Well, March is all but over, and I finished it off with a run. Today I headed up from Ferrymead, up the McCormicks bay track (11.7km, 51 mins) . I was hoping to follow the route I took last time, but it just was not possible due to earthquake damage on the downhill track. Instead, I followed St Andrews Road home, which turned out being a long downhill, or it at least felt like it! It was pretty good, but the uphill was a bit harder than I remember it being! Maybe I need to try and get back into the hills, which in itself might be a bit hard given track closures....
So, March has ended. I ran 24 times, covering 311.61km in 22 hours, 42 minutes. So basically, out of 31 days, I almost ran for a whole day. Not too bad really! I had my longest run to date this month, when I covered 30km on the 7th. But, next month is a new month, and I am confident I can top 30 km!
I have been planning something special to mark my 100th day running so far this year, which will happen on the 10th of April. So, only a week and a half to go till I reach it, 100 days running seems like a pretty darn long time!
CP
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
And now for something different, Running
Well, another day, another run. I headed out after school following the Upriver Loop, which is just basically running up following the river to the Brickworks pub on Centaurus Rd (not going in sadly), then running back home on the other side of the river. It worked out to being 13.25km, done in 56 mins. A good run, it was pretty hot, I am not sure I am used to the frosty mornings quite yet, getting up early is still far too hard for me to do too many more early morning runs! Perhaps I will try again tommorow?
Not running on hills has done wonders for my average speed, todays run was averaging around 4:16 per km, which felt pretty easy actually. All this bodes well if I decide I want to do some shorter running! So although I am averaging slightly under 12km per day, my average per run is much higher, at 13.44. All in all, pretty darn good!
But, since today is Wednesday, the rest of the week is downhill from here! The last few weeks have been pretty tiring, it will be good to get the next 2 weeks finished and over with. But, I can cope with being tired, it is my partner who has to suffer through me being grumpy!
CP
Not running on hills has done wonders for my average speed, todays run was averaging around 4:16 per km, which felt pretty easy actually. All this bodes well if I decide I want to do some shorter running! So although I am averaging slightly under 12km per day, my average per run is much higher, at 13.44. All in all, pretty darn good!
But, since today is Wednesday, the rest of the week is downhill from here! The last few weeks have been pretty tiring, it will be good to get the next 2 weeks finished and over with. But, I can cope with being tired, it is my partner who has to suffer through me being grumpy!
CP
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Three Runs, Two Days
Well, yesterday was a bit hectic, so I didn't end up doing a post on here. So, as the title says, I have done 3 runs in the past 2 days, two yesterday, one today.
Run One. Was early monday morning, in an attempt to try something new, I thought that two short runs might be better time wise than one long run. So, I headed out for a sneaky 5 km loop, running from my house, up to St Martins School, following the river, then back via St Martins Road, then Opawa Rd. Worked out to being 25 mins, 51 seconds, and being 5.86km.
Run Two. Was the second shorter run for the day. I headed for a quick flat run, effectivly running half of the Heritage loop, I stopped at the last bridge before the Estuary, turned around and came back on the other side of the river. In all honesty, I should have turned around one bridge earlier, the path was relativly non-existant on the other side of the river, so I have plenty of tiny gorse cuts to show for it! Was 5.29km, done in 22 mins.
Run Three. Well, this run was back to the theory of one long run being better. I simply followed the heritage loop, doing 11.22km, in 49 mins. So, not too slow really, and another good 11 kms done!
Overall, it would be nice to keep up the habit of doing a small run in the morning; it would mean that most days could be double runs, plus if I did a 5km in the morning, it gives me the option of either a shorter run at night which would be good, or a longer run which would be great!
I might try another morning run tommorow, but with a late hockey training tonight, I might really need my sleep in!
CP
Run One. Was early monday morning, in an attempt to try something new, I thought that two short runs might be better time wise than one long run. So, I headed out for a sneaky 5 km loop, running from my house, up to St Martins School, following the river, then back via St Martins Road, then Opawa Rd. Worked out to being 25 mins, 51 seconds, and being 5.86km.
Run Two. Was the second shorter run for the day. I headed for a quick flat run, effectivly running half of the Heritage loop, I stopped at the last bridge before the Estuary, turned around and came back on the other side of the river. In all honesty, I should have turned around one bridge earlier, the path was relativly non-existant on the other side of the river, so I have plenty of tiny gorse cuts to show for it! Was 5.29km, done in 22 mins.
Run Three. Well, this run was back to the theory of one long run being better. I simply followed the heritage loop, doing 11.22km, in 49 mins. So, not too slow really, and another good 11 kms done!
Overall, it would be nice to keep up the habit of doing a small run in the morning; it would mean that most days could be double runs, plus if I did a 5km in the morning, it gives me the option of either a shorter run at night which would be good, or a longer run which would be great!
I might try another morning run tommorow, but with a late hockey training tonight, I might really need my sleep in!
CP
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Recreation
Well, as a treat to myself for making 1000 km, I took a few days off running. I have been fighting a cold lately, so the few days off were well timed from that perspective! It was a good break, although it was not without exercise; since hockey is now getting into full swing with 2 trainings per week, plus a game on Saturdays.
As for today's run, I thought I would recreate my earthquake run, from where I dumped my car. I wanted to see how far it was. So I headed from home, recreating the route, expecting it to be a good, 5 or 6 kms, which is what it felt like on the day! Turns out, it was about 4 km. It certainly felt much longer. So from where the car was, I followed Colombo Street, up to the river, and then followed that home. Worked out to being 11.96km, done in 51 mins. So a good 4 min 19 per km which is not bad over 12 km!
My partner was in a Duathlon today, and did really well. There is a duathlon series beginning in May, running for 4 weeks. So, some duathlons could be happening in the future! Some ideas are now fermenting at least...
CP
As for today's run, I thought I would recreate my earthquake run, from where I dumped my car. I wanted to see how far it was. So I headed from home, recreating the route, expecting it to be a good, 5 or 6 kms, which is what it felt like on the day! Turns out, it was about 4 km. It certainly felt much longer. So from where the car was, I followed Colombo Street, up to the river, and then followed that home. Worked out to being 11.96km, done in 51 mins. So a good 4 min 19 per km which is not bad over 12 km!
My partner was in a Duathlon today, and did really well. There is a duathlon series beginning in May, running for 4 weeks. So, some duathlons could be happening in the future! Some ideas are now fermenting at least...
CP
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
1000.
Well. 1000 kilometres. What can I say? It took 77 hours, 54 minutes. Almost 78 hours, done over 81 days. So looking at roughly an hour every day spent running. I have been averaging around 12.4 kilometres every day, comfortably above my required average of 8 km a day! At this rate, I will achieve my goal of 3000 km sometime in early September, but I know the twists and turns of this year are not done with me yet!
I don't have much else to say, with so much going on with school during the day I am pretty jaded when it comes time to write these! But today's run was 10 km (42 mins), I went to Ferrymead via the Heritage loop, then stopped off to Physio on my way for a quick check up, then headed out to hockey training. So, a pretty action packed night! And far too tired to think about any form of celebration for the 1000 just yet, I think I will try to have something big at the end of placement, I might run away overseas for a while actually!
Time for a sleep I think. Or perhaps some school work.....
More interesting things tommorow I think...
CP
I don't have much else to say, with so much going on with school during the day I am pretty jaded when it comes time to write these! But today's run was 10 km (42 mins), I went to Ferrymead via the Heritage loop, then stopped off to Physio on my way for a quick check up, then headed out to hockey training. So, a pretty action packed night! And far too tired to think about any form of celebration for the 1000 just yet, I think I will try to have something big at the end of placement, I might run away overseas for a while actually!
Time for a sleep I think. Or perhaps some school work.....
More interesting things tommorow I think...
CP
Monday, March 21, 2011
3 weeks of March gone...
Well, 3 weeks of March have passed. I began with not running for 3 days, and then I spent a week doing alot of running, and since then I have started a more stable running program! But, that all being said, in 3 weeks I have covered 242.20 km, which aint bad at all. Excitingly, I am now 8.68km away from the 1000km mark. I have no clue how to mark the milestone, with everything that has been going on, I have given the celebration part little or no thought, I have been more focused on a) placement, and b) actually getting the running done! So I really don't know. Hopefully I will work something out!
Today was another 12.77km done, in 57 minutes. Was a pretty good run, didn't feel sore at all and was good to spend some time thinking, especially since I have been so busy at school, pretty long days, which are very busy for the whole time! But that's the real world I suppose. Thats the way it is! I will cope, busy is not bad really.
I might have a different opinion in a week or two, but who knows! Hopefully will go for an early run tommorow, since I have a hockey training tommorow night.
CP
Today was another 12.77km done, in 57 minutes. Was a pretty good run, didn't feel sore at all and was good to spend some time thinking, especially since I have been so busy at school, pretty long days, which are very busy for the whole time! But that's the real world I suppose. Thats the way it is! I will cope, busy is not bad really.
I might have a different opinion in a week or two, but who knows! Hopefully will go for an early run tommorow, since I have a hockey training tommorow night.
CP
Sunday, March 20, 2011
One run
Well, I managed a paltry one run this weekend. Yesterday's hockey game was early (12:30) so I had little motivation in the morning, and then afterwards couldn't really be bothered! We won hockey however, so that was all good. It was interesting to be back on a hockey field again, I have only been on it one other time this year! So from that perspective, alot of my skills were lacking. I was giving a masterclass in missing the goal, which I tragically ruined, by actually putting one in. Will be good to actually start training, hopefully my skills will come back! Otherwise I might have to realise that I didn't have any to start with....
As for the run, I headed up following the river to Ferrymead, then up Bridle Path rd, to the Gondola. I followed Port Hills road back to Aynsley Terrace, then back home. Basically, I followed the Ferrymead Loop, but I added a small hill climb on Port Hills Rd. Overall, pretty good. I am still a bit sore at the moment, from both hockey, and the last week. I will stop by the physio on Tuesday, just to make sure everything is doing what it is meant to! The run was 15.23km, done in 1 hour, 8 mins. Not slow by any definition, and another good 10 km + run.
More excitingly, it leaves just 21km left until I reach 1000....
CP
As for the run, I headed up following the river to Ferrymead, then up Bridle Path rd, to the Gondola. I followed Port Hills road back to Aynsley Terrace, then back home. Basically, I followed the Ferrymead Loop, but I added a small hill climb on Port Hills Rd. Overall, pretty good. I am still a bit sore at the moment, from both hockey, and the last week. I will stop by the physio on Tuesday, just to make sure everything is doing what it is meant to! The run was 15.23km, done in 1 hour, 8 mins. Not slow by any definition, and another good 10 km + run.
More excitingly, it leaves just 21km left until I reach 1000....
CP
Friday, March 18, 2011
Memorial Day
Today is a Memorial Day for those lost in the earthquake on the 22nd of February. There was a large memorial service in Hagley park, with the Prime Minister, as well as Prince William, as the Queen's representative. Today then, is a day of remembrance. I was blessed enough to not have anyone in my close family who were lost on that dark day, but friends of friends, people I had known in my past, people who I had met, had shared a drink, or a moment with or had conversations with, I will never have that privelidge again.
But, once tommorow comes, we need to start looking forward, start looking towards rebuilding, reconstructing and restarting our city. It won't be as simple as a jump start to the battery, it is going to be a long process, and once which is going to be immensly frustrating to many, many people! Already we are seeing issues with traffic, which is simply going to continue, because the companies that work on the roads simply have so much work to do, that it will be a long process.
As to today's run. I headed out from my place, up past Ferrymead, then kept following the main road out to Redcliffs. There is a track up which travels up a valley to a cave from the end of Bay View Road. I have been getting frustrated by tracks being closed (so inconsiderate by them!), so when I saw that this track was closed, I thought I would be a rebel and head up it anyway. When I did that up Rapaki track on Tuesday, it was not an issue. Today, it was much more of a problem. The Cave track has suffered very badly from slips, whole sections were missing, wooden bridges lay at the bottom of the valley, far from the track where they are meant to serve. That meant my running slowed down significantly in those bits! I have always thought of myself as a bit of a billy goat when it comes to running on hills, but I was being especially ginger about my footing, I had no desire to end up at the bottom of the valley with the bridge!
Worked out to being 21.02 km, done in 1 hour, 39 minutes. So, it means that in spite of not running for two days, I still managed to get 62.77km done this week. All good really! Also, it means that there is just 36.67km left until the 1000km mark, very exciting!
Hockey tommorow, I think a small run in the morning will be in order.
CP
But, once tommorow comes, we need to start looking forward, start looking towards rebuilding, reconstructing and restarting our city. It won't be as simple as a jump start to the battery, it is going to be a long process, and once which is going to be immensly frustrating to many, many people! Already we are seeing issues with traffic, which is simply going to continue, because the companies that work on the roads simply have so much work to do, that it will be a long process.
As to today's run. I headed out from my place, up past Ferrymead, then kept following the main road out to Redcliffs. There is a track up which travels up a valley to a cave from the end of Bay View Road. I have been getting frustrated by tracks being closed (so inconsiderate by them!), so when I saw that this track was closed, I thought I would be a rebel and head up it anyway. When I did that up Rapaki track on Tuesday, it was not an issue. Today, it was much more of a problem. The Cave track has suffered very badly from slips, whole sections were missing, wooden bridges lay at the bottom of the valley, far from the track where they are meant to serve. That meant my running slowed down significantly in those bits! I have always thought of myself as a bit of a billy goat when it comes to running on hills, but I was being especially ginger about my footing, I had no desire to end up at the bottom of the valley with the bridge!
Worked out to being 21.02 km, done in 1 hour, 39 minutes. So, it means that in spite of not running for two days, I still managed to get 62.77km done this week. All good really! Also, it means that there is just 36.67km left until the 1000km mark, very exciting!
Hockey tommorow, I think a small run in the morning will be in order.
CP
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Another Run
I had the best of intentions for a run today, I planned to head out around Bottle Lake, but there was a problem. Namely that Bottle Lake was closed! So between that, and most of the hill tracks being closed, there is a serious lack of tracks around for me to run!
So, I headed around the roads from Bottle Lake, just doing a very long lap of the block. Worked out to being 12.69km, done in 56 mins. So not too slow, not too bad at all. Pretty tired from the week of teaching, I have a day off tommorow, so I think I will try to head out for a longer run tommorow, not sure where just yet however!
Just a quick update today, I am going to head out to meet a few teaching friends for a relaxing beverage, to celebrate both the end of the first week of placement, and it being St Patrick's Day.
Hockey starts Saturday too, I wonder how my abilities will be....
CP
So, I headed around the roads from Bottle Lake, just doing a very long lap of the block. Worked out to being 12.69km, done in 56 mins. So not too slow, not too bad at all. Pretty tired from the week of teaching, I have a day off tommorow, so I think I will try to head out for a longer run tommorow, not sure where just yet however!
Just a quick update today, I am going to head out to meet a few teaching friends for a relaxing beverage, to celebrate both the end of the first week of placement, and it being St Patrick's Day.
Hockey starts Saturday too, I wonder how my abilities will be....
CP
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Early morning run
Well, my new theory of running early in the morning is going pretty well. And by that, I have actually completed one run!
I headed out on the River Loop; except I followed the roads, for the simple reason, that it was dark. Looking forward to Daylight Savings, so that it is a bit lighter in the mornings! By following the roads, it cuts out around a km from the run. So, it worked out to being 10.33km, done in 45 mins. Was pretty good really, I felt suprisingly good given that it was so early in the morning! I still remember a coach once telling me that the morning is not at all good to try and be strong or fast, but if you want to do cardio it is ideal. Plus, if you are wanting to lose weight, its best to wake up, excercise, then eat breakfast. Apparently that is the ideal way to start the day!
Well, at least in his opinion. I have been a little sore of late, I think I might head for a massage/physio just to get them to have a rub before the game at the weekend. Might as well try and be nice to the body at least!
Hopefully might get a short-ish run in tonight, I want to catch myself up to averaging 1 run per day, and I am tragically about 7 runs behind. So a few double run days is in order I think! Plus, it is only 70km before the 1000 too......
CP
I headed out on the River Loop; except I followed the roads, for the simple reason, that it was dark. Looking forward to Daylight Savings, so that it is a bit lighter in the mornings! By following the roads, it cuts out around a km from the run. So, it worked out to being 10.33km, done in 45 mins. Was pretty good really, I felt suprisingly good given that it was so early in the morning! I still remember a coach once telling me that the morning is not at all good to try and be strong or fast, but if you want to do cardio it is ideal. Plus, if you are wanting to lose weight, its best to wake up, excercise, then eat breakfast. Apparently that is the ideal way to start the day!
Well, at least in his opinion. I have been a little sore of late, I think I might head for a massage/physio just to get them to have a rub before the game at the weekend. Might as well try and be nice to the body at least!
Hopefully might get a short-ish run in tonight, I want to catch myself up to averaging 1 run per day, and I am tragically about 7 runs behind. So a few double run days is in order I think! Plus, it is only 70km before the 1000 too......
CP
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
A busy day, in which I fit in a run
Well, real life has decided to start attempting to kill me, then dance on my grave. Well, actually that is an exaggeration, but a nice mental image none the less! Real life is certainly starting to ramp up, I left home for school around 7:45, then was quickly home, before heading out for a run, then off to fitness training, then met a friend for a coffee and am now home, over 12 hours later. So I am sleepy!
The run today took me up into the hills, I headed up the Two Peaks, the first time I have been in the hills since the earthquake, 3 weeks ago. The hills bear plenty of scars from that time, there have been plenty of rock slides, and plenty of damage to the tracks, with many rocks down. Slightly unnerving, and certainly the tracks will be more unstable than they used to be. Might be a case of being a bit cautious with the hill running, it certainly would not be high up on the list of places to be in an aftershock.
The run was just a 7.35km short one, done in 36 mins. Not fast, at all. But, given my tiredness at the moment, probably about all I can manage at the moment!
So, tommorow I think I will try to run in the morning, before school. This is because my first game of hockey for the season is on Saturday, and I have only had one session on the turf so far this year. I am feeling pretty unprepared for Saturday, so I will being my hockey gear to school tommorow, and hopefully spend some time on the turf afterschool tommorow.
Thats the plan at least,
CP
The run today took me up into the hills, I headed up the Two Peaks, the first time I have been in the hills since the earthquake, 3 weeks ago. The hills bear plenty of scars from that time, there have been plenty of rock slides, and plenty of damage to the tracks, with many rocks down. Slightly unnerving, and certainly the tracks will be more unstable than they used to be. Might be a case of being a bit cautious with the hill running, it certainly would not be high up on the list of places to be in an aftershock.
The run was just a 7.35km short one, done in 36 mins. Not fast, at all. But, given my tiredness at the moment, probably about all I can manage at the moment!
So, tommorow I think I will try to run in the morning, before school. This is because my first game of hockey for the season is on Saturday, and I have only had one session on the turf so far this year. I am feeling pretty unprepared for Saturday, so I will being my hockey gear to school tommorow, and hopefully spend some time on the turf afterschool tommorow.
Thats the plan at least,
CP
Monday, March 14, 2011
2 days off, then a run
Well, the time I spent in Wellington was thoroughly restful, but not at all productive in terms of the running goal this year. I took my shoes with me, with the intention of getting a couple of runs in; but it just didn't happen when I was there, I was enjoying relaxing, eating good food and catching up with people far too much!
So, today I went again around the Heritage Loop (11.35, 50"). It was the first time I had headed out around the loop, since the Feb earthquake, and the track really showed it. The track runs along the banks of the Heathcote river, and as such has suffered reasonably badly! Much cracking of the track, serious in some places. Also, there was one part which was under water! This was particularly interesting because where the water was; was about a metre and a half above the river level, and appeared to be flowing pretty well! Didn't smell like sewerage (thank god), so unsure as to what it actually was!
I have started placement today, so the amount of time I can dedicate to running is now under pressure, but I forsee myself hitting 1000 sometime next week, and getting up around the 300+ km mark for March in total. All things going well at least!
CP
So, today I went again around the Heritage Loop (11.35, 50"). It was the first time I had headed out around the loop, since the Feb earthquake, and the track really showed it. The track runs along the banks of the Heathcote river, and as such has suffered reasonably badly! Much cracking of the track, serious in some places. Also, there was one part which was under water! This was particularly interesting because where the water was; was about a metre and a half above the river level, and appeared to be flowing pretty well! Didn't smell like sewerage (thank god), so unsure as to what it actually was!
I have started placement today, so the amount of time I can dedicate to running is now under pressure, but I forsee myself hitting 1000 sometime next week, and getting up around the 300+ km mark for March in total. All things going well at least!
CP
Friday, March 11, 2011
900
Well, a quick update today for the simple reason that I only have 5 minutes before I need to go an catch my flight!
Well, what can I say but 900 kilometres down, 2100 to go. By completing todays run, I have managed to knock off a pretty darn good milestone, as well as largely catch myself up for the 5 or so days that I didn't run last week. Now the next goal has to be crossing over the 1000 km threshold!
Today marks the end of McLeans Island Week, over the week, I have run a total of 119.15 km, done in 8 runs. 7 of which, were laps of McLeans. In total, I completed 9 full laps of McLeans Island, as well as completing a half lap twice, so really that brings it up to a round 10 laps of McLeans. Now, I can safely say that it will be a few weeks before I come back here!
Time for a flight, I am sure I will get some running done while I am in Wellington, might head for a swim too, its almost impossible to have one down here!
CP
Well, what can I say but 900 kilometres down, 2100 to go. By completing todays run, I have managed to knock off a pretty darn good milestone, as well as largely catch myself up for the 5 or so days that I didn't run last week. Now the next goal has to be crossing over the 1000 km threshold!
Today marks the end of McLeans Island Week, over the week, I have run a total of 119.15 km, done in 8 runs. 7 of which, were laps of McLeans. In total, I completed 9 full laps of McLeans Island, as well as completing a half lap twice, so really that brings it up to a round 10 laps of McLeans. Now, I can safely say that it will be a few weeks before I come back here!
Time for a flight, I am sure I will get some running done while I am in Wellington, might head for a swim too, its almost impossible to have one down here!
CP
Thursday, March 10, 2011
10 Days of March gone...
Well, it is already the tenth of March. And it is also Thursday, which means just one more day left in McLeans Island week.
I headed out around McLeans Island (shock horror), and completed one and a half laps, so a grand total of 18.16 km, done in 1 hour, 18 mins. So, another pretty good time (4'18"km) and another good distance run. This means that to reach 900 km (the goal for this week) all I have to complete is 12.57 km tommorow, which should be just one more lap of McLeans Island tommorow sometime during the day. I felt... alright. Legs have been feeling pretty tired of late, but they still seem to be able to keep on running at least 12km fine, it is just when I go over that distance that they start complaining.
I am flying up to Wellington tommorow for the weekend, to get out of the earthquake zone for a while, so I will go around McLeans in the morning before I go. I will make sure to do a couple of runs while I am up there too, one of my friends up there reckons he has a pretty exciting run for me, so I will probably do that on the Sunday.
University is updating us all tonight on what is going on with our course for the next 5 weeks, so tommorow I should have a better understanding of what running I will be able to do over the next month or so. Of course, adding to that, Hockey will start up properly soon, so it would be nice to have a good 1000 km under my belt before the season starts!
CP
I headed out around McLeans Island (shock horror), and completed one and a half laps, so a grand total of 18.16 km, done in 1 hour, 18 mins. So, another pretty good time (4'18"km) and another good distance run. This means that to reach 900 km (the goal for this week) all I have to complete is 12.57 km tommorow, which should be just one more lap of McLeans Island tommorow sometime during the day. I felt... alright. Legs have been feeling pretty tired of late, but they still seem to be able to keep on running at least 12km fine, it is just when I go over that distance that they start complaining.
I am flying up to Wellington tommorow for the weekend, to get out of the earthquake zone for a while, so I will go around McLeans in the morning before I go. I will make sure to do a couple of runs while I am up there too, one of my friends up there reckons he has a pretty exciting run for me, so I will probably do that on the Sunday.
University is updating us all tonight on what is going on with our course for the next 5 weeks, so tommorow I should have a better understanding of what running I will be able to do over the next month or so. Of course, adding to that, Hockey will start up properly soon, so it would be nice to have a good 1000 km under my belt before the season starts!
CP
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
W-W-W-Wednesday
Well, it's wednesday. The title is a nice shout out to the more "Hip" among you, basically it is just a shameless attempt to make the blog more interesting. You can't fault me for trying.
To be honest, I am still suffering from Monday's run, my legs are feeling not sore, but rather perpetually tired. Add on to that the press ups and burpees from last night's fitness session did a number on me too, apparently I have spent far too much time working purely on my running not my other muscle groups! Well, enough whining really, I managed to get through another lap of McLeans (in keeping with McLeans Week), as well as doing an extra bit of a loop, to increase the distance. Certainly not a massive run in anyone's book, but still another 15.7 km done in 1 hour 8 mins; which equates to a not bad pace.
So, if I want to reach 900 km by the end of the week, I will have to complete 30.73km more, in the next two days. Now, since it is McLeans week, I will do one lap a day of the course, meaning I need to find another 6km from somewhere. I think I might try and do a short run tommorow morning, before I go coaching, it is either that, or I will have to make my laps of McLeans just that much longer!
Here is hoping my tired legs can survive!
CP
To be honest, I am still suffering from Monday's run, my legs are feeling not sore, but rather perpetually tired. Add on to that the press ups and burpees from last night's fitness session did a number on me too, apparently I have spent far too much time working purely on my running not my other muscle groups! Well, enough whining really, I managed to get through another lap of McLeans (in keeping with McLeans Week), as well as doing an extra bit of a loop, to increase the distance. Certainly not a massive run in anyone's book, but still another 15.7 km done in 1 hour 8 mins; which equates to a not bad pace.
So, if I want to reach 900 km by the end of the week, I will have to complete 30.73km more, in the next two days. Now, since it is McLeans week, I will do one lap a day of the course, meaning I need to find another 6km from somewhere. I think I might try and do a short run tommorow morning, before I go coaching, it is either that, or I will have to make my laps of McLeans just that much longer!
Here is hoping my tired legs can survive!
CP
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Intelligence? What intelligence?
There were two runs today, the first was according to my weekly plan of running around McLeans Island everyday for the week. I headed around the track (once this time), worked out to being 12.10 km, done in 51 mins. So again, a pretty good time, my average speed for March is down around the 4 min 17 sec mark per kilometre, it is amazing how much faster you are when you aren't running up a hill! Was certainly a bit sore from yesterday, as you would expect. Not painful sore, rather just a bit tight and it took a bit longer for me to loosen up into the run. But overall, I can't really complain, it is a pretty good time to be cruising around the 12km track in.
The second run took me from my parents place to the Hockey Turf, to run a preseason fitness session. Now, this really does fall under the category of "Dumb Ideas I should have thought about before doing". Lets review the evidence. Yesterday, 30 km run. This morning, 12 km run. Ths evening, 5 km run. Then on top of that, a fitness session for hockey. Which I think officially qualifies me, as at least 2 screws loose in the head. But, the run to hockey was another 5.18 km, making todays total 17.28 km. Which, if I want to reach 900 km by the end of the week, leaves me 46.43km to go, in 3 days. Not impossible, I would be looking at probably three and a half laps of McLeans Island.
Right now, it is time for some well earned rest I think!
CP
The second run took me from my parents place to the Hockey Turf, to run a preseason fitness session. Now, this really does fall under the category of "Dumb Ideas I should have thought about before doing". Lets review the evidence. Yesterday, 30 km run. This morning, 12 km run. Ths evening, 5 km run. Then on top of that, a fitness session for hockey. Which I think officially qualifies me, as at least 2 screws loose in the head. But, the run to hockey was another 5.18 km, making todays total 17.28 km. Which, if I want to reach 900 km by the end of the week, leaves me 46.43km to go, in 3 days. Not impossible, I would be looking at probably three and a half laps of McLeans Island.
Right now, it is time for some well earned rest I think!
CP
Monday, March 7, 2011
299 days to go
Well, today marks the 66th day of the year so far, so there is only 299 days to go!
I again headed out to McLeans Island, I think this week will be "McLeans Island Week"- where I will run around Mcleans Island everyday this week. Already have done 3 days, just 4 more to go to finish the week! Todays run was good actually. I decided to do a second lap of the track, then a third. So todays run, worked out to being a new record, at 30.04km, done in 2 hours, 7 minutes. Now this is a pretty quick time, which might go a long way to explaining why I am quite so tired right now!
Today was the 60th run so far this year, I am still 6 days behind having a run a day- I think in the next few weeks I will try to catch up with a few double run days. As a sort of goal, I think (all things going well) that I might try to reach 900km this week alone, which was helped monumentaly today with the long run!
Right, it is time for some food, especially some sugar. Otherwise functioning beyond the next 5 minutes might be difficult....
CP
I again headed out to McLeans Island, I think this week will be "McLeans Island Week"- where I will run around Mcleans Island everyday this week. Already have done 3 days, just 4 more to go to finish the week! Todays run was good actually. I decided to do a second lap of the track, then a third. So todays run, worked out to being a new record, at 30.04km, done in 2 hours, 7 minutes. Now this is a pretty quick time, which might go a long way to explaining why I am quite so tired right now!
Today was the 60th run so far this year, I am still 6 days behind having a run a day- I think in the next few weeks I will try to catch up with a few double run days. As a sort of goal, I think (all things going well) that I might try to reach 900km this week alone, which was helped monumentaly today with the long run!
Right, it is time for some food, especially some sugar. Otherwise functioning beyond the next 5 minutes might be difficult....
CP
Sunday, March 6, 2011
800 is up
As the title says, I have crossed the 800km mark. Certainly, all things considered I am pretty happy with my achievement! Even if it is 6 days later than I had planned on it being....
I have still been heading out around McLeans Island, for the same reasons as before, it is easy to get to, no earthquake damage and it is far more interesting than running along the road. Another 12.55 km run, done in 53 mins. I have been trying to make sure I run over 12km each time, so I did an extra bit of a loop in the forest, to make sure I was over. My average speeds for the track still apprears to be decreasing, down to 4'13" per km today, a 2 second drop from yesterday, which was an even further drop from the day before. I haven't been trying any harder, or feeling any faster, but I will take it!
Further aftershocks last night, it is certainly pretty hard to try and get on with life when there is still every chance that there will be further aftershocks! I will be helping out Sport Canterbury this week, helping them run programs with students. It will be good, from every perspective. It will be good to use a different set of skills, and at least get myself back into the mode of teaching! From a purely selfish perspective, it will look good on the CV, as well as good references for job hunting. And from an alturistic perspective, there will be plenty of parents who really could do with a break from their kids for a couple of hours, it will have been really hard on them, since no school means kids are home, and especially if parents are need to be, or are meant to be at work. So, I will be helping in a way that I see as being highly important!
Lets hope for no hail tommorow, that was a particularly unpleasant part of today's run.
CP
I have still been heading out around McLeans Island, for the same reasons as before, it is easy to get to, no earthquake damage and it is far more interesting than running along the road. Another 12.55 km run, done in 53 mins. I have been trying to make sure I run over 12km each time, so I did an extra bit of a loop in the forest, to make sure I was over. My average speeds for the track still apprears to be decreasing, down to 4'13" per km today, a 2 second drop from yesterday, which was an even further drop from the day before. I haven't been trying any harder, or feeling any faster, but I will take it!
Further aftershocks last night, it is certainly pretty hard to try and get on with life when there is still every chance that there will be further aftershocks! I will be helping out Sport Canterbury this week, helping them run programs with students. It will be good, from every perspective. It will be good to use a different set of skills, and at least get myself back into the mode of teaching! From a purely selfish perspective, it will look good on the CV, as well as good references for job hunting. And from an alturistic perspective, there will be plenty of parents who really could do with a break from their kids for a couple of hours, it will have been really hard on them, since no school means kids are home, and especially if parents are need to be, or are meant to be at work. So, I will be helping in a way that I see as being highly important!
Lets hope for no hail tommorow, that was a particularly unpleasant part of today's run.
CP
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Back to McLeans
Well, seems like I am making a habit of going to McLeans Island, and there is a real reason for that. It is really the only track on this side of town! Being this side of town is pretty important, I dont want to spend any more time driving more than I have to, the streets still need to be kept pretty clear so that the clean up can be done properly!
And aside from that, I really don't enjoy running on he road anywhere near as much as I enjoy running on tracks or in the hills. And since the hills will be off limits for a while, I will have to make do with the track out at McLeans Island. Might branch out and head to Bottle Lake at some point, just to mix things up!
The run worked out to being a nice 12.3km, done in 52 mins. So, apparently as far as times go, I have been speeding up each time I have been around the track! Haven't been feeling the fastest at the moment, in spite of the times.
Well, no earthquake updates again. So I suppose anyone who is reading this purely for an earthquake fix, probably made a poor choice. There is only so much I can say, and since I have become oversaturated with the footage of the same things, the same information, I can only assume people reading this have as well.
CP
And aside from that, I really don't enjoy running on he road anywhere near as much as I enjoy running on tracks or in the hills. And since the hills will be off limits for a while, I will have to make do with the track out at McLeans Island. Might branch out and head to Bottle Lake at some point, just to mix things up!
The run worked out to being a nice 12.3km, done in 52 mins. So, apparently as far as times go, I have been speeding up each time I have been around the track! Haven't been feeling the fastest at the moment, in spite of the times.
Well, no earthquake updates again. So I suppose anyone who is reading this purely for an earthquake fix, probably made a poor choice. There is only so much I can say, and since I have become oversaturated with the footage of the same things, the same information, I can only assume people reading this have as well.
CP
Friday, March 4, 2011
Two in a row!
Well, today I managed another run. It really felt like the past week has caught up with me today, the list of things that are sore is unfortunatly quite long! Perhaps a reminder that I should really be stretching more often!
I headed out again to McLeans Island, this time I was alone; which meant I only needed to do one lap! To be honest, today I really dont think I could have done two laps, legs were tired as well as it being incredibly hot (car said 30, probably less) and windy. Worked out to being 12.01km, done in 52 mins, so really not a slow time at all. The track is 11km around, but I run from the car, which is where that extra kilometre comes from.
So, overall for this week, I have completed 32.25km, in two runs. Not a particulary good week, in comparison to the others that have been, but given everything that has happened, probably fair enough!
February worked out to being 298.39 km, done in 23 runs, over 23 hours, 34 minutes. So, the main thing for March is to get up and past the 1000km mark, a good achievement in my book, given that it will be done in under 3 months.
So, thats the goal so far. No earthquake related stuff today, I have become oversaturated with the news footage, with the politicking and the sheer repetition of stories. So, you don't need it from me as well.
CP
I headed out again to McLeans Island, this time I was alone; which meant I only needed to do one lap! To be honest, today I really dont think I could have done two laps, legs were tired as well as it being incredibly hot (car said 30, probably less) and windy. Worked out to being 12.01km, done in 52 mins, so really not a slow time at all. The track is 11km around, but I run from the car, which is where that extra kilometre comes from.
So, overall for this week, I have completed 32.25km, in two runs. Not a particulary good week, in comparison to the others that have been, but given everything that has happened, probably fair enough!
February worked out to being 298.39 km, done in 23 runs, over 23 hours, 34 minutes. So, the main thing for March is to get up and past the 1000km mark, a good achievement in my book, given that it will be done in under 3 months.
So, thats the goal so far. No earthquake related stuff today, I have become oversaturated with the news footage, with the politicking and the sheer repetition of stories. So, you don't need it from me as well.
CP
Thursday, March 3, 2011
An actual run
Well, as the title says, today I did an actual run. I have not been for one of those since last friday! So, almost a whole week without a run. Which when I am trying to run 3000 km in a year, anything more than 5 days off is probably not ideal, because I would be in danger of losing motivation!
I headed out to McLeans Island since it is close to my parents house (and well away from the damage...). I took my partner with me, I planned on a full loop, while my girlfriend planned on the shorter loop. My loop was good, I had been feeling pretty grumpy today, there are too many things out of my control, university especially and it is starting to become frustrating... I know I can't do anything to hurry it up, but it just catches up with me sometimes when I try to plan beyond tommorow.
My plan of meeting up with my girlfriend as she finished her loop ran into a snag when she was not back. No problem I thought, I would just go around the small loop backwards, and meet her on the way. The sole problem with that was that she had gone for a while, then turned around and come back! So, I basically did over one and a half laps of the track.
So consequently now I am tired. But, 20.24 km run today, in 1 hr 28 mins. So, a reasonably quick pace (4:22 per km) which is suprisingly good actually, given both my lack of running, and the amount that I have been doing lately.
Nothing new to report on the earthquake front, except that yesterday alone, Fulton Hogan (a multifaceted construction company) moved 42,500 tonnes of silt. That amount of silt equates to the same amount that Fulton Hogan moved in total after the September 4th quake. So there are alot of people, everywhere in Christchurch doing great work!
CP
I headed out to McLeans Island since it is close to my parents house (and well away from the damage...). I took my partner with me, I planned on a full loop, while my girlfriend planned on the shorter loop. My loop was good, I had been feeling pretty grumpy today, there are too many things out of my control, university especially and it is starting to become frustrating... I know I can't do anything to hurry it up, but it just catches up with me sometimes when I try to plan beyond tommorow.
My plan of meeting up with my girlfriend as she finished her loop ran into a snag when she was not back. No problem I thought, I would just go around the small loop backwards, and meet her on the way. The sole problem with that was that she had gone for a while, then turned around and come back! So, I basically did over one and a half laps of the track.
So consequently now I am tired. But, 20.24 km run today, in 1 hr 28 mins. So, a reasonably quick pace (4:22 per km) which is suprisingly good actually, given both my lack of running, and the amount that I have been doing lately.
Nothing new to report on the earthquake front, except that yesterday alone, Fulton Hogan (a multifaceted construction company) moved 42,500 tonnes of silt. That amount of silt equates to the same amount that Fulton Hogan moved in total after the September 4th quake. So there are alot of people, everywhere in Christchurch doing great work!
CP
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Earthquake plus 8
Well, today marks the 8th day since the Earthquake. I spent the last two days on my bike again. I started out from the other side of Fitzgerald Avenue- one edge of the cordon, and worked my way away from the central city. My goal was to meet, greet, deliver food and water and find jobs. I was doing this because the large student armies (SVA and Comfort for Christchurch) are struggling to find the best use for their resources (which are vast). Areas such as Avonside, Wainoni and Aranui are still without power. Without power, they are unable to contact the SVA groups, and so are therefore unable to reach help. I headed out yesterday alone, but today I had another person with me, as well as the Student Volunteer Army (SVA), who had come to the same point as I had, so sent much of their army out to the streets going door to door.
So, what have I learned or found out, I met alot of people on my travels and they were from all walks of life. I met some who were angry, frustrated at the system. I went down a street, where I was the first person with any authority they had seen. Which is scary, given that any authority I had, was the self-appointed variety. These areas with no power, water or sewage you could understand them being annoyed and frustrated, a week later there were still nowhere near enough Port-a-loos for the streets, and it is the streets which are entirely rental properties with Housing NZ. I met plenty of people who were the other end of the spectrum, really happy to chat to people, and to have any help that was coming to them. Some of the areas were completly totalled, roads which are destroyed, piles of silt the size of houses and ruined water pipes. The cracks in the ground- some vast; are in places still changing, one of the more impressive sights I have seen is a green wheelie-bin, which was in a crack as a warning to motorists, only to have the crack close on it, totally annihilating the rubbish bin. It sat flat, still in the crack, its wheels in other places on the road, testament to the destructive and changing powers of the earth.
In these stories of tragedy, of rack and ruin, there have been plenty of lighter moments. Today I was cycling past the cordon on Bealey ave, and there was the traditional army component. A team of soldiers, plus a light armoured vehicle. But, along with that there was an ice cream truck. Nothing lately has brought a smile to my face more than seeing a soldier sitting in the turret of an armoured vehicle, chowing down on a soft serve cone. Another one is the enjoyment I find in trying to learn sign language from the translators in the news briefings. Or in finding relations of people I know out on my rounds, I met the mother in law of one of my hockey team-mates purely by conincidence!
I have to say, all of the military personnel that I have had cause to talk to have all been amazingly nice people. They were operating in the same area as I have been, working primarily as a large work team, but also with smaller teams to find jobs. These guys were professional, but best of all, they were more than happy to share their information, to work together with us and the other groups. They were happy to sort out small jobs that I had found, and I am sure people appreciated their quick help, in contrast to the wait which using the student groups would have.
In all of the areas I have seen, people are making do with what they have. I went to a street which had a burst water main, damage from over a week ago. It was still pumping out water, which the locals could use (as unhygenic and unsanitary as it sounds) obviously after a good boil. Communities have banded together, simply because they have had to. The dust and wind today will be an ongoing problem, as is sanitation.
Well, 180 km on the bike travelled in the past 3 days. Multiple neighbourhoods travelled through. In my opinion the clean-up phase is winding down, and it is becoming time for the rebuild to begin. The big question now is, what next? What will the city look like now? Or more importantly, where to begin?
Have I done good? I hope so. And really, sometimes hope is all you get.
I know this was long. But, thats the way it is with me.
CP
So, what have I learned or found out, I met alot of people on my travels and they were from all walks of life. I met some who were angry, frustrated at the system. I went down a street, where I was the first person with any authority they had seen. Which is scary, given that any authority I had, was the self-appointed variety. These areas with no power, water or sewage you could understand them being annoyed and frustrated, a week later there were still nowhere near enough Port-a-loos for the streets, and it is the streets which are entirely rental properties with Housing NZ. I met plenty of people who were the other end of the spectrum, really happy to chat to people, and to have any help that was coming to them. Some of the areas were completly totalled, roads which are destroyed, piles of silt the size of houses and ruined water pipes. The cracks in the ground- some vast; are in places still changing, one of the more impressive sights I have seen is a green wheelie-bin, which was in a crack as a warning to motorists, only to have the crack close on it, totally annihilating the rubbish bin. It sat flat, still in the crack, its wheels in other places on the road, testament to the destructive and changing powers of the earth.
In these stories of tragedy, of rack and ruin, there have been plenty of lighter moments. Today I was cycling past the cordon on Bealey ave, and there was the traditional army component. A team of soldiers, plus a light armoured vehicle. But, along with that there was an ice cream truck. Nothing lately has brought a smile to my face more than seeing a soldier sitting in the turret of an armoured vehicle, chowing down on a soft serve cone. Another one is the enjoyment I find in trying to learn sign language from the translators in the news briefings. Or in finding relations of people I know out on my rounds, I met the mother in law of one of my hockey team-mates purely by conincidence!
I have to say, all of the military personnel that I have had cause to talk to have all been amazingly nice people. They were operating in the same area as I have been, working primarily as a large work team, but also with smaller teams to find jobs. These guys were professional, but best of all, they were more than happy to share their information, to work together with us and the other groups. They were happy to sort out small jobs that I had found, and I am sure people appreciated their quick help, in contrast to the wait which using the student groups would have.
In all of the areas I have seen, people are making do with what they have. I went to a street which had a burst water main, damage from over a week ago. It was still pumping out water, which the locals could use (as unhygenic and unsanitary as it sounds) obviously after a good boil. Communities have banded together, simply because they have had to. The dust and wind today will be an ongoing problem, as is sanitation.
Well, 180 km on the bike travelled in the past 3 days. Multiple neighbourhoods travelled through. In my opinion the clean-up phase is winding down, and it is becoming time for the rebuild to begin. The big question now is, what next? What will the city look like now? Or more importantly, where to begin?
Have I done good? I hope so. And really, sometimes hope is all you get.
I know this was long. But, thats the way it is with me.
CP
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