Back Beach

Just got back from walking around the Port Chalmers Back Beach. This is the last leg of the 1/2 marathon and I have never walked on this road before.

I drove down to the Waitati turn-off and parked the car. It was a glorious morning, weather wise for a walk. I walked to Port Chalmers (3.5km) then the back road. I wanted to know the exact route for when I do this in a fortnight's time. It was 4km long. Called into New World for an ice-cream and back to the car.

Total 11km

A Practice Walk

Today I decided to walk the same distance as a 1/2 marathon although it would be in 3 stages.

Stage 1. Walked from home to Logan Park, along to Harbour Tce, past the Hockey Turf, across Logan Park to the Hill City clubrooms. Distance 7km - time 1 hour 10 mins

Stage 2. Caversham were the visitors of the Hill City Athletics and Harriers Club for a combined walk and runs. The walkers group walked up to the Signal Hill Observatory, down the mountain bike track to Logan Park High School and over to the Hill City clubrooms.
Distance (up) 6km - 1 hour and down 3km - 40 mins. Total 9 km.

I was disappointed with the organisation of the walk. Steve, a walker from Hill City and myself were making steady progress in the middle of the field. The group behind, decided to go back and the group ahead was out of sight. It was suggested we go back when we were almost at the top. Steve and I decided to reach the summit.

The mountain bike track down was very steep and slippery with deep ruts. I was anxious I would roll an ankle but the worst thing to happen was landing on my backside when I slipped. Back at the clubrooms we had a cuppa and biscuit.

Stage 3. I left the clubrooms at 3.55pm and reached home at 5.00pm. Distance 6km

Total distance 22km

No aches, pains or blisters/ I feel I am ready for the 1/2 marathon.

Tomorow I plan to drive to Port and walk the last leg of the 1/2 marathon.

Weekend of Walking

Yesterday I walked from school to home in two hours following interviews for my school's Assisitant Principal's position. It was a nice walk to clear my head.

This morning Craig Currie rang and we decided to go for a two hour walk. We met in the carpark on Portsmouth Drive at 9am. It was Craig's turn to navigate his choesen route.

We walked along Portsmouth Drive , crossed into Shore Street and cut across
Bayfield Park to the bottom of Silverton Road. We walked up Silverton Road and Highcliff Road to the Rotary Park Kindergarten. We crossed over and walked back down Highcliff Road and turned into Duckworth Street until reaching Oakland Street. Walked until we hit Tomahawk Road and turned left into Stirling Street. I wanted to pay Derek Muir $540 for repairs to Glenelg Street but no-one was home. We walked back along Stirling Street until we reached Tomahawk Road again. When we got to Tahuna Road we contined until Royal Terrace, turning right. We crossed Anderson's Bay Road, walked through th BP station hitting Portobello Road. From there we walked until Portsmouth Drive and back to the car. The 12km walk took 2 hours and 5 minutes.

These Shoes are made for Walking

I am continuing to walk towards my goal of walking in the 1/2 marathon on 9 September. I have reached 1600 kilometres and by the time I reach 24 September which is one year of walking, hopefully I will hit 1800 kilometres by then.

I managed to insert images into another blog so I saved this one from the internet.

Four weeks to go .........

It is only four weeks until the City of Dunedin marathon when I plan to walk the half marathon. I am happy with my build up hardly missing out a day.

To date

284 days
1591 km covered
39 missed days since 25 September, 2006.

Today I walked to Port Chalmers and back covering 12km and taking just over two hours. When I get to Port I always buy an ice-cream at New World.

Fraser's Gully

I have just completed my second walk with the Caversham Harrier's Club Walking Group. We (15) left Moana Pool, walked up Stuart Street and down to Nairn Street. We walked onto Kaikorai Valley Road until we got to Ellis Park. From here, up Frasers Gully. I was very happy with my fitness staying with the front group. We walked along Dalzell Road onto the Three Mile Hill Road. We walked down through Halfway Bush until we reached Gilkinson Street. We turned left here and went down until we met the Halfway Bush sub-station. Turned left and reached Centennial Ave, Balmacewen Road to Maori Hill. Along Highgate and turned left onto Newington Ave, the onto Wallace Street and into the Green belt back to Moana Pool.

Distance 13km - Time 2 hrs 10 mins.

As we finished the rain came.

Caversham Harrier's Club

This afternoon I was invited to walk with the Caversham Harrier's Club by fellow principal Stephen Hopkins. Met at Stephen's place at 12.15pm, picked up Dianne and Martin George and hit the Wingatui Racecourse at 12.45pm. Around 15 people left at 1.12pm. We walked down Wingatui Road to Factory Road, behind New World and along the banks of the Silverstream until we hit the pump house. We walked back alongside the Silverstream until we reached Wingatui Road. We got back at 3.22pm and we think we walked 13km.

I felt tested by the walk but feel great because of it. It was nice to meet new people.

Next week the group plans to meet at Moana Pool at 1.45pm and go around Frasers Gully.

So far ......

From 25 September until 1 August I have

• walked on 273 days
• missed 39 days (15 of these was when I visited the States)
• walked 1513km

Introduction

On the 25 September, 2006 I decided I would walk 5km everyday to improve my fitness. This decision was reached as when I walked short distances around my school I got puffed. The decision to start on the set date came about as it was the first day of the school holidays. I felt if I get through 21 days without missing once, would set me into a habit.

If I lost weight that would be a bonus.

I keep a spread sheet as a record of how many days walked and how far I have actually walked during my fitness campaign.

As I got into a rhythm I then decided to keep going and enter the City of Dunedin Moro 1/2 marathon on 9 September, 2007.