half marathon

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Armstrong Wellington Marathon

Still fairly dark (and cold!) outside at the start of the marathon.
Westpac Stadium, start and finish venue for the race. Great to start a race at a venue with almost more toilets than participants! 🙂
From Westpac, down the ramp and onto the street. The low light made for some rather arty photos.
At about the 8km mark, still going strong.
The “W” of the Wellington sign was changed to a “V”, to coincide with the launch of a local vampire movie, “What we did in the Shadows”.
The whole run hugs the coastline.
The turn around point at Scorching Bay.
And the second time around, each time collecting a rubber band..
Beautiful rays of sunlight shining on the ferry for a brief moment.
Might not look like it, but a chilly wind was cutting around these exposed corners.
Gerry and Johann still going strong.
Only 12.2km to go! Fatigue and silliness starting to set in.
The busy walkway behind Te Papa in the last 3 kms.
A bit of sun for the final stretch. Gerry still smiling.
Up the ramp and only the final few hundred metres to the finish.
The three colours rubber bands you collect at every turn around point.

For the past four years since moving to Palmy, we’ve been keen on running the Wellington marathon as a birthday present to myself. I know, that might sound a bit odd to most people, but to treat yourself to something that’s healthy and good for your soul seems to me like a wonderful gift. Especially if you could make sure that you’re fit enough to enjoy the distance rather than it being torture. Continue reading →

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Te Mata Terrific Tui 21km trail run (Hawke’s Bay) – 18 May

 

Queueing at registration.
Johann, Nettie, me and Gerry shortly before the start.
Race briefing on a lovely sunny day in Hawke’s Bay.
And away we go – first lap around the cement reservoir and back.
Second lap – the organisers’ plan to spread out the field was definitely effective.
Up and up and up.
Jumping over gates and fences – many times. Red arrows were for the 21km run, blue for the 13 and green for the 7.5.
Beautiful views at the top of the rolling green hills.
On private land with lots of fence crossings.
Nice downhill section through a paddock.
Up and up again.
A wee dam on the farm.
Poor startled sheep not sure which way to go.
Gerry coming out the redwood forest.
A hilly section on the Te Mata track.
Single track paths once you reach the Te Mata track.
Some very steep and technical sections needs to be negotiated.
What goes down, must go up. The trig point is visible at the top where the only marshal en route takes down race numbers.
Finally at the highest point with wonderful views over Hawke’s Bay.
Serious downhill swithbacks to quickly get down the hill.
Down, down, down. Finally.
Deja vu! Our second outing on the Te Mata track after following the earlier markers.
Sausage sizzle in the lovely countryside.

When last did you find yourself knee-deep in poo? Not that it is a prerequisite for this event, but if the opportunity presents itself, why not grab it with all four paws? Continue reading →

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Great Forest Events – Waitarere half marathon (12 April 2014)

Me shortly before the start.
A rare sight – Gerry doing a “warm up stretch”.
The huge field of runners being walked to the start.
And many more still behind us.
Quickly squeezing out a few more drops before the start. 🙂
These red numbers turned out to be the marathon runners’ signage. Our 2km mark was still a couple of hundred metres further.
If the race becomes any bigger, congestion might become a problem.
A beautiful run in the forest.
Gerry too fast for the little camera and the lack of light in the forest on a cloudy day.
Manawatu River is reached at around the 13km mark.
In a small clearing, Gerry is rehydrating at one of the many water tables.
A lovely run in a pine forest.
Me trying to go as fast as I can.
Gerry still going strong.
Yeah! Couldn’t have come sooner. I was buggered by then.
Flying to the finishing line.
So close, so close.
Every finisher received a medal. A rare commodity in NZ.
Gerry just as he got his medal.
Happy to have finished the first of our back-to-back 21s for the weekend.

The Great Forest Events saw its 18th running this year and boasted a whopping 3243 finishers over all 8 disciplines: 42.2km run and walk, 21.1km run and walk, 10km run and walk, and a 5km run and walk. With the Rotorua marathon only 3 weeks away, we decided to do back-to-back half marathons as our weekend long run.

Continue reading →

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Round the Vines – half marathon

At the start: Gerry, Nettie, Johann and me.
A more colourful than usual race briefing.
The start of the half marathon.
On our way shortly after the start.
First water station.
Me flying past the vines.
The road leading through Alana Estate.
Second water station. More goodies to tempt the runners.
Meandering through the wine farms.
Lovely views while running through the vineyards.
Close encounters with a vine.
More fancy dress fun at the third water station.
One man show.
Full band providing great entertainment.
The split for the half and 10 on the first round.
Gerry on the extra loop for the half marathon.
“Garage” band.
Water station #4 – Gerry happy with his Sav.
“As I was trying to say …”
Water station #5.The range of goodies at these water stations was quite amazing.
The detour taking you through the school grounds.
Water station #6 on the school grounds.
Round number 2.
One man show.
One woman show.
A “thank you” from the school as you pass through their grounds.
Full band providing entertainment at the school.
The finish. Me still wondering how on earth I’m meant to cover 42.2km in 6 weeks time!

When first we stumbled upon this event, to be staged in the lovely town of Martinborough, we just knew it is a must do. We need to include long runs on weekends as training for the Rotorua marathon anyway, and what better way to do it than in events with lots if other runners. It’s much easier when you know you are not alone out there covering 20+km by yourself.

Continue reading →

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AMI Round the Bays 21.7km

Setting up early morning.
The little cannon that was used for the start. Don’t be fooled by its size!
Have your picture framed, courtesy of Malaghan, for the Run for Research members.
At the start – warming up shenanigans.
I decided to go red, orange and white for Malaghan.
Gerry, fresh and ready to go.
More entertainment to make up for the few minutes late start.
The Start banner – far, far away!
On Oriental Parade – the crowd starting to thin out a bit.
Cobham Drive where we encountered the first 10km returnies.
Gerry, clearly having a good day on the road.
Past the halfway point – me at full speed.
The out and back section is very sociable.
Gerry really having a blast at the turnaround point.
Fly, fly away – only about 7km to the finish.
Our walk through Mt Victoria Tunnel on the way back to the start, some 4km from the finish.
Comfort/reward food in the form of beer and pizza.

Let me say upfront that I am no good at asking people for money. As much as I would run around any Bay, around New Zealand or around the World for that matter to support a good cause, I just can’t get myself to ask people for money. I assign this to the fact that for the first 40 years of my life I lived in a country where the vast majority of the population are in need, and begging is just part of the make-up of daily life. You end up being overcome with guilt, because you simply cannot help everybody everyday who are constantly begging you on every corner and every turn you take for money, or food, or clothes, or anything else that might help them survive to see another day. And you become a bit allergic to asking for money yourself. I am sure fundraising for sponsorships come with much less baggage in a first world country where most everyone lives above the poverty line, so maybe in years to come we will get more comfortable at it. Continue reading →