by

Mt Ruapehu 3-day fat-ass run

Date: 20-22 January 2018

day2b

After entering for the Ring Of Fire event coming up early in April, we thought it might be a good idea to see what we are actually letting ourselves in for. We have tramped the Round the Mountain Track a couple of times with backpacks, tenting and generally being prepared for anything the mountain throws at us, so knew the terrain we are heading into. But we were more than keen to experience the challenging terrain a bit more “light-footed”, without the burden of a heavy pack. I always associated the toughness of the track with carrying a heavy pack and wearing less agile footwear. On the down side, should something happen, we would only have our emergency gear with us which might keep us alive, but would be very uncomfortable should the weather turn to custard. Continue reading →

by

Run one walk one – an easy ultra

Date: 13 January 2018
Distance: 60km

Time: 8.5 hours (and about .5 changing gear, eating and filling water bottles and food stuffs)

 

Shortly after we started, Gerry had to stop to suck out the air from his sloshing bladder.
This is where things got interested, trying to find the track from the end of Waitoetoe Park through to Pioneer Highway.
Passing through the suburbs.
Finally back in a park, testing a log chair which was not yet needed at that point.
On the trail again.
Just across Pioneer Highway.
The walkway carries on up to Milson Line.
Apart from a few road crossings, the track is mostly away from traffic.
Most of the track follows the Palmerston North waterways.
One of the underpasses.
Some nice graffiti under one of the bridges.
Gerry having time to play with his camera.
Passing under the railway line.
Yet another bridge to pass under.
Interesting graffiti behind a building in the industrial area.
And still the track goes on.
And on.
Until the track was no more … From here it was a ziczac throught the industrial area before heading down Napier Road, Te Marai Road and back to the river walkway.
Back on the Bridle Track just after we had a good shower. And then the camera battery died.

Planning for Gerry’s 50th birthday, we decided to do that “thing” where you run your age. Eyeballing the running calendars high and low for a 50km run the weekend before or after his birthday, delivered nothing. So what does Gerry do? He signs us up for a 100km event instead, only double his age. What’s a few kilometres between friends? (Goodness knows how we’ll manage a 100 miler when he turns 80!). Continue reading →

by

Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk

Date: 29 December 2017 to 1 January 2018
Distance: 46km (give or take)

“The Lake Waikaremoana track has the largest area of native forest in the North Island. This region is the ancestral home of the Maori tribe Ngai Tuhoe – the ‘Children of the Mist’. Entirely within the boundaries of Te Urewera, the track mostly follows the shores of the great lake. Over three to four days, it leads you through pristine rainforest, regenerating shrubland areas of wetland, rush and herbfield and a magical ‘goblin forest’. You will also discover magnificent rivers, waterfalls and ghostly valleys of mist. Continue reading →

by

Lower Hutt parkrun

Date: 23 December 2017
Distance: 5km
Time: 29.14
Previous: Hamilton #1, Palmy #1, #2, #3, Kapiti Coast #1, Porirua #1

Another beautiful morning for a run.
The bride and best men, posing for a pic.
The merger.
Lots of participants for this event.
Running along the Hutt River walkway.
Some of the best men already on their way back.
High-fiving the groom.
The turn-around point.
The bride not dilly-dallying either!
A nice spot for a parkrun.
Heading back towards the end of what felt like a very long 5kms.
The line at the finish for the bar codes to be scanned.

Meeting up with friends who were visiting New Zealand for a few weeks, we happened to be in the Hutt Valley during the weekend and decided to fit in a quick run.

Too much eating out, way too much wine (and beer, and whiskey) and not a whole lot of running since the Twelve days of Christmas challenge, is a bad combination for attempting a “comeback”, so to speak. Full of pickled confidence she said, “let’s run to the event and back”. Including the parkrun, that would give us a solid 27km long-run. Great idea. Perfect idea! But… Continue reading →

by

Palmy Christmas parkrun

Date: 16 December 2017
Distance: 5km
Time: 38.08
Previous: Hamilton #1, Palmy #1, Kapiti Coast #1, Palmy #2, Porirua #1

Another change in our work schedule meant we could fit in another backyard parkrun. The organisers decided to make it a Christmas themed event, so we all (okay, some of us) dressed up for the occasion. Continue reading →