A Weekend of Walking

Saturday 17 April

Caversham Harrier's Club Walking Group

The club met at the Caledonian at 11.30am so the walkers could compete in the first leg of the "Walkers' Cup". We had to walk in a 1500m race and your time reflects the handicaps for the remaining legs. 18 walkers competed and I managed 2nd for the entire race. I was a minute behind the winner Colin Dick in a time of 10:02 minutes which was 3 seconds slower than my time last year. In that year I was also the bidesmaid.

As soon as we finished the race we then did a 7o minute jaunt through the Northern Cemetery, Knox College and the Gardens.

Sunday 18 April

The Leith Valley Club held their inaugural "The Three Peaks" walk of 12kms. I like doing different walks and so looked forward to the challenge of this one. A good number turned up and the day was brilliant. We left Chingford Park and headed up Bethune's Gully. We were met by a marshal who directed us off the main track to another track. At this stage I was in 5th place and felt great. The woman behind me felt we had been directed along the wrong track. Sure enough about 5 minutes down the track the front walkers were coming back. The gate was locked. As we headed back to the main track we kept meeting walkers who turned back in front of us. It was a slow grind to pass them.

We were directed to the correct turn off through a steep bush area. The track was not clear as there were a number of different markers. Once out of the bush we met a cow which intimidated some of the women. I came to a clearing with two gates and worked out the markings to take the correct entrance. The track was undulating, muddy and steep. We had to scale a half dozen gates on the way down. At one point we came to a standstill as the gate was not marked so we reasoned this had to be the only way. Once at the bottom at Dryden Street I was surprised we were virtually home.

My time was 1:17:54 and I feel this was not a 12km course. I suspect it would be nearer 10kms

A great course but more marshalls needed.

King of the Mountain

I have always wanted to do this walk but other commitments in the two previous years has deterred this. It was a brilliant day weather wise when 13 walkers started the 15km walk starting from Whare Flat. We walked on the flat for 2km and then did a slog up a 5km hill (to the start of the Flagstaff walk near the bullring). From here it was a 6km downhill walk followed by a 2km flat stretch to the finish.

I found it to be a tough course especially the uphill climb. I managed to complete the walk in 2:10:00 and was the 11th person home. At the end I had no blisters but felt a bit sore.

Easter Walking

Thursday 1 April

A sextet of friends descended on Ian Hollebon's crib in Arrowtown for the long Easter weekend after driving up from Dunedin. We all arrived prior to 7pm and went to the New Orleans Hotel for a superb Bistro meal. The gang included Ian, John and Janice, Shirley, Denise and myself.

Friday 2 April

I decided to walk from Ian's crib to State Highway 6 leaving in the dark at 7.45am. The 10km return trip took just under two hours. I enjoyed walking towards the Remarkables mountain range. The weather was cool and overcast with the sun reluctant to come out. As it was an early start, Arrowtown and the road seemed dead. When I got back the girls were having a champagne breakfast. I certainly enjoyed the croissants.


Saturday 3 April

Millennium Track: I met Kieran, a friend from the Caversham Harrier's walking group at 7.45am. We did the 4-5km loop around the Millennium Track and then ascended Tobins Track. Once at the top I took a few photos, soke to some ex-parents from Anderson's Bay School we then walked to the bottom of the track. We did another loop of the Millennium Track. Kieran set a blistering pace which I struggled to keep up. We did the 11km in just under 2 hours. I came back to the crib drenched in sweat.

Lake Hayes Loop: This afternoon I was dropped of at Lake Hayes to walk the loop. The weather was ominous but I got around without getting wet. The sign said the loop would take 2-3 hours and I managed it in 1 hr 40 mins. If I did not do the fast paced morning walk or stop to take photos I could have achieved it in 90 minutes. It was a great flat walk. The loop looked longer than what it really was.

Sunday 4 April: As it rained heavily overnight, Kieran and I abandoned the idea of doing the same walk as yesterday. Instead we headed down Centennial Avenue towards SH 6. We turned right onto McDonnell Road and walked past "The Hills" golf course entrance. We reached the Lake Hayes Road intersection. We continued along the road that Millbrook is on and took the first right on a back road that comes into Arrowtown via the Arrow River. We wandered through Butel Park a new subdivision on the way. We also walked through the Chinese Village. The walk took 90 minutes and I estimated we walked 9 kms.

2010 Caversham Harrier Club Opening Day

After a wet morning, the sun came out for the opening day of the walking season. We left the clubrooms at 2.10pm and walked for around 45 minutes down Emerson Street to Concord and back up Stevenson and Corstorphine Roads. I counted 33 walkers for the first walk of the season. As per normal we had a great afternoon tea.

City2Surf 2010

My sister Lyn and I walked in the City2Surf event yesterday morning. We commuted by bus arriving in the Square 30 minutes before the walk started. We managed to get close to the start, unlike last year when it took ages to feel the open space. It was a cool overcast day which were perfect conditions.
The Mayoress of Christchurch started the race off. We did the first three kilometres at a rate of just under 9mins/km which was great. We reached halfway (6kms) at Porritt Park in 55 minutes but had to slow down for the 6km walkers who were starting. We continued the steady pace finishing in 1:53:24 which is terrific for Lyn who did no training. She had one blister and was stiff at the end.
15000 participants took part in this annual event.

Rotary Park in blustery conditions

Yesterday the Caversham Harriers Walker's group (all 5 of us) met at the Woolworths carpark at 1pm with a strong south westerly wind blowing. We headed along Portobello Road until we headed up Doon Street. We climbed the hill and turned right into Connell Street. Near the end of the street we came to a track that took us to Rotary Park.

It was a head wind down Highcliff Road and Every Street. We walked across Bayfield Park and stopped at the Rongo memorial for Maori prisoners. It was a short walk back along Portobello Road to the carpark where we started.

The 9km walk took aroung 1:45 hrs.

Karetai Challenge 2010

This is the 3rd consecutive year that I have participated in the Karetai Challlenge. It was a 9am start from the Shiel Hill Tavern. I was very pleased with my time of 25 minutes to the Centre Road turn off. It was a downhill walk to Tomahawk and then a left turn to the Tautuku Fishing Lodge. The Karetai Track was dry and had all the ruts filled in. I was pleased with my ascent to the gravel road. From here I seemed to slow down. I had no blisters to worry about. The walk back along Highcliff Road was slow for me with a number of walkers passing. However I finished in 2:15:00 which is my second best time.