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 2nd 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.
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- March 11: Queenstown Gardens
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- March 12: Sunshine Bay
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- March 13: Frankton Track
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- March 14: Southern Cross Hotel
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- March 15: ‘Penguin Run’
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- March 16: Oamaru Historic District
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- March 17: Matakanohi Reserve
Run NZ – Cape Wanbrow Reserve, Oamaru
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 5 (CO time): Auckland Airport – 4 miles
16 hour flight from Los Angeles, 19 hour time difference – meant I left Friday night but didn’t arrive in Auckland ‘til Sunday morning. Yikes, where did Saturday go? EVERY day’s a run day but my first run in New Zealand would be on Colorado time 🙂 Restroom stall change-of-clothes, packing service watched my luggage, then logged 4 miles on NZ’s North Island.
Mount Eden (Auckland)
March 5 (NZ time): Grand Millennium, Auckland – 6.2 miles
City tour, quick hike up Mount Eden, rode to the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower. Finished Day One with a 10K treadmill trot at the hotel gym (running on NZ time now).
March 6: The Redwoods, Rotorua – 12 miles
3 tour stops: Waitomo [subterranean cavern illuminated by THOUSANDS of tiny glowworms], Agrodome (sheep shearing demo) & Te Puia [traditional meeting house & Māori Haka].
10 minutes from The Redwoods, my first amazing NZ run (first of several). Massive trees, tropical vegetation & cicadas – the forest sang (12 mile FUN run).
March 7: ‘Geyser Run’, Rotorua – 8 miles
my first MORNING run in New Zealand (finally time-zone acclimated). Logged 8 miles of geysers before a half-day bike tour & late afternoon flight to South Island.
March 8: Burnside Park, Christchurch – 3 miles
Short pre-dawn run ‘round Christchurch’s Burnside Park. Run highlights: rugby field, lawn bowling, morning sunrise. Later jetboat’d on the Waimakariri River.
March 9: ‘City Park Run’, Christchurch – 10 miles
2nd double-digit run in NZ, 2nd time I got lost – neither long runs were planned. One left when I should’ve turned right, long morning on Christchurch city streets. Run highlights: EIGHT city parks, morning sunrise. Rental car pickup. Drove across the Southern Alps, detouring in the afternoon to walk a swinging bridge over Hokitika Gorge.
March 10: ‘Glacier Run’, Franz Josef Village – 7 miles
Day 7’s highlight WAS my morning run. Half-mile out of town, crossed the Waiho River via Bailey Bridge, to a dirt access road. Pre-dawn trail run thru giant ferns & tropical vegetation, down to a murky silt-choked river. Rock hopped across, spun ‘round & glacier gawked — Franz Josef straight ahead/high above. Popped over boulders, trekked UP, UP, UP. Waterfall-played on the return to town.
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- March 5 (CO time): Auckland Airport
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- March 5 (NZ time): Grand Millennium
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- March 6: The Redwoods
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- March 7: ‘Geyser Run’
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- March 8: Burnside Park
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- March 9: ‘City Park Run’
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- March 10: ‘Glacier Run’
Run NZ – Franz Josef Glacier
Run the Year Motto: EVERY day’s a run day, 2017 miles in 2017
February 2017 update: shortest month of the year, 2nd 200-mile month of 2017 – HUGE confidence builder! Finished 3 more marathons. On track for #100 in Ireland, including a marathon-lite, hike-heavy July & August. Finding balance in 2017.
March focus: ACCOUNTABILITY
Not gonna kid ya, this year’s run goal has been tough – literally EVERY day of 2017 been a run day. Pre-marathon, post-marathon, sick days & SNOW. Found myself logging run miles an hour before skiing Vail last month.
the Positive? RESULTS. Lean, UP 4 lbs & STRONG. Nicked finish time from each successive marathon this year.
In New Zealand ‘til March 19th — will be cutting new trails in 9 towns, on 2 islands. Photo-blogging the ‘run watch’ to hold myself accountable. Reward? Gonna see more than your average tourist – each morning: new run, brand new area.
Last day in New Zealand? Kirikiriroa Marathon in Hamilton. Heck yeah!
Race ReCap: 3 marathons, 3 states. Snow-trekked the Groundhog Day Marathon in Grand Rapids [Michigan], ran a [2nd Half] negative split in Pueblo [Colorado], then finished sub-4:30 on a hilly course in Texas – at Fort Worth’s Cowtown Marathon.
Streaks: 67 consecutive run days, 39th consecutive month marathoning
Mileage ReCap: another 200+ mile month, ended February at 366 miles (30 miles ahead of goal)
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- ended February at 366 miles
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- Valentine’s Day lovin’
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- Milestone 200
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- Milestone 300
Run the Year – March Newsletter
The Run The Year Challenge is all about getting healthier, but physical fitness is only one aspect of overall well being. The Chase Your Bliss Challenge is about advancing your emotional fitness.
“Once you learn how to be happy you won’t tolerate people who make you feel anything less.” – Germany Kent
Just like the Run The Year Challenge, the Chase Your Bliss Challenge is about challenging yourself to do more. It is not a competition with anyone but yourself, so go out there and maximize your happiness!
