day. For the 2018 NZ Race not one drop of rain fell. Perfect race conditions. It was good to see New Zealand’s Centurion judge Phillip Sharp again. My Mentor and Brother multi Centurion Australian John Kilmartin. Kiwi Centurion Cliff Harrison. My facebook friend Belgian multi Centurion Kim Janssens. Belgian multi Centurion Luc Soetewey. Also walking was Joanne Aitken. Her first ever walking race. The New Zealand Centurion race, the runners and the people in charge and support are first class in every way. A very upbeat positive race. Every ultra race I have been to around the world is like a big family reunion. New Zealand is no different.
My race goal this time was a lap around the 400 meter track every 3 minutes 20 seconds. 18 laps per hour. Around a 22:30 finish. A nice comfortable Centurion pace for me. Some cushion for unexpected problems. This plan turned out to be the correct choice. At twelve hours I was right on pace with a nice cushion. I would need that cushion. I started to feel sick. A couple of stops at the loo did not solve the problem. I was walking and dry heaving. I left my mark around the infield of the AUT track. Sorry New Zealand. I threw up everything I had many times. Knowing I could not finish without liquids and food I would replace everything. Only to get sick again later. A vicious cycle. I literally expected my body to shut down at any time. My only comfort was figuring the split times I still needed to finish. As long as I finished every lap under four minutes I was good. Easy right. Try and walk four minute laps on the track eating, drinking and throwing up for over six hours. It was not easy. Plus I was watching my cushion slip away. I was watching my race slip away. Slip away again.
John suffered with blisters and did not hit the halfway mark early enough to finish his Centurion. Seeing I was in trouble John came back out and paced me to the finish. Now that is a true Friend and Centurion Brother. John is a lot longer legged than I am. Even with bad blisters John had me humped up to keep up. I just kept telling myself I did not want to be the guy that had to go to New Zealand every year to race. Much better to except the suffering, reach down deep and finish. It worked perfect I did however suffer. Thanks again John.
I finished with a 23:23:46. Not bad for the way I felt. Kim and Luc did not have the walks they dreamed of. I have been in their shoes. Makes for a long flight home. Just know, not every race will go to plan. That does not mean that redemption is impossible. As to Joanne. What a pleasant surprise. A very strong and able walker. She finished right behind me. Became only the second Kiwi lady Centurion. Well walked Joanne. Congratulations.
This concludes my World Centurion Quest. Earned all six badges. I don’t know what my plans are right now except I will be taking some time off to recover and reflect.
Early in the race behind New Zealand Centurion Cliff Harrison.
Me with just a few laps to go.
At the 100 Mile mark with my Centurion Brother John Kilmartin.
New Zealand Centurion Judge and record keeper Phillip Sharp. New KIWi Centurion Joanne Aitken at the bottom left.
Thanks David. Suffering during training without a doubt helps during the race. It gets your mind in the right place. Rob
It struck me that you succeeded because of week 12 Sunday Rob “My humble pie walk Sunday did not work out as planned. The first two hours were perfect and just ahead of my Centurion race pace. I fought stomach issues for the remainder of the workout. That made me slower and weaker every hour. I gutted it out to seven hours. Pulling the plug right on my intended race pace average 13:25. Still a good workout. Achieved the intent of the walk. Left me humbled. In fact this whole week has been humbling.”
You had struggled through that and it was a great preparation for the final hours at the weekend. Brilliant !!
Thank You Luc. It was great to finally meet you in person. You take a race as demanding as a Centurion walk. Add in long international travel. Different time zone, different foods, a change in sleep pattern. It transforms a physically and mentally demanding race into a gargantuan task. Recover well. I will see you again somewhere around the world. I will be the guy walking the race for fun. Rob
Hi Rob, Just read your report,… and of course first a BIG applause for you, having completed th NZ Centurion and at the same time adding the last one worldwide to your list!
So enjoy your accomplishment and … do some ‘fun’ walks now.
Thank You Rudy & Caroline. I wish you had told me a couple of years ago just how tough it was to earn all six. Honored to be on the list with the two of you. You are Great Champions along with Sandra Brown and Jill Green. I am truly humbled to be included on a list with the four of you.
Rob
Hello Rob, great job at the Centurion Race at NZ. We enjoy you at the small club of members who achieved 6 Centurion batches. Only the second man with six bathes worldwide. Magnificent! Kind regards, Rudy and Caroline, Belgium.
Thank Jenny.
Dang Proud Rob!!!