Tauranga half race report

January 8 - 2007: Joanna Lawn New Zealand Long Distance Champ 2008 Happy New Year for 2008!

Again, thank you for your support over the past years and welcome to another exciting new season, with new goals and new aspirations. Here in the Southern Hemisphere my race season has just started, summer has arrived, it is getting hotter and hotter and the humidity is rising too.

The Main goal for 2008………. is to run fast. I have decided to include in my run training this year, the famous Arthur Lydiard run, we run up and down the Waitakere ranges situated on the West coast of Auckland. These trails are notorious to help boost strength and endurance. Some of the most famous New Zealand runners, like Peter Snell, Lorainne Moller, Cam Brown based their training on these solid hills.

The Goal for my first race of the year was to run a lot faster than my previous performances there, and everything went to plan. I ran 5 minutes faster with an overall time of 4:18:04 more than 6 minutes faster than last year. Even thought I was not able to reclaim my title I am VERY happy with my race and fitness leading up to Ironman New Zealand.

Thanks again for all your support. Next week I start my preparation for Ironman New Zealand. My body is healthy and my soul is fresh and ready to go.

2008 Port Of Tauranga Half Ironman (full results: www.halfironman.co.nz )

Swim 27:13 Bike: 2:23:04 (Fastest bike Split) Run 1:25:27
Overall Time 4:18:04 Overall place :2nd

2007 Port Of Tauranga Half Ironman Swim 27:20 Bike: 2:24:24 (Fastest bike Split) Run 1:30:12
Overall Time 4:24:26 Overall Place: 1st