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Three Whangaparaoa College students developed a taste for half marathons after taking part in one or two.
Seamus Kelly, aged 17, Nick Goodall and Sam Creevey, both 16, say once they have their music on and they are running hard, all else is forgotten and although some of the races are in beautiful locations, they barely notice. The feeling at the finish line makes it all worthwhile.
“It’s an addiction – you’re always chasing a better time,” Nick says.
All three have proved they can run a competitive half – Nick was third and Seamus fourth for 16-year-olds in the last Auckland Half Marathon and Sam was fifth in the U20 age group in the West Coaster.
“Once you’ve finished, you just want to do more,” Seamus says.
To take it to the next level, the friends have set themselves the challenge of running in six half marathons (21km) over six months.
They have chosen to do the five races in the Mizuno Auckland Half Marathon Series, as well as the Auckland Half Marathon.
First up is the Devonport event on September 30 and training will start in earnest soon – once a few injury concerns are sorted out. Nick has shin splints, Seamus recently got concussion in a league game and is about to get the all clear, and a sprained ankle has held back Sam’s training.
The boys say once they have completed the six halfs, they hope to run a full marathon next year.
