by

Hatuma Lime Half Marathon

Date: 20 September 2015
Distance: 21.1km
Time: 2:09
Previous: 2011, 2014

Despite terrible weather, still a rather big field.
Ready for action!
We started off with a 400m out-and-back stretch.
A high-five with Rob.
Lake Hatuma in the distance.
Gerry being handed water at the first drink station by a little volunteer.
A dreary day for it, won’t you say?
Wet, windy and rainy. Could have been worse, I guess. 🙂
Lovely country roads.
Gerry quite visible, especially on an overcast day.
Prize-giving took place on the grand stand, out of the rain.
Nichola handling the prize-giving with a representative from the main sponsor, Hutuma Lime.

 

Evidently ’tis the season to be sick, for me. Despite gulping down fists full of vitamins and probiotics, I can’t seem to build up my immunity to fend off any germs coming my way. This has been the case since having to undergo minor surgery end of June coupled with a course of antibiotics. The latter will surely be the end of us as a species … Continue reading →

by

Marton to Wanganui relay

Date: 12 September 2015
Distance: 66.37km
Time: 6:05.58
Previous: 2011

Team Going Nowhere Slowly ready for action!
Bill handling the registration.
Jolly banter at the start with Peter and Kevin.
And we were off.
Having fun on leg one.
The first change-over. Change-overs between legs are very laid-back and informal.
Gerry and Marian having a chat.
Sunny and warm in the countryside for the first half.
Downhill with a warm morning sun in your back – bliss!
Some support from other teams.
Support crew keeping busy, doing … uhm, not much (Steph, Kevin and Peter).
Marian getting support from Peter and Kevin.
A wonderful blue-skies morning with just a chilly breeze to keep us from getting too comfortable.
Given the length of the race and the relatively small field, there were a few lonely stretches, but for the most part it was quite a social morning.
Support vehicles lining the side of the road.
Peter making sure Marian gets the necessary hydration.
Supporters point of view.
Running in the beautiful Rangitikei countryside, with some slips remaining as proof of the recent floods.
Catching up with some walkers who left earlier.
Another gentle downhill allowing Gerry to pick up the pace.
Flying down a long, winding downhill stretch.
Nothing beats a good morning in the NZ countryside.
Catching up with a Manawatu Strider walker.
The miles fly by when you smile.
More evidence of the devastating floods that hit the region a few months back.
Silt-filled paddocks serve as a reminder of the recent flooding.
These paddocks were lakes a few months ago.
Two cattle in the road nearly brought everything to a standstill: bikers, cars and Gerry on his leg.
The toughest hill on the course, a 2.5km climb up Reid’s Hill.
Nearing the top with support from Gerry and a couple of Striders team members.
As we caught up with the larger walking teams, change-over points were humming with activity.
Despite a warm-ish start, and lovely blue skies, the day got chillier as we got closer to the finish.
Still having fun!
An off-road stretch …
The second last leg – undulating and gravelly.
Having a chat to one of the Taranaki walkers.
Gerry passing the Okoia School.
The last leg – not far to go.
Gerry digging deep to keep up the pace over the final couple of kilometres.
Peter on his last lap.
Gerry on his way to the finish.
All done! Despite a much faster run than last time, we were feeling surprisingly fresh.
Kevin snapping his team-mate Peter at the finish line.

When Gerry and I did this event the previous time, we were fairly new to the area and hardly knew anybody. Although the event is quite sociable, I still remember running by myself for the most part, with Gerry supporting, and vice versa when he was on. We leap-frogged the whole course which I enjoyed thoroughly. Continue reading →

by

North Range Road

Date: 29 August 2015

Distance: 25km

Having a laugh at the finish, l-to-r: Kevin, Wouna, Gerry, Greg, Marian, Peter, Cath and in front Steph, Cheryl and Rob. Photo supplied by Cheryl, and taken by the late Stuart Hilder. The four walkers (Bruce, Evan, Denise and David) were having lunch already.
Shortly before the start. Steph, Cath, Greg, Cheryl, Denise, Bruce and Evan. Photo from Cheryl, taken by Trevor.
Cath, myself and Cheryl passing the deer farm.
Cath on a nice downhill section.
Gerry passing one of the muddy parts.
Cheryl and I only just visible in the distance.
Gerry and Cath rounding the corners ….
Cheryl screaming past with Palmy in the distance.
Steph and Greg still in sight up ahead.
The muddy stretch nearly over.
Cath negotiating one of the worst patches.
Cheryl still having fun in the windfarm.
Shenanigans on top of the world.
Easy going from here on a well-maintained gravel road.
A lovely run among the wind turbines.
Cath and Gerry arriving at the finish at The Bridge Cafe.
We had to have medals for our first running of the North Rage Road. 🙂

Having a quiet gravel road on top of a mountain with virtually no traffic, through a wind farm with wide open expanses, has to be the ultimate playing ground for runners, walkers and mountain bikers alike. Wonderful scenery in all directions, literally in our backyard, makes it hard not to want to run there all the time. Except, of course, on days with inclement weather. With views from the top of the Tararuas and great scenery in all directions, it is inevitable that you will be exposed to the elements. Continue reading →

by

Cambridge Half Marathon

Date: 23 August 2015
Distance: 21.1km
Time: 2:15:41

Lovely sunny day for it!
Some 300+ participants in the half marathon run and walk.
A short out-and-back stretch in the first kilometre.
And then we headed out of town.
The farmyard flavours always puts a smile on my face. Maybe it’s because it reminds me of a good Merlot. 😉
Stock grazing peacefully in the paddocks.
Runners making their way up the most significant “hill” on the course.
Having a laugh with volunteers at the second aid station.
Beautiful late winter scenery in the country.
What can I say … you can’t break a long standing tradition.
From around halfway we began catching walkers, who started 30 minutes ahead of the runners.
You know Spring is around the corner with all the lambs in the paddocks.
Not too far to go, but I was quite sore by then.
Always eternally grateful for volunteers helping to remove timing chips at the finish.

This was one of those runs. The kind that just happens to be there when you are. Without giving the distance or anything else much thought, you end up doing it, because why not? With work, lots of traveling and a few other things in the mix, turning up for the event was just another item on our to-do list for the week. And I’m glad we did. Continue reading →

by

Parkrun – Hamilton, New Zealand

Date: 22 August 2015

Distance: 5km

Time: 31.44

Why not dress up to make your mark at Parkrun?
Although quite chilly, it was a lovely morning for a run.
From the Hamilton Yacht Club, just follow the path around the lake.
Scenic and well kept park.
Circumnavigating the beautiful little Lake Rotoroa.
Pathway cutting across and through boggy areas.
No wind or rain – yay!
Gerry on an leisurely morning trot.

Parkrun has taken the world by storm! And there’s no signs of slowing down – all over the world new Parkruns pop up and more people join every day.

This all started in 2004 in the UK with the Bushy Parkrun (formerly known as Bushy Park Time Trial) when it was founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt. The organisers figured it would be a good idea to spread the Parkrun event to other locations and in 2007 new events started popping up across London and the UK. It has subsequently also spread to other parts of the world and roughly 13 countries currently participate in what is now a worldwide event run entirely by volunteers. The Bushy Parkrun is the oldest parkrun in the world. Continue reading →