jogging

by

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 →

by

Change your breathing rhythm to fix/prevent ITB problems

DSC02764s

When we first took up running in 2001, I made all the classic mistakes: too fast, too far, too soon. The end result? ITB syndrome. I went from one physio to the next and finally one casually mentioned that my one leg is longer than the other. The said leg presumably is taking all the hammering resulting in ITB problems. No other explanation was given at the time. Continue reading →

by

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 →

by

Super Seven Series – race 5

ss5

The Manawatu Striders in action

Some of the members of the hard working team behind the Super Seven Series each week, busy inflating and anchoring the start and finish banner. Getting everything set up and ready to play host to 1700+ participants takes a lot of hard work that starts early in the afternoon already. Like a well oiled machine each team member knows his/her role in the process to have the event run smoothly come 6:15pm. I don’t think many people realise just how much organising and effort go into staging events of this magnitude. And with the added bonus of receiving water, bananas and a sausage sizzle, it adds a whole new dimension to the planning and preperation.

A hearty thank you to the Manawatu Striders for putting together these highly successful and wonderful events for all to enjoy. Cheers!

by

Just an easy recovery run… Yeah right.

Upon entering Pahiatua, you’re greeted by a large sign advertising the 5km series.
And away they go! The walkers’ start.
The runners – a more serious affair.
Everybody received an apple at the finish and me with a spotprize!

If someone were to tell me I have to do two speed sessions two days in a row, I would have laughed him off, mumbling something like “crazy bugger”. Speed session is not in my vocabulary. Neither is fartleks or hill training for that matter. But if we’re on our daily trot and feeling okey, I’m always up for the challenge to race to the next street lamp, even if “race” implies just picking up the pace a notch or two for the next 50 metres or so.

As someone who’s always on the lookout for affordable events close-by we were happy to stumble upon a series, similar to the Super Sevens, in our neighbouring town of Pahiatua. It is a 5km run and walk hosted every Wednesday by the local club, the Bush Harriers, for the five weeks leading up to their half marathon on 22 March. So Gerry and I opted to go for the first one and see what it’s like. I doubt we’ll go through the trouble of driving 30km out and 30km back just to run 5km every week for the next 5 weeks, but we thought it to be a good outing and you have to try everything once, right? Continue reading →