I'm planning on 3 HMs this year. (Yeah, I know, a bit greedy ) 3 Feb, Pukekohe HM. Moved into Pukekohe at the end of December and found out about the HM only 4 weeks ago. I haven't really prepared for it, so will approach it as a long run and aim for about a 2:15 time. However my wife has also entered it and I don't want to let her beat me by too much 13 July, "Run Auckland" series http://runauckland.co.nz/ I'm also hoping to complete the 5 10km races in the series starting on the 30 March. I'll be working on my speed during February and March and aiming for my first sub 2 hour time for the HM. 2 Nov, Auckland HM http://www.aucklandmarathon.co.nz/. Last year I managed a time of 2:06, one year after starting running. Aiming for sub 1:55 this year at this stage, but that may change before the end of the year. I think I have caught the half marathon bug!!!

Just found this group, I love HM's I'd like to do full ones but my legs are not upto it. First one is the Amsterdam ( Holland so it should be flat ) on 15 March 2008, haven't done one since last March due to an Achilles problem which touch wood is now on the way out. Then the Dog and Hedgehog ( Market Bosworth, England ) 11 May 2008 plus I hope several more. Also planning on some duathlons just to spread the misery out.

Geoff way too go... I did 3 half's in one year before and it worked out good. First two were 6 weeks apart and third was 7 months later. Welcome runohio, I looked at your log and I do not think you'll have any problem. Don't start too fast, finish strong.. . Jules I started running with Duathlons but I fell on the bike and tore a rotator cuff so now it is too hard on my shoulder. However it turned me into a distance runner so it was a blessing in disguise.

Sorry Geoff, it seems so odd for me to hear yo say it's summer. I never tried one in the summer but I'm sure it is difficult. The good news is you have two more this year and improvement is likely. No where to go but up. 5 months of training can make a huge difference. Good luck!

anyone else run this before and know where the hills fall or is it all pretty hilly ? Anyone running it this year ?

Check in the Feb trainers thread. I'm running it and responded to you there.

Here's mine. It's going to be my first.

Congratulations Kathy! And, nice pictures. It must have been a spectacular run.

runohio - it was very pretty and perfect weather. They have a full marathon and a 5K the same day too. Sarge: The course was up and down between 4300 and 4700 feet above sea level. I don't think that affected me much - I live at 1500 feet and one of my training runs in the local mountains near my house got me up to about 5000 feet. When I tried to do some trail running at 8000+ feet in the fall - it was much harder - I'm always sucking air, but it was much worse up that high. When I hike and climb I don't typically notice the thinner air until about 10000 feet and it really starts to kill me above 12000 feet. I'm hoping the running will help get me more aerobically fit for higher elevation climbs. Kathy