running

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Feilding Moa 21.1km (27 February 2011)

A lovely run in the country.
At the start (me right at the back somewhere) with 46 other participants.
The first few kilometres through the streets of Feilding.
Runners scattered along the country roads.
The small out and back section, proving there were actually some other runners.
Gerry at the turn (between the 12 and 13km mark).
Me at the turn.
Friendly helpers at the water station.
Melon and watermelon at the finish.
Gerry on his way to collect his prize.

“The 15th running of the Roy Lamberton Memorial half marathon introduces a brand new town & country course starting and finishing at the Makino Aquatic Centre. Also new is the 2-person relay section for the half marathon – that’s around 10.5km each. Or try the shorter 5 km event, including a 4 person schools and business house team competition where each team members time is combined for a total distance of 20km. We offer a measured loop course of 21.097km, mostly along quiet rural Manawatu roads with a gentle 75m rise and fall. All events start and finish at Makino Aquatic Centre on the corner of Manchester St and Council Pl. It goes along Manchester St, left into West St, out of town along Awahuri Rd, right at Lees Rd, left into Sandon, (the transition for the half marathon relay) right at Te Rakehou for 1.5km out and back, returning via Sandon Rd, West St and Manchester St.  Each kilometre will be marked.” [http://www.harriersnz.350.com/HALF_MARATHON.htm]

Gerry and I arrived shortly after 8:00 to register for the event, on a cool and overcast morning. It seemed pure madness to pay $40 for a 21.1km event, taking into account that in SA it would cost around R40 or less. However, we really needed the training and having to run 21km on one’s own is always much more of a challenge.

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O budget, where art thou?

budget

Race entry fee:
$120.00.

Buying a commemorative T-shirt:
$59.00

The burn of the air in your lungs as you clear that hill at the 25km mark:
Priceless.

Yes, its difficult to measure, in monetary terms, the value you get out of a running event. Looking back at the past decade, few things have left a deeper impression in my memory than the wonderful, tough and enjoyable races we’ve been fortunate enough to be part of. Continue reading →

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Birthday run (26 February 2011)

The birthday boy on the footpath next to the river (which is just beyond the bushes on the left).
Picnic on the rocks.

Happy birthday, dear Gerry, happy birthday to you!

Most people will probably think “hey, it’s my birhtday, I’m not doing anything”. But we decided that a nice picnic by the river wouldn’t do no harm, especially with a little run to get us there.

Shortly before lunch on a windy Saturday morning, we packed some cheese, ham, buns and chilli olives, plus the usual jelly babies and water, before heading off to the river.

The Manawatu River is fairly dry at the moment, as is the whole Manawatu (and other parts of the country), but the walkway is always a nice playground away from traffic. We parked at the holiday park side and trotted along for about 4kms when we spotted a nice area on some rocks next to the river. Good enough to cut our 7km run short there and then, so we settled down and unpacked our spread.

Sitting quietly next to the river amongst trees, I can barely imagine a previous life where the closest nature and peace was some distance away from home through hideous traffic – enough to make you stay at home.

After a lovely picnic, we walked the 4kms back to the car, having the rest of the day ahead for more celebrations.

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Introducing the New Plymouth Downhill Demons (12 February 2011)

The Te Rewa Rewa bridge that forms part of the extension of the walkway to Bell Block.
The Downhill Demons and us.

At seven thirty on a lovely Saturday morning, six of us were outside Henriette’s house in New Plymouth for a casual jog down the Te Henui Walkway and onto the Coastal Walkway to the impressive new Te Rewa Rewa footbridge by the sea.

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Manawatu Striders Super Seven Series #3 (1 February 2011)

Thousands of people on their way back to the finish next to the Manawatu River. A tiny part of the wind farm can be seen in the back on the hill.
The start at the YMCA with 1500+ entrants.
Congestion on the walkway.
Water table just after 3km.
The keys table. You leave your car keys on a table while you run.

After our little stint through the Manawatu Gorge on Sunday, my muscles were (as expected) extremely tender. So much so, that I battled to go down stairs or anything that required using my quads. In fact, just plain walking required a whole amount of courage and clenching my teeth to try and overcome the overwhelmingly sore leg muscles. And having rested altogether for a day didn’t seem to help any!

But, crazy as only “runners” can be, we found ourselves at the start of the third SSS event. Again a huge field of over 1500 participants showed up. Anybody and everybody that moves in Palmy seems to be pitching up for these 7km run/walks. Continue reading →