Team Wairoa Bridge Run 2015 Done – What a team! (And that guy). Part 1 – The Start

The early start, the sea of humanity, the views, the run and finish for a cause, sums about one hour of pounding the payment in an amazing city. All the hours of preparation are worth it as the team runs to raise awareness and funds for the special school of Wairoa.

I was always find it amazing how people will join a cause. Dr Kim Nguyen joined the team with a gentle nudge from Roni, two weeks ago. Ellie, a dental hygienist, joined after a passing remark with her, one week ago. I foolishly thought it’s to get me over the line, but really it’s for people like my son James who has autism. They need an advocate, a voice, for they cannot by themselves be heard or understood. It’s the effort by these ladies, without a second thought, to give up their time and make such an effort that is inspiring and humbling.

The day started out at 7.30am with the guy meeting up with the ladies at Wynyard station, so I could put their gear in my car parked in a nearby car park. Ellie was already waiting, when I arrived. We both had our bibs on, when another runner came up to us asking if we had already finished! Well as the run was to start at 9am, we were taken aback for a second. “No were ready for next year’s run” I remarked. Then promptly told her the platform to get on for Milson’s Point. When Roni, and finally Kim arrived, I carried their gear to the car. Well I got some weight training before the run from these handbags!

Off to Milson’s Point for some photo opportunities and selfies for Facebook, I mean, focusing on the run. This is where I learnt that Roni has done a 92km run! Going through her pre-race stretches, I realised how inflexible I was. Roni’s sister and son were there to see what the fuss was all about… (and also to take our jackets). Now we are all told to hydrate before and during runs. The only problem is toilet stops. When there are a few thousand people running, the other problem is queues for the limited toilets available. Well I didn’t get the fastest time but I should get another medal for not having a toilet stop. Yes the ladies, amazing people they are, lost time on these stops. I lost time waiting for Ellie at one of these stops. Anyway, I shouldn’t talk, I lost time taking photos and videos. So the moral of the story… the bladder always wins.

I digress from the run. The sun was out to warm us up. That was good as we gave up our jackets before the run started. As we started to shuffle up the hill to the start, Roni needed to see her son quickly. With the masses of people it was impossible for her to find us again, so we had to start without her. The run started and we had to go. Now I was wearing my mobile via an arm band holder/strap. It also held my credit card and drivers licence. We are all on the main deck when I get an SMS. Thinking it was Roni letting us know where she is, I pulled out my phone. Well everything with that phone flew into the air. My licence and credit card flew metres away. I looked at the SMS… it was Renee wishing us good luck! Well Kim was slightly ahead of us, and when she turned her head to see where Ellie and I were, we had disappeared into the crowd.

People had kindly, and safely, picked up the credit card and licence and handed to me. Ellie was having a bit of a laugh… and then there were two! Better keep going and try and catch up. The view from the bridge is incredible and the sound of heavy breathing and pounding of feet is eerie without the usual car noises. Down the cork screw tunnel, where someone managed to get an “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi” echoing off the tunnel walls. More time wasting with the phone taking photos and videos, but why not. You can’t do it any other time of the year, unless you want to play with traffic. Out the tunnel and onto to the Cahill Expressway with views to the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the International passenger terminal. Worth another photo or two and waste more time.

Once off the Expressway and onto Macquarie St, as the first drink station at 3.5km, awaited us. This is where you run past someone who has a cup of water held out, grab it, and drink it, with half it cascading over your chin and down your bib. It didn’t matter, because it started to drizzle. Good, as it cooled us down at the right moment. But I still looked silly, trying to drink the cup whilst, dancing over the thrown cups on the road, all the while trying to look athletic. Yeah, right!

Next week: Team Wairoa Bridge Run 2015 Done – What a team! (And that guy). Part 2 – The Finish