Blueberry run + Long run

Last weekend Chelsea and I braved the weather and headed out to Ohaupo to participate in the first race in the 2017 Summer Series.


With a gentle fog settling over the countryside and excited running gathering the atmosphere was amazing.  Being surrounded by like minded people and so much positivity is always a great feeling and a nice way to start the day.

As the race start approach the fog begun to lift to reveal the beautiful roads we would be running on.  The goal was to run a gently 15km but with so many people around I was caught-up in the moment and started a little too fast. 5:40min/ks to fast.  That speed hurt my endurance and by the 12km I was starting to hurt. I pushed on though and finished fast even running up the hill towards the finish.

It felt great to be pounding the tarmac and good to get back into the race atmosphere.  It was that night that I went home and looked into seriously booking the New Plymouth - Mountain to Surf Marathon.

I don't know if it's a good thing or not but I have signed up and am planning on running my first marathon for 2017 in two weeks time.

The training has been going really well. Each week I have been increasing the distance with my first long run of 27km being completed yesterday.  It was tougher than a hobbits foot but I did it.

Easy week this weekend planned then marathon the following.

200 Miles

200 miles so far this year

2017 Start of the year

Its interesting that the last time I made a blog entry it was October 2015.  Now, well over 16 months later, I seem to be making the same post.

I started the year with a message from a good friend, Bridget, asking me if I would be interesting in completing the 2017 challenge.  What is this you ask? Its pretty simple. Run 2017 miles in 2017.  The idea was that Bridget and I would team up and complete the miles together.  This was all the motivation I needed to get my lazy body off the couch and back onto the pavement.

It has been a month since I have started the challenge and I am well into my miles. 229 miles to be exact. I feel better both emotionally and physically. However this is only possible because of my very understanding wife. Sometimes I wonder just how I got so lucky finding such a caring and understanding woman.

Last week we both completed the Mad Eye Moody 5k virtual run. It was such a rush. Chelsea ran her first ever 5ks and did it in a PB for her. I was so proud.  I also did a PB but to be honest watching her finish was a bigger run.

This weekend is the Blueberry run and I am really looking forward to finishing that one. There are a couple of different marathons that I have my eyes on but I will keep you updated as the year goes by.

Back on the running bandwagon

It has been a long time since I even considered putting on the running shoes and starting to 'train' for something.  Now I'd like to start with some witty comment like, "I thought it was about" or "I'd been waiting for the long weekend to start..." but the truth of the matter was it was is still is a  struggle.

For a long time I have been sitting and eating and eating and sitting. I have had all the great intentions of running but have used every excuse under the sun... including the sun to not go out. I have done the occasional run and visit to the gym but nothing that eventuated into a regular schedule.

Well it's time for a change.  With my pants getting tighter and my mind starting to feel down I had to do something about it.  So yesterday I put on my shoes and headed out for what will be the first of many runs.

I am determined to beat the Blerch.

Day One

7km in 41:14

avg 5:52

Total - 7km

A Challenge, that was an understatement. This was by far one of the hardest things I have had to do so far in my running career.

The distance was not the challenge it was the amount of climbing that had to be done. over 800 vertical metres were scaled during the 42.2km, 6hr 15min race. 

Yes it was a beautiful sight, yes it was rewarding, no I wouldn't do it again.  It is four days after the race and I still do not have any desire to do it again.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying this race is bad I'm just saying that at the moment I am not physically prepared. I think I would have to do a whole lot more training before attempting this one.

Here is my video diary of the race.

Another Marathon Done

After my first effort running a marathon distance I believed that I could do it again. I decided to put in a decent amount of training and push myself. But have I bitten off more than I can chew?

I eagerly signed up for the Taupo Run Series which consisted of a half marathon and two full marathons. The Taupo marathon was the one that I was going to target as I thought that it would be a nice enough course and that I would be able to put in a great time. Turns out that I was a little wrong

The course was a very challenging one with more hills than I was expecting to encounter. 

I pushed myself and hit that same point as I did in the first marathon. That 'I can't do, yes I can', 'I'm so happy, I'm so sad' emotional rollercoaster. 

Anyway it's done now and I'm so proud of myself. My next challenge is this weekend when I have to run the kinloch marathon. One that I have done minimal training for. I'm really scared if I'm being him being honest with you. 

Running Pays Off

March this year saw me competing in my first Half Marathon for the year.  I'd had a good build up and was feeling pretty good about the run. As we were lined up at the start we even passed comment about regretting not entering  the full.

The day was clear but we were expecting rain towards the end.  The start of the run was quick. Now I don't mean a sprint pace but it was pushing along at about 5:20min/km.  This is a very quick pace for me especially for a half marathon.

After about 10km my heart begun to lift as I was on track for a 2hr time. Up until this stage 2:19:34 was my fastest time.  It was also about this time that the wind begun to pick up.  The trouble with the wind wan't so much that it was there, but that it was a head wind and always a head wind.  We were running towards the surf and by the end the rain had set in and wind was up to about 30km/hr. 

As I neared the finish I kept an eye on the watch, 2:10:00 was creeping up very quickly and I was worried that I wasn't going to make it. The finish was painful. My legs were burning and anticipation mounting. Finally I spotted the finish and using every bit of every raced towards it.  It was a huge relief to complete the half in 2:10:45 a new Personal Best.

Trainingpeaks.com                         Mount to Surf

Now you would think that after a run like this rest would be high on the agenda. This was not to be for me. The Hamilton Roadrunners was hosting the last event in the Summer Series and I had already entered it.  My legs were feeling ok so I decided that the 11km run was do able.  More importantly for me it was do-able at a run.  

Now that wasn't quite the highlight. There was also a spot-prize for the people that had entered all the events.  Yep you can guess here this is going. I was the lucky winner. Such a huge rush.  The prize, sponsored by House of Travel, $1500 travel voucher.

Needless to say - HAPPY - doesn't even come close to describing the elation I was feeling. Oh and to top it all off I found out this week that Chelsea is pregnant so baby two is on the way.