Bays of Glory: Gone with the wind
Saturday, 31 January 2026
Sunday morning, and the drizzle appears to be holding off. The entire running population of Wellington, haunted by the spectre of yet another day of wind and rain, has converged on the path that may or may not lead to greatness.
That path is the Round the Bays course, from Waitangi Park out to Scorching Bay and back to Kilbirnie Park if you’re a “high-achieving Harry hardout” (the sponsor’s words), or to the Cobham Drive-Calabar Rd round-about and back to the park if it’s the 8.4km “fun” run.
There’s also a possibly not so-fun run start for the “elite” among us ‒ the real athletes who are likely to complete the 8.4km course in sub 36 minutes ‒ as well as a family-friendly 5.5km short-cut option.
Today is all about actually running the route, as suggested by my coach. I have never said those last two words before in my life, but here we are, following a generous offer from running legend Melissa Moon to help me up my game after years of solo, one-speed pavement bashing.
She has also offered to run the route with me. I’m already nervous enough at the thought of disappointing her, so we agree I’ll do it by myself. It’s my second run this weekend, which is probably a mistake. The day before a race should be a rest day.
Still, I tell myself there’s no need for speed; this is not THE race, it’s a familiarisation. The thought lasted all of 50 metres. I weave around the families on bikes, the dogs peeing against the seawall, buckets of fish bait. The wind, unusually, is behind me.
If I have a plan, it’s disappeared. All I know is I want to do it faster than last year’s 49 minutes.
All in the mind
Interestingly, after just two lots of fast reps over two weeks there’s a noticeable difference in my pace. I remember Moon’s advice to “concentrate on your breathing”, to shake out my arms, to visualise the next 500 metres, and repeat…
In case I’ve overestimated my abilities I’ve arranged for a pick-up at the “finish line” in 50 minutes. I hit the park in 46.
I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing, or a bad thing. It certainly adds to the pressure I’m now feeling to do even better. Competitive? Who me?
Moon has given me a well-thumbed book to browse. The Handbook of Running (foreword by Olympic gold medallist Sir Sebastian Coe) might have been published in 1997, but as a basic guide it hasn’t dated, she says.
There’s chapters on nutrition ‒ forget the supplements, a balanced diet will provide you with all the nutrients you need, there’s no secret formula for the ultimate pre-race meal‒stretching (one of your most important weapons against injury) and cross-training (pick something that suits you and that you like doing).
Over the next few days I spend some time at the gym, do another slower 60 minute run and swim 1.7km.
An email arrives with some options for this weekend’s session. The first is the regular Saturday 5km Waitangi parkrun, starting at 8am, with 100 others, the second a 5km tempo run from Freyberg pool to the end of Evans Bay parade, either by myself or with Moon, at a far more seemly 10am.
I send it through to the boss, whose challenge to do this year’s RTB, has got me where I am today. His time last year was 45 minutes.
With just a fortnight to go before the big day he’s obviously worried, and suggests we do a 5km together. Too slow. Moon and I have already agreed we’ll run to Evans Bay, by ourselves.
Southern Cross Round the Bays is an 8.4km fun run coming to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in February and March. To register, visit roundthebays.co.nz