First Day of September/October Holidays

I wanted to do a substantial walk at the start of the holidays. I opted to do the circuit of Home - Logan Park - Gardens - Mt Cargill - Upper Junction Road - Roseneath - Home. A distance of 21km taking 3:30 hours.

I took note of the following milestones.

2km Maia
3km Ravensbourne Store
6km Logan Park
8km Gardens/Leith Street
10km Normanby Hotel
14km Upper Junction Road / Mt Cargill Road intersection
18km Roseneath
21km Home

Although this is the same distance as a half marathon I cannot work out why I get no blisters as I do when competing in a half marathon. It must have something to do with my speed.

Two Years On

25 September

On this date it has been two years since I started my daily walking programme.

Stats for the last year from 25 Sept 07 - 24 Sept 08 are:

Distance 2434 kms
Days walked 312

My aim was to walk 200km per month which was achieved. I had spells off after the Rail Trail and while visiting the States. A spell of tendonitis saw me miss eight days.

27 September

Today we had our final club walking day. I cannot believe we have finished the season as I never get tired of club walks. I enjoy the variety and meeting the other walkers. Keiran Columb, our leader does a great job organising the walks. It cannot be easy juggling the different abilities of the walkers.

The rain was teeming as I woke up but cleared for a 1.15pm start. 23 walkers roamed the Corstorphine, St Clair and Forbury suburbs. We started by walking through the new Westgate suburb. We went down Aberdeen Street past the top of Jacobs Ladder. We strolled through Corstorphine School back to the clubrooms. The walk took 70 mins.

Following afternoon tea there was a prize giving ceremony.

Once home I decided to walk to Ravensbourne and back. Once at Maia, I walked on the new track from Maia to Ravensbourne. The last 300 metres has yet to be completed.

28 September

Daylight Saving starts today so Craig and I met at the Railway Station at 8.30am. It was my turn to choose the route. From the station we headed to Maclaggan Street and walked up to Maori Road. We turned left and had a wee detour to look at Jubilee Park. From here we walked almost to the end of Maori Road when we walked up a zig zag pathway onto Russell Street. We followed this street onto York Place and turned left into Braid Road and right into City Road. We followed the Town Belt past Otago Boys High School and Moana Pool. We turned left by St Hildas, past Carrington Hall and onto Park Street. We walked down Park Stret onto George Street, along to the Gardens. It was back on the one way North turning right at "Harley's Bar" and left onto George Street. We had breakfast at Governor's (pancakes). To conclude the walk we walked along George Street to the Octagon. From here it was a stroll down to the Railway Station and then to our cars. We got back at 11.10pm and estimated we walked 11 kms.

Outram Glen

Saturday 20 September


For our second last club walk for the season we met at the Mosgiel New World carpark (after picking up Craig from Moana Pool). We took Diane with us to Outram Glen. We (22 walkers)followed the track beside the Taieri River up to the intersection with Lee Stream. It was quite a step climb taking almost an hour. Only 9 walked the entire distance with the slower walkers turning back with the returning walkers. It took just over an hour to get back. A distance of
around 10km.

Sunday 21 September

I walked to Port Chalmers and back leaving home at 7.45am.

2008 Moro Half-Marathon - Sunday 14 September

I am truly amazed at doing a PB of 2:53:50 which is 13 minutes better than my previous best time. I did the first 5km in 40 mins and the 10kms in 80 mins.

I had no shin splints problem as Denise dropped me off at Strathallan Street and I did a 10 minute walk to warm up. Craig and I stated off together in a field of 556 walkers. We were jammed in so it took quite a while to hit an open space.

As per normal my feet got hot at Port Chalmers and the blisters started. When I finished I felt exhausted but thrilled to do my last half marathon as a PB. It was great the way Cavershan club members shouted encouragement as I walked the course.

Some stats

Overall 79th out of 556 or 16th / 66 (55-59yrs)

Men 30th out of 117 0r 9th /20 (Men 55-59yrs)

8:14 mins per km

Eight Days Until the 2008 Moro Marathon

Saturday 6 September

What a magnificent day. The club met at Logan Park at 1pm. A group of 2o walkers walked along the path beside the harbour on the way to Ravensbourne. We saw a sea lion basking in the sun on the way. We walked up the hill behind the hotel, along the top and back down Athol Place to the main road. We walked along the main road back to Logan Park - a walk of around 8kms.

Sunday 7 September

Met Craig at North Ground to walk to the Mt Cargill summit leaving at 8.24am. It was a chilly breeze and quite unpleasant in places. When we got to Cleghorn Road we decided to go up and see where it went. Sadly you cannot use the farmland as it is lambing time in September and October. We explored all the little side roads in the area before descending back to the flat. We decided not to go to Upper Junction Road as I wanted to get to the Edgar Stadium to watch the girls play mini-ball. We got back at around 10.50am and covered 13 kms.