52 in 52 - Race #1 ..... T42

Well it finally arrived… the first race of the 52 in 52 Challenge. 

I deliberately chose a tough marathon to start and will finish on a marathon with a host of Half Marathons or longer in between.

Pre Start - fresh and clean!

It was a no-brainer to start with the T42… firstly it was on my birthday, secondly it is one of Total Sports flagship events and they have been fantastic with my support of this venture and finally it’s bloody tough – a reminder (if I needed one), that this is no walk in the park.

I filled up Friday night at my local Gull using some of the vouchers they have sponsored me with. 

The budget for my side of these events is very tight, so I passed on getting accommodation the night before and was up at 5am eating breakfast and taping my knees with fabulous RockTape – who have just today come on as a product sponsor, donned one of my splendid race-shirts from All Sew Embroidery and then off around the corner to pick up Tarawera Ultra Race Director Paul Charteris who was entered in the 24km event.

The further we went the better the weather got and by the time Paul dropped me off at ‘the Farm’ it was clear with the sun peeking through regularly – although a touch chilly.

Through the comprehensive gear check and then shoes checked for external dirt (my inov-8 X-Talons were spotless) and pick up my number and transponder. Caught up with and thanked Total Sport owners Nicola and Aaron Carter, this challenge would have been nearly impossible without their support. Then shelter out of the wind and wait for the bus to arrive to take me to the start.

With Marcus Daws, awesome Ostepath, great runner

Met a few new friends on the bus – Sarah Lei from my town of Rotorua and the lovely Barb Carson from Wanganui, both of whom I would encounter in the race. Once at the start it was great to catch up with some of my favourite people, Steve Neary, Marcus Daws (my Osteopath Sponsor from Waikato Osteopathic and a bloody good bloke), Jeremy Weight, Kerry Suter and Tom Frenz (who towed me up the last 3 km of last years Goat) to name a few… one of the best reasons to run events is the fantastic community of runners.

The MTB’s, that had to pass before we started, were a bit slow, so a few minutes later than expected we got away to a good steady start. The 2km loop around farmland at the start always gets the blood pumping and once on to the main 42^nd Traverse trail the merino top disappeared rather quickly. I planned to take it easy, being the first of the challenge, and it felt like I was… but when I looked at the Garmin my pace was faster than planned so I made myself gear back. 

Inov-8 Race Elite 2 Pack

One thing I was loving was the new Inov-8 waist hydration pack, I have never enjoyed running with a backpack and the waist solution worked for me on many levels. It felt comfortable, the bladder holds up to 2 litres (I only had 1.5 for the race), I also had my rain jacket, gloves, beanie, first-aid kit and emergency blanket all around my waist. The difference – usually about 20 - 25km my back starts hurting, being 6’2” I tend to have back problems. However with the new pack it was great until about 38km... at which stage all of me was dying anyway!

Barb Carson on the left

Anyway, a few km’s in and struggling to settle on a pace I was joined by Barb Carson, another 50+ and an Iron-man competitor extraordinaire! I latched on to her pace and we had a great chat for about the next 12km or so which really made the race slide by. Barb’s previous T42 was in a similar time to my previous efforts, so the pace was great. We also had a tail! A lovely Italian lady (from Auckland) Alice Domenichini was quietly sitting behind us… we got a few words out of her but Barb and I did most of the chatting. The first half of the course is rolling with an overall drop in altitude and 3 or 4 stream crossings, not exactly easy, but gentler than the second half of the race.

Around about 18km where the climbing started was the first surprise, in previous years I have walked as much as I have run in these sections, however this year for some reason was different (maybe I was fresher). I ran about 90% of the uphills and passed an awful lot of runners. My time was scaring me but I was feeling good so just kept plodding. I didn’t notice Barb slip back, she just suddenly wasn’t there any more.

A little later Italian Alice passed me, then I passed her and then a wee bit later she steamed past me and into the distance.

Tom Frenz... always smiling!

All was great until about the big bridge where I started to seriously run out of steam. Sarah Lei passed me at the start of the last bit of farmland with some lovely words of encouragement and I managed to stagger/run/walk up the last kilometre or so of trail to the finish… could have done with Tom Frenz (pic at left) to tow me at about this stage… but he let me down and I had to struggle up alone.

In the end 4:23:04, nearly 16 minutes faster than last year and over 20 minutes faster than 2011 and 2^nd in my age group! Happy, but sore and tired.

A Winning Steve Neary and the LTH!

At the finish a beer and a burger and lots of catch-up with the others, Kerry Suter had blitzed the field by over 14 minutes in a race record 2:52:20 – over 90 minutes faster than my time and I thought I did ok! Steve Neary had a great run to win the 40-49 age group (interestingly I would have been second in this group as well). Also caught up with Susan Prater at the Inov-8 tent, she had won her class in the MTB race and the LTH, last years ladies winner was there nursing her broken toe that stopped her defending her title.

Keith Crook shares tactic with Jeremy Weight

Barb Carson won the Vets ladies and Sarah Lei was 3^rd in the Ladies Open with Italian Alice 2^nd.

My good mate Keith Crook on the comeback after a broken ankle was 4^th in the 24km event.

As usual another fantastic day, well run, with a great bunch of people… Total Sport you are tops!!!

Another medal to my small collection

A big thanks to all my sponsors who have got me to the start line... Kaz Dezign from Cambridge for their great work with my logo, website banner and facebook banner. W3 Web Design from Hamilton for getting the website up and running. All Sew have been fabulous with my shirts and are currently helping me get some shirts to sell ready... all without question and making no profit at all! Waikato Osteopaths and Marcus (who ran an excellent time for 11th overall) and who I will be visiting later in the week.

But last word for this race goes to Inov-8, Susan and Richard have been fantastic in their support for me

already and I can say without a word of doubt that the shoes are fabulous… 2 events = 2 PB’s. Many, many runners were wearing X-Talons and for a reason... the grip was out of this world. They were snug on my feet and even in mud and on slippery rocks the grip was solid. Add to this the wonderful waist pack and my trusty race-cap and I could not ask for more!

Roll on Race 2 in the Hawkes Bay on the 19^th… unless I find a race this weekend!

Please... it's not too late... every dollar counts... head to 52in52.org.nz and click in the menu where it says 'Sponsors'. There is an easy form on the right-hand side that will allow you to support me and of course help Hospice!

The Long Silence...

When I started this Blog, it was as much for me as it was for sharing. It is great to talk about the events you have run in and the fabulous trails you have experienced... however even the most loving non-runner tires after a while of hearing me wax lyrical about a new trail or a fantastic race.

So the blog was a place I could do this with impunity, get it off my chest. So it has been something I have done reasonably often up to a period over the last 6 months where I have not written at all... why, I wondered had I lost the need.

The answer was not hard to find... FACEBOOK!!! While I had been on FB before, my circle of running friends has grown immensely in the last year... a circle of people who never tire of hearing about each other's exploits and looking at a myriad of pictures from the tops of hills or the edge of lakes.

But reading through the various Blogs after the recent Tarawera Ultra I was reminded that it is also a great outlet to share more than just the experience... but to get down to the nitty gritty, even to bare the soul a wee bit... definitely more than you tend to do on Facebook. So I will continue this blog, as and when I feel the need, not just for events...

Speaking of events... not so many this year as I build to my 52 in 52 Challenge, but more on that later, since my last blog (Hidden Trails at Kawerau) I have participated in the following:

The Ocean Beach Oi Oi, part of the Hawkes Bay Trail Running Series. An off-road half on and off the beach at Ocean Beach.

Xterra Waiuku where I ran the Super Long course and as a real buzz my daughter Kate ran the 6km run, her first in competition (right).

The Cambridge Half Marathon, this was an impulse event after the Rotorua through town trail/road race was canned. The bonus in my first road race for several years was another personal best. After the 1:44 at Hidden Trails I was stoked to break the 100 minute mark at Cambridge with a time of 1:39:25 and negative splits!

Xterra Hunua, where I again did the Super Long course. Having done the long course the previous year and loved it, I found that the super long did not add much to the event other than some extra distance. Still a fantastic race and highly recommended, very tough and very rewarding!

The Great Forest Rogaine. This was a first rogaine for me and a truck-load of fun. I was supposed to do the 3 hour event with friends but that team was changed last minute to a walking team. Then I finished up with Darren Blackwell and the man is a machine, he was doing the 6 hour event and I just did the first 3 hours with him - that was enough. Definitely an event I will try again.

City to Surf Tauranga, this was another major highlight. Kate (my 15 year old daughter) and I ran the whole 12km together. Kate had never run this far before and so it was fantastic to run with her and do the whole "run to the next lamppost" thing. We finished in a very creditable 1:20 which we were both very happy with.


The Rotorua Ekiden, I was roped in at a late stage to run a section of the Rotorua Ekiden for my lovely partner Lorraine's work team. I ran from Marama resort around to the weighbridge by the airport and then carried on a bit as I wanted to get a 10km time... which I did of 46:19. Not as quick as I hoped, but ok. I then ran with the next runner to the end of then next section and eventually walked the last few km's with Lorraine.

Xterra National Trail-Running Champs Waihi, I love this event and was running it for the 4th time this year (3 at Waihi and once in Rotorua) and again I bettered my course time taking 4 min off the previous year. I love this race and I'm not looking forward to not running it this year as it is not half marathon distance.

Tikitapu Off-Road Half, This was a nice run... up onto one of my favourite trails Tuhoto Ariki. The distance was quite a bit short of the advertised half marathon, but a fun day from Ra and the Nduro team.

 
TECT Park Tauranga Trail Run, the second of my 2 runs with Kate. This was a 10km run at TECT Park between Rotorua and Tauranga. 2 laps of a very up and down course took their toll on Kate but she hung on valiantly - even when I gave her the option of pulling out after one lap and we finished in 1:15. 


 

The Goat, Finally after several years of thinking about it, I entered The Goat... only to have the event moved to the alternate course when Ruapehu threatened to erupt. The alternate course sucked... uphill on road is not my scene. On the trail sections hardly anyone passed me and I passed quite a few. On the road I was a slug... oh well, maybe next year on the real course!



The Santa Run, What a great initiative this is to raise money for Kids Can. A quick scamper around the Lakeside Domain in Rotorua with 30 or 40 other Santas made for a real hoot. For the record it took me 7:22 to run the 1.8km in the suit for 4th place (I am #85 in the pic).

The Blue Lake Multisport 5.5km Fun Run, One lap of Blue Lake (which the Garmin read as 5.21km) and a 5km pb of 21.52 gave me 4th place which was a buzz.

That was back in January, since then I have been just running. Quite a few runs with friends training for Tarawera and a run at the Tarawera Training camp where I tried to knock myself out.

All backing off a bit and getting ready for the next big Challenge...52 in 52!

For those that haven't seen my Facebook or webpage, starting in May with the T42 Off-Road Marathon I am planning to raise over $20000 for Hospice by running 52 Half Marathons - or longer - in 52 weeks culminating in the 50th Rotorua Marathon.

For this series of races I am starting a new blog which will focus solely on the Challenge but will, if possible, either copy or link the blogs back here... so watch this space... or the new one... or both... up to you!

 

'Not So' Hidden Trails Kawerau

I was feeling really on a roll and although disappointed with the course at Opotiki, I had been happy with the time.

I had been told that the 'Hidden Trails' Half Marathon in Kawerau was a mix of roads and trails and really, it was more of a mix of roads and parks. Still it was a lot better than the roller coaster footpath that was Opotiki.

As is my norm, I got to Kawerau nice and early and secured a nice park right next to the starting area... at my age it's not too good to leave a long trip to the car after the race.

After helping the St John's man set up his pergola, I registered and wandered around a bit before settling in the car to 'prep' myself. Shortly after I saw Ian Hansen, fresh from his run in Opotiki.

He was rather more surprised to see me as I had only entered a few days before and kept it quiet. After watching the walkers head off (right), I waited patiently for the usual and standard race briefing, before we were off.

It was a good sized field with some of the usual faces... I have noticed that the events such as these that are run by clubs get great support from the running clubs from other towns. Many of the top runners seem to steer clear of the 'commercial' events and just run a mix of club events. This probably saves them a fair bit of cash... but they miss some great races that the 'race-junkies' like me get to experience.

Anyway, back to the race, on the road for the first 750 metres up a steady incline, then off the road and on to some trail... "wow" I thought, this is going to be great... a nice piece of trail, climbing for nearly a kilometre to the top of a hill overlooking the start and much of Kawerau. Hidden Trails indeed, if this was what we were in for it was going to be a good run.... unfortunately this was the most fun part of the whole run for me... well almost!
 
Another 900 metres down the hill again brought us back to the road and a run along the street for just over a kilometre then on to a side trail off the road that lead to a trail more familiar. I ran the last 25km of the Tarawera Ultra in 2011 with my mate John Bell as his 'buddy runner' and we joined on to the river trail that in TUM leads to Firmin Park and the finish. 

We however cruised straight past the Park and followed the river trail for just over 3km until it hit Tamarangi Drive - the main road you use coming into Kawerau from either end. This 3km should have been fun and a lot of the road runners in the race said afterwards that they really enjoyed it... but compared to 'real trails', it was a tad boring... but my pace was ok, just on or under 5 minute km's, which for me is pretty good.

A kilometre along the road and into a nice, but very short bit of trail, then over the road and into the residential streets in a reverse of part of the old Kawerau Half Marathon course. That took us into the park used in the old Half as well and we then looped through, using park walkways for a couple of km's and into the second lap of the same course... only not quite... the best bit of the first lap... the hill, was mysteriously cut out of the second lap. While strictly speaking these were 'trails', it really did feel like park running (right), which is very different.

About 3km from the finish, Ian Hansen steamed up to me looking very fresh... confirming my thoughts that he could become a very quick half runner. This was only his second half and he was cruising. I let him speed up my pace for a while but in time he left me, eventually finishing a minute or so ahead.

I battled, as I have been recently, picking off a few runners over the last couple of km's and was both happy and surprised when crossing the line to look and see that I had beaten my half marathon PB by a minute and a half... I guess there is some advantage to running pretty flat Half's after all!




After the race, a bite to eat, free entry to the Hot Pools if you want to use them (I didn't this time) and then down to the Cossie Club for prizegiving and my mandatory no spot prize.




All in all a well run event, the club did a great job. Times were up quickly on the website and they had several of their own photographers on the course who did a much better job than many of the 'professional' companies at other events... to the point where for the first time in a long time I actually bought some prints.


If you want a fast time... enter this event, if you want a trail run... don't!

Opotiki Half Marathon

So 2 weeks after 3D I was in the car early and off for the drive from Rotorua to Opotiki for the first ever Opotiki Half Marathon and 10km Dunes Dash!

Another fantastic day, crisp around the edges, but beautiful running weather.

The Race started from Memorial Park in Opotiki and after a lap of the park we headed over the fantastic new Pakowhai ki Otutaopuku Bridge.... and what a fantastic new creation it is.

Then it's on to the Motu Trail for just over 9km of winding and undulating running to the turnaround... and then back again.


I have to say, with all honesty, that this race was very disappointing. Not my performance, but the run itself. I guess I have been spoiled with amazing trail runs all over the upper North Island and when I read Trail Half Marathon I have expectations.


Unfortunately, while the Opotiki Half was very well organized and well supported by the locals... the Motu Trail section that we used is truly a cycleway rather than a trail. Solidly constructed trails that are more like footpaths than single trail. Moderately hard of the body, but boring as heck on the mind.

One small bit of respite came about 6km in where we dodged off trail, down to the beach for about 500m, a tractor ride over the stream and then up the soft sand and back to the trail. This was repeated on the way back... except the tractor was busy, so I got wet feet.


At the turnaround for the 10km I was already wishing I had entered that instead. But, not being able to think of a good excuse, I carried on.

I had a great tussle with one of the leading lady runners over the last 9km. She passed me and started to pull away. However at about 6km out she had a nature stop allowing the old buggar past. 5km is my normal kick point... so when she caught me up at about 5.5km to go I figured that she had probably used a bit of extra energy catching up... so I quietly put the foot down.


In the end I beat her by about 40 sec and this extra push allowed me to record my best 'trail only' half marathon time of 1:47:31... so even in a less than perfect race there was something to celebrate.


The other slightly disappointing thing at the end was coming over the bridge on the way back in, it would have been nice to come off the bridge and down the ramp to the finish. However after crossing the bridge we were required to run the large lap around the perimeter of memorial Park before crossing the line.

Another interesting point was, that this was the first ever race I have had where my Garmin read the exact distance as I crossed the line... as there was never any tree coverage, the GPS had perfect line of sight and came in right on 21.1km!


I did however become "World Famous in Opotki", making the front page of the paper! 


I guess you can't love every race and any days running is a good one... but this is one for the filing cabinet! 

W2K Trail & Headland Loop - Kinloch Taupo

In 2009 when I was starting to push up the number of off-road runs I did, I headed down to Kinloch, just out of Taupo to try a new Trail Half Marathon in it's inaugural run.

It was held on what was, at that time, a new section of trail from in Kinloch Village out to the headland of the Bay and around a Headland Loop and back into town, then a bit of town running to the Domain for a finish.

While I haven't competed in the race since then - they added a quarter marathon for the last 2 years and are adding a marathon this year - I have however run the trail or parts of it, several times in the intervening years. This though is the first time I have run it since starting this blog and it is such a cool trail that it was worth an entry here.

If you are doing the trail in the weekend it pays to park as requested in Kinloch Domain or by the Lake edge. There is signage from there to the start of the trail proper. I tend to run during the week and during work hours, so I park in the beautifully named street 'Boojum Dell' which is where the trail starts.

It is a steady climb through well formed trail for just under 5km. There are plenty of windy and tight corners to keep you interested and views everywhere. At just under 4.5km you will reach the intersection of the W2K Trail and the Headland Trail. Here you have a choice, left or right. If you want a shorter run you can go right, run about another 1km to the Lookout and then head back.

I was doing the whole circuit and headed left, as this was the was they ran the race. After the intersection there is a flat, slightly climbing stretch that finishes with the intersection to Whakaipo Bay (skip that and go right) and the wonderful DOC Loo (just take your own dunny paper) and then onto the first real downhill... make the most of it, it will only last about 1 km and then you are climbing again... steadily for just under 3km.... at the bottom of the downhill is a nice open area with great views of Whakaipo Bay.

Across the top of the Headland is wonderful trail running, ups and downs, corners, heavy bush and groves of saplings and of course hints at the views to come. At the tip of the Headland you will get to the Lookout... wonderful views over Taupo, a great place to pause the Garmin, have a bite to eat, a drink and contemplate the beauty of this fabulous place we live.

From there it is a steady downhill - with a few uphill bumps to keep you honest - back to the intersection we mentioned earlier and then retrace your steps back to you car.

This was a cruisy Thursday run that came in just under 18km and took me just over 2 hours. In the weekend you are likely to see a few more MTB's, but it is a share with care trail and so it is not a problem. I have run it about 5 times during weekdays and only ever seen 2 MTB's and they were together.

Well worth the 15 minute drive from Taupo for a very pleasant run!

3D Rotorua Trail Half Marathon.... a bit late!

Yes, I have been slack... time to catch up on oh so many runs...

My last post was the Big O... 19km of fun at Okataina and that was supposed to be the last run for a few weeks before a trip to the Hawkes Bay... my things can change quickly.

Feeling good after the Big O, I decided on Friday to run a race that weekend... the decision then was whether to come out of 'road retirement' and run the Tauranga Half or run the local 3D Trail Half in the Redwoods... the latter was more expensive, but closer and - being trail - won the day.

After some pretty average weather, the day dawned fine and cold (pretty normal for this winter). A good crowd was gathered in the Redwoods and the half and quarter marathons both ran the same loop... obviously twice around for us.

Being trails I know really well, I knew how difficult the run would be and started out at a good steady pace from the start right next to the big 'sail' in the Redwoods by the Information Centre.

After a little 'canter' through the bottom trail we hit the uphill that Tarawera Ultra runners will know so well from the start of their race... a nice climb to get you warm. But where the TUM runners are mostly happy to walk it, looking to the latter parts of the race... in a half we have to run... and a slog it is! Instead of taking the last section up on to Tokorangi Pa Road, the race veers left to continue on what is known as the Green Trail and head back down into the Redwoods.

I was going ok here, just cruising. Once into the Redwoods again we hung a left and followed the main trail for a wee bit before heading into some lovely single trail that led to a nice uphill trail I like to call Back Trail... this trail does go all the way up to Tokorangi Pa Road and is a fantastic run. Lots of winding bits and switchbacks.

Up onto Tokorangi Pa Rd and we turned left to continue up, at the next intersection where the Black Trail and the TUM trail head left, we went to the 'right of the 2 lefthand trails' and on up Tokorangi Pa Road. 3 steady, but runnable climbs later and we were at the top of T Pa Rd and the downhill begins.... firstly down the main Black Trail, then veering off where TUM does to a rapid bit of downhill, just the right angle to really let the brakes off and 'flow' down the hill.

At the bottom of that bit, a slight climb and over to the new Tanks to Town trail, a small climb on that, then down and down and down again, to be spat out by Tarawera Rd.

Elina Usher, winner of the Female Multisport race

Onto the trail that runs semi-parallel to Tarawera Rd, a very familiar run for me, then just when I least expected it, we took a left onto a small, not much used trail I had never run. A couple of hundred metres and it intersected with another more familiar run and on down to the bottom trail.

Up the long grassy strip between the trees and back into the forest for a few zig-zags before suddenly we were at the Start/Finish... then we ran it again.

1:03 for the first lap, 1:04 for the second... very happy with that and 3rd in age group.

Overall I enjoyed this much more than I expected. With over 800m of vertical climbing I expected to find this really hard, but the weight I have lost has made it a little easier to cope with the climbing... more weight to lose though.

This would be a great race to run in 5's as was bourne out when Keith Crook and I ran one circuit a few weeks after, the surface is largely soft and pleasant running and this is a race I would highly recommend.

Prizegiving was that night with an absolute truckload of prize draws... of which I won nothing (surprise surprise) and a great crowd. Mark Watson was the presenter and some great guests like Robin Judkins.

Make some time next year to head to the 3D... I only ran the trail run, but there were kayak races, mtb races, multi-sport events... stuff for the kids... a complete package!

Well done guys on a first class day!