Secret training trip

So for the last 2 weeks I have been on a family holiday in the South Island of New Zealand. We did a counter clockwise lap and I tried to get out as often as possible to see each location from a different perspective. The schedule went a little like this

Christchurch - a long lap of Hagley Park on the Saturday afternoon, legs still a little jaded from the marathon the week before, was a little surprised to post 10km in just under 45 minutes

Kaikora - about 3 hours north of Christchurch and best know for whale watching tours, went out for 2 runs, one a lap of the penninsula, very scenic, but a little hilly and the second day was longer and out into the country side, had to stop for a couple of minutes to let a herd of cows cross the road for their morning milking session.

Nelson - near the top of the South Island and wedged between Queen Charlotte sound and Abel Tasman National Park. A shorter recovery run around a large park

Franz Joseph Glacier - an out an back to the car park of the glacier from the van park. Quite cold as it was very near the snow. Really streteched it out coming home, just under 13km at around 4:25 pace

Wanaka - gateway to the ski slopes and Queenstown. A great scenic run along the lake with a few hills tossed in at the back end. Very windy and quite cold.

Queenstown - sadly missed out on running as we had skiiing and rafting lined up with early morning starts

Te Anu - Another lake run, from the van park all the way around to the start of the Kepler Track and a km or so along the actual start of the track. Really liked it here and may try to enter the actual race next year. Close to 13km at 4:25 average, another good stretch run.

Dunedin - Opted for a hard slog here and so planned a run into the hills at the back of the town. Wow, tough going with a vertical climb of over 600m in around 8km. Then a brutal descent down a gravel single track path followed by a tempo run back along undulating streets. Legs were very smashed after this effort. Not much in terms of views as the lookouts were in coud cover so I could really only see about 20m in front of myself at the top.

Oamaru - A few hours drive south of Christchurch and known for it's penguin colonies and viewing. A flatter tempo run given the hammering from the day before.

Back home in time for the Striders STaR on Sunday at Marsfield (Ryde Rambler). A pretty tough run with undulating road for the first 15 odd km and then a series of roller coaster steepish climbs all the way up to Thornleigh and then a technical descent and run along a very rocky trail before yet another climb back to the start.

Last time I ran this STaR was the week after the 24 hour rogaine and the April 10km race and was where the first signs of my dodgy back started to surface. Felt pretty comfotable, and the pace was a bit quicker on the tar than last time. The sky's opened up and bucketed down as we ran from Cheltenham to Thornleigh. I led out through the return trails section and really tried to push it home. Was quite surprised to finish up with an average pace of 5:10, the April run was bang on 5:30.

So all seems to be coming together, I am now below 80kg, despite having fallen a little off the no sugar wagon during our holiday. Need to keep a strong focus on October training to benefit the GNW attempt, but am going to continue the speed/tempo stuff as well as I'll thinking of having a tilt at the Central Coast Half as well.

The Striders Internal half this Sunday and then the 10km at Lane Cove in a few weeks will be good barometers as to my progress....