2012 Christchurch City2Surf

I had committed to the Christchurch City2Surf walk earlier in the year not realising the inaugural Stadium to Surf 10km event in Dunedin was going to be held on the same day.

The Christchurch event was abandoned last year because of the earthquake and lack of time to prepare a new course. This year the walk/run started at Centennial Park and went for 14+kms to Ferrymead Park.

As I was staying with my sister Lyn, Denise had my car because she was staying with Nadine. On Saturday, the day before the event Lyn and I did a “dummy” run on the “Orbiter” bus that goes to Centennial Park on its circuit. The run took just over 20mins so we knew what time to get the bus on Sunday morning for the 9am start.

On the day of the run Lyn accompanied me on the 8.10am Orbiter bus to Centennial Park. There were a number of other competitors on the bus as well. When we got in the vicinity of the Park the bus was going at a ‘snail’s pace” so most competitors got off and walked around 1/2km to the start. There were large numbers of people milling around. For the start we were separated into three groups – in line skaters , runners, and walkers. I was assembled near the back of the runners pack so got away to a good start. The course followed the Avon River apart from the final 5kms. I was happy with my walking averaging just over 8mins per kilometre. This had me on track for a sub two hour walk. My body and feet felt good during the walk. When we hit Opawa we joined up with the 6km entrants. This slowed me down as I had to negotiate family groups, people with disabilities and slower walkers. When I hit the 1km sign the numbers intensified so was hard to walk fast. The last 400 metres was so congested that I resigned myself to doing over 2 hours. My eventual time was 2:01:30 which I was content with. The "Press" said 8,000 people took part in the event.

When we finished we had a long walk to a field where all the tents were and where I met Denise. We needed our cellphones to find each other. We also had a long walk to our car and a slow drive with all the traffic leaving the event.

Karetai Challenge # 5

Conditions were perfect for the annual Karetai Challenge leaving the Shiel Hill Tavern at 9am. It was overcast with no wind and reasonably warm without being too hot. Numbers were down as 30 of us set off. I was pleased to get to Centre Road (3.2kms) in 25 mins. Unfortunately I had shin splints for the first 40 mins but it did not hinder my speed. It was pleasing to see the Karetai Track so dry. It was reasonably easy to ascend. My mate Craig was waiting at the top of the track with much appreciated water and sugar dubes. When I hit Highcliff Road I was 5 mins slower than hoped and when I finished in 2:17:04 I was 4 mins slower than last year. However I was still pleased to finish the race feeling in quite good shape.

Rotary Park Lookout

http://www.mapmywalk.com/routes/view/72305646 On a cool windy Autumn day, 17 walkers from the Caversham Club left the Anderson's Bay Countdown just after 1pm. We headed down Portobello Road, across the causeway continuing along Portobello Road, past the Waverley Yacht Club. We headed up Doon Street till we reached the Scobie Road intersection. We continued climbing up Larnach Road then turning onto a flat Connell Street. Near the end of this street, there is a track that took us past Rotary Park School to the Rotary Park Lookout. The view from here is sublime looking down the harbour towards Port Chalmers.

After a five minute rest it was mostly downhill. We walked down Highcliff Road until it turns into Silverton Street. When we walked alomg Musselburgh Rise it was all flat. We went along Shore Street past Bayfield High School. It was back onto Portobello Road and then back to Countdown about 1:45hrs.