running

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Red Rocks Wellington Coastal Challenge – 32km (reduced to 28km due to bad weather)

Date: 15 November 2014

Time:  3:36.32

The friendly helpers at one of the water points (at about 19 to go?) offered to take our pic.
Mist and blustery wind at the Miridian Energy wind farm.
Runners huddled up behind the bus.
Dave Franks explaining the route change.
A goat (?) skeleton in the deserted part of the country.
The new start in the road leading to Oteranga Bay.
Within the first kilometre we were in our usual position as the tail-end Charlies.
The start of the Mid Monty at Oteranga Bay.
Intense concentration to fight the gale force winds.
Tough going on the rocky terrain.
Gerry finding his way back to the “road” after being blown towards the sea.
With the strong tail wind we only needed to lift our feet and automatically be propelled forward.
Luckily the rain stayed away and the day turned out not as cold as anticipated.
Lots of time spent running in loose sand.
Rather technical terrain, especially with the wind shoving you along.
A few stream crossings. We could mostly get across dry-footed.
Friendly helpers at the most exposed water station offering bananas, Gu Brew, water and Coke.
A lighthouse out at sea.
More challenging terrain.
I was very grateful for the more solid surface of the 4×4 track underfoot.
There’s no use trying to run all the sandy parts.
Sand.
And more sand.
Our scenery included distant views of snow capped mountains on the South Island.
Very tough terrain to try and run, especially for a slow-poke like myself.
Beautiful flowers lining the path to the next water point.
This water point had the privilege of a sheltered shed.
On-on.
Making our way round the southern most tip of the North Island.
The sun came through turning the otherwise chilly and windy run into a warm affair.
Approaching civilisation.
Run bits, walk bits, you’ll get there.
How do you run this terrain?
Back in a residential area, but being a coastal challenge, we stuck to the beach rather than running along the easier sidewalk.
Some rock hopping.
With the various distance options, we encountered quite a few other participants along the way.
Nice scenery along the coast.
A detour on the sidewalk.
Looking back at the coast line we came along.
The finish at Queens Drive, about 500 metres short of Lyall Bay.

The Auckland North Shore Coastal Challenge has been a popular event on the Total Sport calendar for the past 13 years. Given its continued success, they decided to extend the event to a series (the Coastal Challenge Series), comprising the existing North Shore event as well as 2 new ones in Wellington and Tawharanui, respectively. Numerous distance options were available – the Full Monty (32km), Mid Monty (25km), Mini Monty (19km), Bay Scrambler (13km) and Beach Hopper (7km).

So this was yet another inaugural event for us, which is always exciting, but does mean that not a lot of info was available beforehand about the event. Total Sport described the series as a “run, walk, wade, scramble and rock-hop”, so we knew we were in for something special.

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Going the ultra distance: Taniwha – 60km trail run

Date: 8 November 2014

Time: 8:27

 

Race briefing in a friendly farmer’s paddock.
And a few more seconds, aaaaand …
… we’re off!
Shortly after we turned onto the trails, we were treated to this stunning view over the Waikato.
The sun only just out, but already quite warm. For the most part plantations and indigenous forests sheltered us from the worst sting of the sun.
Gerry speeding around the switchbacks on an early steep downhill.
Happy for the downhill stretch.
Gerry, myself and Paul (pictured left) where the tail-end Charles’ at this point, with the sun at our backs.
Dodging MTBs on narrow trails.
“Only” 55km to go.
Gerry having crossed the first and largest swing bridge.
An open section where large sections of plantation have been cleared.
Slowly but surely we chipped away at the kms.
A wonderful, wide, easy, forest road where MTBs could pass with ease.
Gerry going strong.
Down a steep gorge with some spectacular scenery.
Crossing the Waipapa Dam wall.
Approaching our first water station – a welcome sight after about 18km.
This was also the start of the 42.2km event.
Having a runny nose due to the cold air, and continuously having to blow my nose, feels like a waste of breath.
One third down, I was wondering how I would ever make it to 60km.
Large native ferns to shelter us from the sun.
Another steep downhill. As a fellow runner noted, steep descents really are a waste of a good downhill – you lose all your elevation without the privilege of a long, easy descent.
Another milestone. By this point I was pretty stuffed, and remained that way to the end.
Enjoying the perfect weather and the good conditions underfoot.
Hey, hey, halfway, yay!
Strangely enough we had more interaction with other participants, than what we had on most other road races.
More friendly support at the waterpoint at about 32km.
Slow down, Gerry! We’re in an urban area. Entering the historic riverside town of Mangakino.
Big was my surprise to find the 21.1km to go marker, as the 20km to go sign was about 3kms down the track! Speaking of mind games, this one really got to me.
Crossing a wetland area.
Running with constant views of Lake Maraetai to our left.
Another crossing on a swing bridge.
The flatter terrain of the last 20km helped to keep us going at a reasonable pace.
Crossing the river at the Maiterea Power Station.
I just had to have a sit down at this water point, while drinking my GU Brew.
Running next to Lake Whakamaru.
Come on dear, we don’t have all day.
This bunch was such a happy sight at about 4kms to go. Free hugs and jelly sweets were handed out.
The last section had lots of tree roots to trip over – a real challenge when you can no longer lift your feet.
Crossing the narrow road leading to the island in the lake and Whakamaru Christian Camp, finishing site of the race.
Gerry and I all smiles, happy to have survived The Taniwha.
With a beer in hand the pain is almost already forgotten.

Here’s a funny story. On our way to the start of the run, our 65 seater bus suddenly pulled over and a girl and guy jumped up and urgently stepped out of the bus. Everybody was like, huh?, but as they made a beeline to the nearest bush, laughter set in at the familiar sight. A girl has to go when a girl has to go. It turned out her husband had a chat with the bus driver a few minutes earlier asking him to make a pitstop and the driver kindly obliged.

The Taniwha (meaning protector or guardian of the river) is organised by Auckland based sporting events management company Total Sport and a host of distances are available to walkers, runners and cyclists alike. For the cyclists there’s 83, 60, 42.2 and 22km events with the 83km also available as a team relay. The runners have 60, 42.2, 21.1, 14 and 7km options with the 60km also as a team relay option. Walkers had the choice between 21.1, 14 and 7km routes. Route markings were excellent – there’s no getting lost, and the water stations were well stocked with water and GU Brew. The drink station at about 37km also offered Coke, bananas, pretzels and sweet biscuits. Continue reading →

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Footprints in the Sand – Foxton beach 20km fun run

 

The start and finish of the event.
Gerry at the start with 20 other participants.
A few announcements before we were off.
The Surf Club disappearing in the back with two runners behind me.
Blue bottles in abundance.
Loved the informal water points operated off the back of people’s ute’s.
Overcast and a bit of wind, but quite pleasant.
Gerry donned his Manawatu Striders shirt, but we spotted no other club members around.
The perfectly straight, perfectly flat beach between Foxton and Himatangi.
Seven done, 13 to go.
The second water point.
Front runners on their way back.
A baby seal came to greet us.
The turn around point at 10km.
Gerry providing some entertainment along the way.
Footprints in the Sand. Apt name for the event.
The wide flat beach makes for some lovely reflections.
Third water point.
The end is near.
Prize-giving at the Foxton Beach Surf Club.

I guess if you battle with motivation to do long runs on your own, it’s always a good idea to join some other runners for an event somewhere. Even it there’s only 21 other participants.

The Foxton Beach run is organised by the local Lions Club in Foxton, a small town on the west coast of the North Island not far from where we stay. We stumbled upon the event earlier this year and decided to participate when the time comes. Then we overheard other runners saying that they weren’t sure whether it was still on and thought the race might be cancelled. But luckily I saw it listed in the Runner’s World so we reckoned it must be on. Continue reading →

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Wairarapa Country Marathon

 

Gerry about 8 seconds before the start.
A beautiful morning as the sun rises over paddocks and lakes.
Henley Lake in the background.
Quaint letterbox. 🙂
Gerry on his way to the first water point.
With the sun still only just out, it’s hard not to also get the photographer in the pic.
Early morning wonderland.
Running in rural Wairarapa.
Between farms and cattle filled paddocks.
Signage to indicate where runners should go, as there aren’t many marshals en route.
Almost a quarter of the way done. I knew then already that the 32km trail run of the previous weekend was still in my legs.
First run in a while that I’ve ended up in a t-shirt!
For some reason a farmer dumped his lamb tails next to the road?
Hehe – couldn’t help but have a laugh at this sight!
First lap done, onto number two.
Over the Waipoua River.
Clear instructions along the way.
Crossing the Ruamahanga River.
Amusing rural distance markers.
Heeha!
Lovely scenery en route.
Only about two kilometres to go. Yey!
Prize-giving.

This is another of those events that we’ve been looking to do for the last couple of years. Being “reasonably fit” this year in our attempt to run 100km in February 2015, Gerry entered us for the Wairarapa Country Marathon as buildup towards our main goal. Being well aware that I haven’t remotely recovered from the 32km trail run of the previous week, we were entered and was going to push through. Neither of us are ill or injured and we need the mileage, so with no excuses we drove through on the Saturday afternoon.

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Hatuma Lime Half Marathon

All smiles at the start of the race: Johann and Nettie who joined us again for this event, moi and Gerry.
A large-ish field for a small town event.
Some super heroes also took part. I was trying to catch the “well endowed” banana, but he stayed a few hundred metres in front of us.
And away we go! The blue t-shirt worn by the lady in front of us is the official race t-shirt, kindly sponsored by Hatuma Lime.
Nettie and Johann in the first kilometre which is an out-and-back stretch to make up the distance for a 21.1km event.
Me at the second turn, finally about to head out on the open road.
A typical scene of me in three layers while the locals wear T’s and shorts.
The snow-capped mountains made for beautiful scenery (and a bit of a nip in the air).
Country ro-o-ads, take me h-o-o-ome!
A nice chap next to the road had beers on offer. Would have loved to just park there and share a couple of beers with him. Next time!
The transition and water points were usually a jollyfication with lots of supporters and team members cheering runners on.
Fly, fly away.
The last few kilometres are run in the streets of Waipukurau.

I recently read in Runner’s World magazine that a PB has an expire date … of about 3 years or so. And here I thought I could still claim my PB’s from when I was in my early thirties.

But I think most runners have an urge, or a longing to reach those goals that have always been eluding you. Whether it’s a 5km, 10km, half or full marathon (or whatever distance), there will always be a little voice in the back of your head wondering if you can still go faster. Even if you’re 15 years older and much weaker. And even though it hasn’t been a conscious decision for me to try and improve on my fastest 21.1km time, I have been hoping to still one day complete a marathon in under four hours. I have never really trained for it, and with 4 hours being a very reasonable target, I’m sure it’s still do-able. Continue reading →