What a start to the year, work and life have been next level crazy busy so I’ve been a bit slack on getting a blog post out since Raglan. Quite a few people that I’ve run into lately have asked if I’d given up on my blogs or what my plans for the year are. While it would have been more appropriate a month ago, because that’s when these things are done, here are my goals for this year.
Tag: race
Horribly Enjoyable
“Farmland, bush, mud, roots, rocks, ladders, chains, ropes, pain”. With a course description reading more like a chapter of 50 Shades of Grey than a running race, the Raglan Karioi Trail event certainly lets you know early on you’re in for a challenge that will be something completely different.
Guess I’m an Ultra runner now.
-Start line of the 2017 Tarawera 50km Ultramarathon Race –
*Record Scratch*
*Freeze Frame*
Yup, that’s me. Now you’re probably wondering how I got here… Continue reading “Guess I’m an Ultra runner now.”
Hills and Hail
The hills of Hunua was where the final event in the Xterra series took place and boy was it a stunning day. Stunning how the weather changed over the 4 hours it took me to complete the 23km. It was like playing weather bingo. Continue reading “Hills and Hail”
Extremes of Events
As it was rightly pointed out to me by Facebook, WordPress, and a number of people, I’ve been a bit slack having not made a post in 6 weeks and 2 events. There has been a lot of goings ons, so rather than making one giant post I’m going to break it down to a twofer race recap of the Totara Park and Waharau events, and one of the non event developments. As it’s fresh in my mind, and legs, I’ll kick off with the events.
Big Hills, Blow Outs, Blisters, Beers and Tears.
I’m still not sure why I did it, and over the space of nearly 7 and a half hours I thought about it a lot … a hell of a lot. Why The Hillary event? Why the 34km event? And I’m sure I wasn’t alone out there questioning our (poor?) choices at some point. But life wasn’t all bad, the views and scenery was breathtaking, watermelon at aid stations is awesome, everybody out there was amazing and the beer afterwards was quite simply #thetits. There was even a very special moment that I’m certain left no eye dry.
Continue reading “Big Hills, Blow Outs, Blisters, Beers and Tears.”
#UltraHalf
In what seems like an age ago Paul and Tim of the Tarawera events fame announced the inclusion of the Tikitapu 16km and 23km Adventure Run into this years Tarawera Marathon and 50km event. Given the choice of running the Auckland half marathon or a new trail race the decision was simple one.
Waharau? – More Like ‘Why The Hell?’
I’m pretty sure that I wasn’t the only one thinking “why the hell am I doing this?” at some point. Last weekend was arguably the hardest of the Xterra series, the much loved and hated Waharau Regional Park. It’s Wednesday night Thursday morning and I’m just regaining full control of my legs. Continue reading “Waharau? – More Like ‘Why The Hell?’”
The Wild Waiuku And New Records
Waking at quarter to 6am on Sunday morning, like most I’m sure, there was an internal debate as whether to get out of bed for the trip down to Waiuku to battle the weather. Well, I’m glad I (eventually) decided to leave my warm bed and pile into the car with the rest of the guys from Team Icebug, as it was one of those great days that really sells the trail running experience.
But before I get to that I have to have a wee gloat, I broke my distance record.Yay me.
Searching for a Race Pace
It’s starting to dawn on me that I apparently can run faster for longer than I thought. In the past I would happily plod along at training and races at the same leisurely 10min/km average pace. With meaning too this in fact it had subconsciously become the goal to stay close to that mark. But since I’ve been training with Chris and having him called out on this stagnation the 10min/km is to be left in the dust mud. The Xterra Totara Park event is on nice quick trails with no real steep hills, so I was aiming to set a good time.
The Rare Kiwi Trail Snail 