Katie Kemp Profile: 2015 female division winner of the ASB Auckland Marathon

Q: How long did it take you to run the marathon last year?
A: 2 hours and 42 minutes
 
Q: That’s pretty fast?
A: It was 7 minutes faster than what I was planning on, so it was quite a surreal feeling!
 
Q: What did that mean for you?
A:  Well not only was it insane to shave so much time off my PB, I was also the first female across the line and because I had been choosen as a Run Down Your Rate runner with ASB, I also had my time converted into a home loan rate of 2.42% p.a fixed for two years - almost half the special fixed home loan rate on the market at the time (4.49%).
 
Q: How did that change things for you?
A: Well it was huge! We have three young girls, and we had made the decision for me to stay off work with them. The extra savings from having a lower mortgage rate meant we could start thinking about saving for the girls’ education and something special like a family holiday.
 
Q: Will you be running the ASB Auckland Marathon again this year?
A: I raced the Gold Coast Marathon in July this year.  We try to focus on one really good performance in a marathon each year. However, the ASB Auckland marathon is such a fantastic event. It is well run and has a great atmosphere that I like to be a part of,  so I will be competing in the Half Marathon this year.  I am really looking forward to the event next week.
 
Q: When do you find the time to train?
A: I have been very fortunate over the past few months. Our third child started school in term 2 this year, so I have taken abit of time to enjoy some training after school drop offs.  I have certainly noticed the benefits to my training of  being able to let the body wake up, eat and then get on the roads in daylight.  
 
ASB is excited to once again roll out the Run Down The Rate campaign as part of the 2016 ASB Auckland Marathon. This year the campaign is a little bit different to last year as ASB Auckland Marathon supporters across the country have the chance to be selected as a Run Down The Rate winner without even putting on their running shoes. The winning marathon time will be turned into a fixed two-year home loan rate for 10 lucky Kiwi families.