To hold myself ‘run accountable’, photo-blogged EVERY day of my 2 week journey in New Zealand.  Reward?  Would see more than your average tourist – each morning: new run, brand new area.  Last day in New Zealand?  Kirikiriroa Marathon.

March 11: Queenstown Gardens – 3 miles

Doubtful Sound.  FULL day: 2 buses, 2 boats – 7:15am pickup, 8pm return…but first, a 3-mile pitch-black run along Lake Wakatipu thru Queenstown Gardens.  Would purchase a flashlight later in the day – last time getting spooked in the early a.m.

March 12: Sunshine Bay, Queenstown – 6 miles

Hobbiton

Misty day in LOTR’s Misty Mountains.  4WD tour UP Coronet Peak, gold panned in Macetown.  Back in Queenstown, laced up, light jacket (from February’s Cowtown Marathon)…gotta get in my run miles.  Steep hill climb to Skyline Gondola, then west ‘cross town past 3 city parks – run destination: Sunshine Bay, on the road to Glenorchy.

March 13: Frankton Track, Queenstown – 9 miles

9 mile trek on Frankton Track, mix of trail & bike path, east alongside Lake Wakatipu.  Last day in Queenstown – goodbyes to my fave New Zealand town.  3 ½ hour drive, south & far far east today – Dunedin, South Island’s 2^nd largest city.  Inside Cadbury’s, filled a taster cup with thick liquid chocolate.  Heart racing, sugar-shook remainder of the tour.

March 14: Southern Cross Hotel, Dunedin – 6.2 miles

Rain Day #3: 10K treadmill trot at the hotel gym, window view of Otago Harbour.  Only 2 of 14 NZ days ran indoors, not a bad average.  Climbed to the top of Larnach Castle.  Slow rainy-day Garden stroll [with bestie Dawn] I’ll remember most.

March 15: ‘Penguin Run’, Oamaru – 8 miles

Harbour-walked past old rotting bridges covered with sea birds – to tonite’s adventure destination: Oamaru’s Blue Penguin Colony.  Purchased VIP tickets (worth every dime) – then laced up/got my afternoon run on.  Penguin Crossing sign (don’t see THAT every day), then switchback’d UP, UP, UP.  Climbed Cape Wanbrow Reserve, trail-ran high above Oamaru – WOW views of the mighty Pacific below.

March 16: Oamaru Historic District – 4 miles

Sightsaw most of Oamaru during Thursday’s pre-dawn run.  Public Gardens, World War I & ANZAC Day memorials, Harbourside Station, former Post Office (Oamaru limestone, circa 1883), Opera House – & the trip’s best morning sun, pink rising over Oamaru Harbour.

March 17: Matakanohi Reserve, Hamilton – 3.8 miles

Back on North Island, pre-marathon day.  Quick up & down trek on Hamilton’s River Road, along the Waikato River.  Lotta rolling hills, like most of New Zealand.  Morning at Hobbiton, afternoon in Hamilton Gardens.  Tomorrow: my South Pacific marathon, Kirikiriroa.

Run NZ – Cape Wanbrow Reserve, Oamaru