January 2010
36 posts
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I love these Harvard guys. They're keen as →
…on barefoot/minimalist footwear running. The same guys in video. Even Granny Herald is talking about it.
Its nice to see these links doing the rounds after the Brooks CEO added his two-cents earlier in the week, holding that those with poor bio-mechanics required a supportive cushioned shoe. Doublespeak, in my opinion. Bio-mechanics = technique. If you have poor technique you need to...
Try to be pithy
Apologies for that last, epic, post. I promise to do that only rarely.
I tried not to get all florid and touchy-feely. I do not aspire to that (peculiarly North American) blog style where the blog, irrespective of its topic, is actually a monologue on the author’s thoughts and feelings. However, I do think there are times when a bit of public introspection is a necessary evil in...
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Hillary Trail - Debrief
I was nervous on Friday. Although its often unpleasant at the time, I like to have that feeling because it tells me I’m not just going through the motions.
I woke at 5:00am to a dark and wild morning. I wasn’t the only one up early. My brother, Olly, arrived at 5:15am to drive me out to Muriwai beach. It was the first act of a very long day for him, running and driving all over the...
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Completed
I”m going to keep this brief because my brain is a bit fried :P
I’ve finished. I ran the Hillary Trail in one hit. It was an amazing experience, but it was hard. The hills are relentless. Its a long way. But its so beautiful, so powerful.
Reached Arataki Visitors Centre at 17:08pm. Total time: 11 hours 03 minutes.
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Huia- nearly there
Lack of cell coverage delayed the ‘live-feed’ so retrospectively…
Left Huia at 1520hr, tired but determined.
Just a few more hills…..
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belated posts- Pitstop # 4 Whatipu
Lack of cell coverage delayed the ‘live-feed’ so retrospectively…
Made it to Whatipu at 1320hrs- Sore but still strong.
Picked up Adam and Ties for moral support and distraction.
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Karekare-36km
Making good time. Past the half-way mark. Still getting a little bit of cramping.
Departed from Karekare at 1130hrs, Next stop, Whatipu.
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Pit Stop # 2 Piha
Checked in 1015am. Still around 15min ahead of schedule.
Soggy feet->time for some foot care. (prescription: more vaseline and dry socks)
And a touch of cramp (prescription: salty avo and feta rolls)
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And so it begins...
Just a few minutes behind schedule leaving Muriwai on the first leg of the Hillary Trail.
40 k headwinds and rain on the way but made it to the Te Henga Transition ahead of time at 07.45am.
Very efficient transition- more H20, bars and picking up Donna for the next leg.
(Still smiling and looking as if he hasn’t even started running yet according to support crew on the scene)
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Penultimate
Tomorrow I’ll run the Hillary Trail.
I have a few last minute tasks to do - a couple of deliveries, hydration bladders to fill, some rolls to make (I like the avocado and feta combo; fats, salt and carbohydrate - and a blessed savoury relief from sweet bars and gels)… but otherwise I’m ready.
I’m being supported by some lovely, generous people. Olly, Friday, Mum,...
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2 days to go
And I’ve jammed my ankle at orienteering tonight… typical. Sigh, what a drama.
Ah well. The plan is in place, the team is ready… I just have to sort out gear and food, slip some anti-wusstamine’s into my pack and we’re good to go. Kick off at 6:00am Saturday.
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“Somewhere behind the athlete you’ve become, the hours of practice, and the...”
– Mia Hamm (via jjae)
I like this because it resonates with my New Years resolutions to “train less, run more”
And, it reminds me of orienteering. I fell in love with orienteering warts and all, immediately, on my first day, and I’ve never looked back. This year I won’t be...
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4 days to go...
…until I attempt to run the Hillary Trail.
I’m pleased I put the date back a week because on the weekend just gone I was not fully recovered from Monday’s 40km effort. I was running OK but still feeling just a little flat.
The rest of the week will be taking it easy, settling the logistics, eating well and drinking plenty of water and otherwise finding things to take my mind...
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jjae:
Europe - The Final Countdown
If it’s good...
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Satisfaction
I will spare you the lengthy blow-by-blow account of the run. Suffice to say that it was challenging but I’m satisfied with how I held up physically. And its just an awesome experience. Anyone who fancies a long hard and magical run should set their sights on the Hillary Trail.
I feel more confident about finishing the entire trail in a couple of weeks time; its alot further, but I will be...
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Front page
I think it was the sense of shared purpose that really tipped the run over into awesomeness.
Yes, there were the challenges of distance, terrain and track condition. There was the lush and varied forest, the epic scenery, the excellent weather. There was the sense of a journey, and that intangible Waitakere magic - all these things made it a great run. But what really made it was the mission,...
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Time I stopped reblogging Shaun, and got on with...
I was in the Arataki to Piha group. We ran for 6hrs 57mins through some epic scenery to meet Sarah, Shaun & co at Piha Beach and walk together into the ceremony.
I had to work pretty hard over the last few kilometers, but on the whole I survived the run quite well. Today I’m tired, but not too sore (wait and see if the DOMS kicks in tomorrow!). I’m pleased to have that 40kms in...
Opening of the Hillary Trail
runningbeast:
Had the pleasure to take part in the opening ceremony of the Hillary Trail today - a very special event. I ran into the opening with a running group from Girls on Top including Sarah Hillary (Ed’s daughter) who ran from Muriwai and we were met by another group who ran from Arataki and another walking group including Peter Hillary (Ed’s son) from Karakare.
We got interviewed by...
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Opening ceremony
The Hillary Trail opening ceremony is on Monday 11 January 2010. It will be held at North Piha beach.
(photo source)
Sarah Hillary, Sir Ed’s daughter, will be running to the ceremony from Muriwai with her running group. Another group of runners (including me) will run from Arataki and yet another group will walk from Karekare. All three groups will rendevous on North Piha beach and head...
Timely reminder →
I went for run today and without realising how far it was, ran a half-marathon. Well, ran about two thirds and rock-hopped the rest (it was coastal)… and, umm, not that you could call it running by the end…
Its been a long time since I really suffered on a run, but today I got chewed up. I bonked pretty hard at about 17kms; my pitiful 800mls of water was long gone and I was shuffling...
Running the Hillary Trail - post run comments
thecollinsfamily:
runningbeast:
Well we did it! What a mission of a run that is! My whole body can testify that I did something special yesterday!
12 hours of running off a small base was always going to be a challenge but it was amazing how quickly time went. Ideally some cooler weather would have been nicer instead of the sweltering heat we endured. The sweat was pouring out faster than...
One tough run
runningbeast:
All done. Total time 12 hours 54. Transitions of about and hour so just under 12 hours on the feet.
Big congrats. Thats a tough run, well done fellas!
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Runningbeast is chewing through the Hillary Trail
runningbeast:
3 hours 20 into whatipu and then 5 hours into Karekare. Geting hot now!
Piha at 6 hour 50. Time for food!
Great minds... (Good luck Shaun!) →
runningbeast:
We’re doing the Hillary trail run tomorrow
Should be 10-12 hours running. Support crew is booked, food sorted. We start at 6am from Arataki. Will do posts and photos to http://runningbeast.tumblr.com/ along the way.
This guy also hates Five Fingers →
At least he tried a pair. Apparently they fell apart too quickly.
This guy hates Five Fingers →
But he hasn’t worn them.
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Barefoot-Running.com vs Those shoe companies →
He’s not happy.
“Research comes rolling in…
Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips...”
– Sportsmd
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Rescued
The Okura-Stillwater track is an absolute gem. Its a relatively small sliver of native forest wedged between the sea and a plantation pine forest, and it only takes 45min-1hr to run from one end to the other, but its packed with all the New Zealand coastal forest you could ask for. Mangroves, manuka, ferns & palms, lush mature broadleaf in the sheltered gullies & young podocarp stand tall...