Road running

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Manawatu Striders – winter series (10km) – 3 July 2011

Gerry in his Canterbury outfit – again! He really likes red and black running gear :).
Brrrrrrrrr!
Me, getting into the frozen “whiteware”!
Adding water to the windscreen didn’t work – it just froze instantly!
Chilly out, but a lovely clear morning for a brisk run.
Almost got derailed there … a very tempting prospect shortly before 3kms.
Not quite the coffee stop, but very refreshing nonetheless :).
Running through the scenic Massey Campus.
Hee-ha! Not far now…
… just another short loop through the Science Park opposite Massey.
Shortly before 9km. If the fresh air doesn’t do it for you, the lovely scenery will.

The song by Bob Dylan, called “Orange Juice Blues”, was ringing in my ears this morning, and I figured it might just as well be my theme song :). The words stayed with me all day… “I had a hard time waking this morning. I got a lotta things on my mind. … I have a hard time waking most mornings. And it’s been that way for a month or more”…

When we woke up, the first thing Gerry did, was to check the Metservice website for a weather update:  “-1.9 degrees celsius, feels like -3“, and suggesting however many layers of clothing to wear. I was really in a pickle, not having the foggiest idea (no pun intended) as to what to wear, and how many layers thereof (despite Metservices’ suggestions). You might need 4 layers when going out for a casual stroll in the park at zero degrees, but when running it gets a bit more complicated. Continue reading →

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Manawatu Striders – winter series (5km) – 12 June 2011

Me at the start of the walking event (except for a couple of eager beavers in front!) – the runners were to follow a few minutes later.
Directions to the event with lovely winter sun peaking over the trees.
One might think is was a hot summer’s day if you look at the dress code! We were less brave.
A short section next to the Manawatu River with the Fitzherbert bridge in the distance.
hortly after the 3km mark, running on Fitzherbert Avenue.
he turn around point clearly marked, but everybody followed each other to turn after the second cone leading to the little path on the left, which takes you to the other side of the bridge making us miss the route markers. The 10km runners went straight ahead for an additional loop around Massey campus.
Gerry, flying over the Manawatu River bridge on Fitzherbert Avenue.

We took a little hiatus from running since the T42. I just felt like I was running myself unfit, going slower with every run, which resulted in discouragement and general lack of commitment. We have entered for the Auckland marathon, happening at the end of October, and knew that we must get on the road soon, but the motivation was next to nothing. And with winter in full swing; rain, wind and generally cold unpleasant weather, just the thought of running made me run for cover. Continue reading →

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Opiki School Country Half Marathon – 17 April 2011

Gerry, approximately 5km from the finish with some threatening clouds on the way.
Is that a nervous smile? Almost the whole field of participants are standing around waiting to get going.
Bede Gilmore, the school principal, explaining the course before setting us off.
A short patch of dirt road.
And then mud …
… and more mud. Planning the best path through.
Gerry getting water at about 5km into the race.
Route marker on a typical kiwi farmer temporary fence pole.
The finish “banner” aka the school entrance gate :).

After a week of wonderful, wind-free evenings and perfect weather, it started to rain the day before this event, coupled with some wind. As we got up on the Sunday morning, it was pouring, with a nasty wind, and it took all the motivation I had left in me to get up, get dressed and drive to Opiki, all along thinking that I will just check out the scene and bail before we even start.

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Kapiti Classic Beach Races (21.1km) – 13 March 2011

The participants at the start of the 21.1km beach run.
Gerry looking all ready to go.
Heading in a northern direction for the first 2.5km.
The first turnaround point at 2.5km.
The start of the kiddies 1km dash.
River-crossings added a bit of excitement to the race. Kapiti island is on the left.
Just enough to get your feet soaked.
Gerry, attempting to leap over the streams.
The finish line with a few supporters cheering participants on.
Very please to have won one of the two main spot prizes. You go Gerry!
My feet – clearly not used to running wet!

For lack of another word, I can only say that this race is awesome! What a gem. NZ is full of these very nice off-the-beaten-track small town races and the Kapiti Classic, a newby on the calendar, is no exception. Another inaugural for us.

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Bayleys Mountain to Surf Marathon (5 March 2011)

Gerry and I in the bus at the finish, happy to have survived the ordeal! 😉
This is what greeted us when we arrived at the hotel to catch the bus to the start.
On a bus to Abilene – not!
A sorry-looking bunch of participants waiting to start.
At the gate of the Egmont National Park.
Briefing just before we were off.
Rain, rain and more rain.
Me and Willie at about 12km.
The poor marshals at the water tables, soaking wet.
Lots of cars, also from supporters on the State Highways.

Having done the Mountain to Surf in 2008, our first international marathon, I was very eager to run the race again. My memories of the previous event was generally good, that it was a well organised event, apart from a cold wind and rain in the second half of the run (not that the organisers could do anything about that!). The organisers also offered us accommodation for the night before the event and was generally very kind to us. They made us feel most welcome.

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