Where better to start than one of the semi-regular runs I love. With my first race after injury coming up on Sunday in Whakatane, I though I better give things a real test.
Click on pics for fullsize.
This run starts in behind the Waipa Mill... go past the carpark where all the mountain-bikers park and where the MTB Rentals are and keep heading towards the Mill. When you can see the Mill barrier gate in front of you take the road left and keep following it to a big sweeping right hand corner with parking to the left. Park somewhere here.
Ok, off running.... take a drink on this one, you may need it!
Head down Hill Road and almost immediately take a right into Reservoir Road and then again immediately on your right you should see the sign for Yellow Brick Road. This is a MTB trail, however in five years of running the MTN trails I have had no problems, I always give way to the bikes and generally it's so quiet you can hear them a long way away. Follow Yellow Brick Road to the end, it is a nice single trail with a small easy climb and pleasant running. If you've run the Kingsgate Rotorua Trail Half you will have run it the other way - twice!
At the end of the YBR, turn left and run about 10 metres and you will see a connecting trail... follow that for a couple of hundred metres and cross the road to the road opposite. Follow this around looking to stay left and take the left fork when you see the Long Drive sign. Up this road pleasant bush enclosed forestry road. Next intersection veer right and at the next to the left, then just follow this road to the end where it turns into trail... nice climb here (steps, sorry about that), keep climbing up into the bush again and follow what is quite a good trail to the end. At the end, steer left and follow the road (Fern Road) to the end.
Once you reach the end of the road look diagonally left and you will see the sign for Green Lake Rd, head down there for less than a km and turn left into Branch Road... up Branch Road to the top where it joins Tikitapu Road... the road to the Blue Lake.
Then start climbing... for those familiar with the Xterra Rotorua off road half (part of the Xterra Rotorua festival), then you will know this road very well.
Watch out near the top for some great views down to Green Lake on your right(above). Once you hit the top it is downhill to the Blue Lake intersection... if you feel like adding and extra 2 or 3km, then head right and circumnavigate the lake... me, I went left, great running trails here. Mainly down with a few bumps thrown in.
You will start to see that you are getting close to the Blue Lake beaches, so start watching for a trail off to the left. If you come out of the trees you have gone too far and should backtrack in 20 - 40 metres.
Once you have found the trail you have found the best bit of running on the loop (for me anyway), native bush, tight single trail that zooms up and down a bit before dumping you out on the trail next to Tarawera Road.
Back on the Forestry Roads here - although used more by walkers and cyclists that vehicles. Follow the road and keep following it, you will pass by Hill Road (the other end of where we started), feel free if you want to take a shortcut here, but let me warn you 'it is a bloody big hill!!!'
Eventually after what seems an endless road you will come to an intersection with a large Park Map on the left. Take the middle of the 3 roads ahead of you... you should head down a reasonably steep road, so if you are going up or even level, you picked the wrong road.
Head on down and along this road watching out for a sign on the left pointing to Nice Road which heads off to the right.... nearly there... follow Nice Road as far as it goes and you will find yourself back at the start almost right on half marathon distance.
I find it a great loop with all sorts of running from semi-knarly forest running to open forestry roads. A steep up and a long steady one... finish this run and you will have enjoyed some great countryside and a few fabulous views to boot!
Below is my Garmin Link to the run.
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