Cadbury Dunedin Marathon Course Revisited

Yesterday I managed to complete the Cadbury Dunedin Marathon course for the second time having done it this time in 2014. I drove my car to Watson Park in Port Chalmers which is the end of the course. Denise picked me up and drove me to Harrington Point, the start of Dunedin's annual marathon.

I looked around for the start line which is close to Rapid Number 1008. I left the start just before 8am in ideal weather conditions. I did not feel I was walking at a great pace and took a while to get in the groove. I could not find the first 5 kms mark on the ground because of new asphalt and lots of other roads markings. I estimated it was around 50 mins. Likewise I could not find the 10kms mark at Portobello because of lots of cars and people. I remembered roughly where it was so timed myself at 1hr 38mins which was a pleasing time. I noticed far more cars on the first 10km leg as opposed to last year.

I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly Broad Bay came up and I did the 15kms at 2hrs 32mins. my feet were feeling tender and I was starting to regret my choice in shoes and socks. By the time I made Macandew Bay, I was starving so purchased a sausage roll, M/M's and cold water. I reached halfway in 3hrs 47 mins which is slow by my standard. Craig Currie met me just past the halfway mark to provide cold water and sugar jubes which was appreciated. A light breeze had popped up behind me which was nice to walk in.

It is always nice to reach 25kms because this indicates the finish of the Peninsula Road. The walk along Portsmouth Drive, Kitchener Street and Wickliffe Street was uneventful although my feet were hurting. Once again I could not find the 30km mark. I stopped at the Mobil Station on Anzac Avenue to buy a sandwich and water. Alas there were no sandwiches or pies. I reverted to chocolate.

I walked along the new SH 88 extension, past the stadium, down to the roads leading to the cycle track, a path I am very familiar with. There was a slight head breeze but nothing to worry about. I managed to find the 35km mark this time, just past Burkes and the time was 6hrs 33mins. I was feeling pleased that I only had 7kms to go and would do the walk under a slow 8hrs. Once I reached St Leonards it was only 5.5kms to the end. although my feet were sore I reached Watson Park in 7hrs 54mins 43 secs. Amazingly it was the same time as last year.

Cadbury Dunedin Marathon (2014)
Kms	Time	Mins
0
5
10	1:38	1:38
15	2:32	0:54
20	3:33	1:01
Half	3:45	0:12
25	4:32	0:59
30
35	6:33
40	7:30	0:57
Finish		7:54

Clyde to Alexandra 2014

The Caversham Club went to the Clyde  - Alexandra 10km walk by bus. Around 30 walkers from the club participated. I was placed 10th overall out of 95 competitors in a time of 1:11:19.

A good turnout of club members participated in the annual Clyde to Alexandra walk on 23rd August 2014

At the start on the Clyde Dam

I was fortunate enough to win this Spot prize.

Pine Heights

26 July 2014

 

 

Eleven club members (above) met at the Woodhaugh Gardens entrance and walked through the Pinehill and Pine Heights areas. We walked the 10km in 1:45 hours.

 

 

 



To walk the circumference of earth

When I started this journey on 25 September 2006 my aim was to walk 5kms daily. Six months later I changed the goal to walk "at least 5kms daily. I have religiously recorded the daily distance walked on a spreadsheet.

Earlier this year when walking with friend Danny, we discussed that I should consider aiming to walk the circumference of planet earth which is 40075kms. As of today I have walked 18448 kms leaving 21627kms to walk. At my current pace this should take 9 years which puts me at age 70.

Cross Country

14 June 2014

The club's annual cross country was held at Island park, in Waldronville where Beachlands Speedway hold events. This is the second time the club held the event at this location. I did not take part last year as I was supervising an exam at the University.

Conditions were perfect for the cross country race. Walkers had to do two laps of the 2km course. The children had their event first. The runners and walkers started at the same time with competitirs doing two, three or four laps.

 





For the walking event we all started at the same time. The first part was over a gravel road, then over sand dunes, across pellets through a bog, back on a gravel track onto a muddy path and finally over grass to the start. I felt good and was pleased with my pace finishing third in a time of 26:51mins.

Cadbury Dunedin Marathon Course

As a member of the Cadbury Dunedin Marathon committee I do not get the opportunity to participate in the half marathon walk anymore. I have always wanted to walk the full marathon course and so I decided January the 4th would be the day.

Denise dropped me off at Harrington Point before 8am and at 7:50am I set off from the official start point. Luckily the weather was overcast and I maintained a 6km/hour pace initially. I kept this pace all the way to Portobello and felt good. There was not much traffic so this was not an issue at this stage.

Once at Portobello the traffic increased and I had to be careful as there was not a  big area to walk on. I met Stella, my sister-in-law just before Broad Bay and we had a brief chat. I hit Broad Bay at 10:05am and then the 15km mark at Grassy Point. This last 5km leg was a disappointing 58mins although I could have taken off a couple of minutes). It was nice reaching Company Bay as I had a walkway all the way to Glenfalloch. I could see our house across the harbour in St Leonards. The sun was out but not too hot, no wind and almost perfect conditions for walking.

When I reached Macandrew Bay I used the public toilet then went to the shop for an ice-cream and chocolate fix. The 20km mark was just past Glenfalloch and then I reached halfway at 11:36pm - 3hrs 46mins. I was reasonably happy with this pace. Craig met me and gave some cold fresh water and a banana. This stop was 2:30 mins long. As I headed towards Vauxhall I noticed a tail wind which was quite nice. However on my way to Port Chalmers it would be a head wind. I could not find the 25km mark but guessed it would be near the boat club. The last five kms took 59mins so I was definitely slowing down. The feet felt good but the legs were getting heavier.

As I walked over the causeway the head wind became a cross wind and it was very strong. Walking along Portsmouth Drive the wind was very strong. I walked around Kitchener Street, Birch Wharf and Wickliffe Street which was a break from the wind. Craig left some water, a banana and chocolate by the Anzac Avenue over-bridge which was appreciated. Somewhere around here was the 35km mark but I could not find it. I called into the Mobil petrol station on Anzac Avenue for another ice-cream and chocolate.

I felt in familiar territory as I strolled along Anzac Avenue, past Forsyth Barr Stadium and down to the Marina so I could join the new cycleway. Frustratingly it was quite a strong headwind. Marathon runners describe hitting the wall at some stage on the run, well I felt I had hit the wall on this 5km leg. My feet were sore (no blisters though) and the legs were still heavy. Just before Maia I had a phone call from Denise and I was on track to reach the destination around 3.30pm. It seemed to take ages to get to St Leonards and I could not find the 35km mark opposite Burkes. Once at St Leonards I knew I had less than 6kms to go.

I made steady but not spectacular progress along SH 88. Roseneath Hill was not a challenge and I reached the 40km mark at 3:17. Only 2.2 kms to go but I was really sore now and was slowing up. Denise was waiting for me at Watson Park in Port Chalmers and I crossed the finishing line at 3:44pm.

It was great feeling to complete my second marathon official course. My official time would have been 7hrs 54 mins. I could take off 4-5 mins for stops but I am happy to have completed the course.

Cadbury Dunedin Marathon
Kms	Time	Mins
0	7.50
5	8.41	51
10	9.28	47
15	10.26	58
20	11.24	58
Half	11.36
25	12.23	59
30
35	2.30
40	3.17	57
Finish	3.44	7:54

What's been happening - 2013 ?

Well I have finished my contract with the Census and feel it is time to write more about my walking exploits.

Papatowai Challenge: This was my fifth walk in this event. I was determined to do this walk as the achievement is recognised by a " year medal". Sadly I could not stay for the presentation as I had to get back to Dunedin for my 6oth birthday party. My cousin David Scobie collected the medal on my behalf.

 

As for the walk I completed it in 2:09:52 which was slow but reflective of not putting in the training. I was 17th male and 31st overall.

 

Club Walking Races

 

1500m: Our first walking race was the 1500m race at Kaikorai Valley College. I managed a time of 10:20mins and was placed 3rd out of 21 walkers.

 

5000m: This race held at Forbury Park is based on handicaps given following the 1500m race. We do five laps of the racecourse. I was given a 10 minute handicap and some of the scratch walkers did one complete loop before I started. However it is an opportunity for slower walkers to win a club event. I was placed 11th out of 18 walkers. My actual time was 35:58 which was the second fastest time.

 

Pineapple Track: I was asked to lead 17 club walkers over the Pineapple Track om 1 June. Two of the walkers chosew to run back from the Swampy Track turnoff. We left the Wakari Union Church at 1pm and did a brosk 25 min walk to the start of the Pineapple Track. We had a wee wait for all the walkers to catch up. The complete loop took 2hrs 40 mins but we had five stops probably taking 15 mins.

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Walks: Up to the end of July I have managed to cover 1000kms. It has been a challenge to do 200kms per month through work but have managed to do significant distance since mid-April.