Routeburn Classic

dom

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Allow myself to introduce……myself!

February 24, 2012

Hello!
I’m Dominic Harvey. I am a radio broadcaster. You can hear me talking shit, telling yarns between 6 and 10am weekday mornings on The Edge radio station.
I am a distance runner. Not a fast one, but I still love it. I love marathons. I have chalked up almost ten of then and the distance still intrigues me. Probably because I have never had my perfect run, the run I know I am capable of. Last year my right knee started to give me some grief. I had an operation in June to get a bit of torn cartilage taken out. After 7 weeks off to recover I got the shoes back on and even managed to get myself in a fit enough state to run the Auckland marathon in October in 3.22.
The knee feels as good as new but it is always playing on my mind.
If it craps out again and I need to go back under the knife, that’ll be the end of my running. I’ll be forced to retire and find another pursuit and that is a prospect that I hate the idea of. It makes me shudder to think of myself as one of those 40 or 50 year old blokes dressed head to toe in Lycra and riding a bike because running did their knees in.
So I decided this would be the year that I’d try something new. Something that will hopefully save my knees and keep me running for life. I’m going to become a trail runner. The seed was planted by a physiotherapist who told me it is easier on the body and may even make my knees stronger.
I’m not sure why I never hit the trails sooner. I suppose a bit part of that has to do with the lack of trails near my house.
When I voiced my intentions to get off the footpath and onto some trails a good mate of mine asked me what I thought about Routeburn.
My initial reply was, it is pretty easy to avoid if you do enough foreplay.
Turns out we were talking about different things.
I googled the Routeburn Classic and fell in love with what I saw. The challenge, the beauty, everything about Routeburn appealed. I figure, I know I can handle 42km on the road so the 32km of Routeburn would probably be about the same degree of difficultly (or maybe just a tad harder) than a regular marathon.
I have a steep learning curve in front of me before I hit the steep curves of Routeburn. But I am amped about this challenge. The first hurdle will be nabbing one of those spots in the field (but I’m hoping that since I have started blogging about it already it’ll help my chances haha).
Will Routeburn make me a trail runner for life?
Will this be the beginning of a brand new love affair or will it scare me back onto the tar seal?
Will I finish it? Hell, will I even get to be one of the lucky pricks who get to start it!
The fear of the unknown is a mouthwatering prospect!

Well, that didn’t go as well as I expected

March 11, 2012

As soon as my entry to Routeburn was confirmed I bought a book on trail running online then went to Rebel Sport and got some trail running shoes and a camelbak.

When it comes to running on anything other than asphalt and concrete, I am a virgin.  I have always been a street strider, a pavement pounder, a footpath fella.  I’ve also been known to go overboard with alliteration.

This trail running was going to take a bit more foreward planning than what I was used to. I’d have to drive to a start point rather than just lace up and go but I found the idea of that quite exciting.

I Googled trail runs in theAucklandarea then loosely planned a run the next morning out at a place called Woodhill forest, about a 20 minute drive from home.

I drove out early the next morning.  As soon as I hit the part of the road where I was surrounded by towering pine trees I knew I was at my destination.  I had no idea really of what I was doing or where exactly I was going.  I’m sure there is a big car park and proper entry point somewhere that trail runners know and use but I sure as hell didn’t know where that place was.  Plus, I’m a runner.  I like the freedom and spontaneity of taking a new road or changing my mind on a whim if I so please.

So as soon as I saw an entry point into the forest from the main road I parked up on the gravel bay alongside it.

The plan was simple.  I was just going to run out for 10km then turn around and go back again.  Just a nice easy 20km in a brand new environment.

With my brand new Camelpak on and my earbuds in I started running while listening to a new album I had loaded onto my iPhone from a band called The Black Keys.

I was in heaven.  Immediately I could see what the fuss was all about.  I have never found road running boring, this seems to be a complaint that most trail runners have.  But there was no doubt that road running was pretty mundane compared to this!

I ripped through the 10km, sipping on water from time to time from my hydration system.  “Was I supposed to wash this out before using it?” I wondered.  It was the most rubbery tasting water I’ve ever had.

But that was of little concern.  I was running with a smile.  I had it all-

Great music, a soft surface to run on, beautiful smells of Christmas trees all around me, no cars reversing out of driveways.

In fact, I felt like I had this entire forest all to myself.  I pretty much did.  I did not come across another human being.

I turned around to run back to my car and that is when I had my, “oh shit, you are an idiot” moment.  By the way, I have these moments fairly often so it did not come as any great surprise to me or anyone who knows me.

You see, on the 10km run out I had avoided taking any of the un-signposted turn offs.  I thought that if I just run out on one road I will just be able to run back the same way.  But this is where the problem lies- on the way back these forks on the forest road all looked the same so it was impossible to tell which road I had run down earlier and which was the turn off.

I suppose this is a perk of road running- there are always landmarks to help you get home.

I ran along the forest trying to stick to the same road I covered earlier.  I was not panicking at all.  I was confident I was on the same track.  And I was still enjoying the experience and the views.

Then, the inevitable happened. I got to 19km and started to accept that my internal compass had failed me.  I kept running in the same direction anyway, just in case.  But sure enough I got to 20km and my car was nowhere insight.  I was deep in the middle of the forest.

I took my headphones off and listened for cars.  If I could hear cars it would suggest the road is nearby.  I heard nothing.  The pure silence was terrifying.  I switched on my iPhone and thought the mapping and GPS apps may help me out- no signal. At this point I think I said a sentence out loud, one rather offensive word over and over five times.

I turned around and ran back hoping to see a turn off that looked vaguely familiar.  NOTHING.  It was all the same- ferns, gravel, pine trees.

I was getting tired now.  20km would be my longest run of the year so far in my build up to Routeburn.  I was not really equipped or prepared for anything more than 20.

After 26km of running, thinking, analysing turn offs and listening for sounds, I came to a solution.  From a high peak I could seeAucklandsky tower far in the distance (thank god for inner city, man-made landmarks!!).  From seeing the tower I knew which direction I had to run in to eventually make it back to the road (and hopefully my bloody car).  The plan worked….kind of.

I eventually hit the road then had to guess if my car would be to the left or the right.  I sensed it would be the right so started jogging and walking in that direction.  By now my watch read 29km.  I was rooted.  I told myself that at 30km I would stop admit utter defeat and stop in the first farm house I ran past to ask for assistance.

Fortunately, it did not come to that!  One more hill, one more blind bend and there my car was.  I have never been so happy to see a 7 year oldFordTerritorywith high mileage in all my life.

Since then, I have been doing any off road stuff around Corwell park (One tree hill).  There is a 6km lap around the outskirts of the park which is all off road.  Its giving me some trail experience with no chance of getting myself into a hopeless Bear Grylls situation.

From the more experienced I would love to know what to do here- whats the scret?  How do you know you are on the right track?  I thought maybe I should take some coloured clothes pegs and drop one every couple of k’s?  Is that a good idea or just plain embarrassing?  Love to know your thoughts and methods:  Dom@theedge.co.nz

Two Legs on One Tree Hill

March 20, 2012

I am a convert to off road running.
I still run on roads.  But it is the trails I get excited about.
Now when I am road running, I kind of feel al ittle ripped off because I know how much more enjoyment I would have having with a different surface underfoot and a different vista.
During the week I still have to start most of my runs from my home in central Auckland- limited time and horrible Auckland traffic make it impossible to do otherwise.
But for the important runs, the long weekend one’s, I am loving the change.  Which does make me wonder- why the hell did no one tell me about all of this sooner?
The closest decent trail run to my home is Cornwell Park, where One Tree Hill is.  If you are in Auckland for something and are itching for a run you should try this one out.
This trail is the birthplace of running, not just for New Zealand but the whole world!  50 years ago Arthur Lydiard and Colin Kay started up an organization called the Auckland Joggers Club.  Initially, it was for overweight and unfit businessmen to lose some kilos.  So these joggers would meet in the weekends and run around this very park.  This was 1962, back then it was so uncommon to see anybody out running that it was not uncommon for joggers to be questioned or even arrested by the police.  Crazy really, when you think of how many recreational runners you pass every day on your way to or from work!
From wikipedia here is a bit of history about the park:

“Cornwall Park is the legacy of Sir John Logan Campbell. Originally the land was a farm owned by him.  Upon his return from Italy in the 1880s he intended to build a great family residence on the slopes of the hill and planted many trees including olives on the slopes. By about 1900 he realised that Auckland’s suburbs were spreading at an alarming rate and he decided to leave the Greenlane property to the city as a park. Parts of the park, about 120 hectares (296.5 acres), are still run as a farm today, providing Aucklanders with access to an example of rural life in the heart of the city.

There is a path worn through the grass around the perimter of the park and each lap is about 5-6km long.  So it is pretty easy to do 3-4 laps and give yourself a decent trail run right in the heart of Auckland.
If you are long time trail runner who has covered some amazing tracks you might find this one a massive let down, but I like it.  It is a real treat to be able to run through paddocks of cows and sheep, skipping and hopping over cow-pats like they are dangerous land mines, and jumping over fences while still being only a few K’s away from the madness of the city.
Another thing I love about this trail? Despite it being open to the public for over a century it actually feels like one of Aucklands best kept secrets- no matter what day of the week and what time of day you run it there is never congestion, you’ll never have to share it with more than a tiny handful of other runners.

THE DUAL 21KM TRAIL RUN

March 25, 2012

I took part in my first organized trail event last weekend. Auckland’s “The Dual.”
Great event, too. Only into its 4th year but is run like a well oiled machine. No mean feat given the numerous events on offer- 10km and 21km runs, 30km and 50km mountain bike rides.
The event is called The Dual because it covers both Rangitoto and Motutapu. The imposing dormant volcano in the Hauraki gulf.

I decided this would be a perfect training run for the Routeburn Classic so I ran the 4km from home to catch the ferry. I figured the 4km warm up, 21km trail race and 4km warm down would provide me with a nice tidy 29km training run.
Boy, if I knew the course would be so bloody difficult I would have taken a taxi to the ferry terminal and started the run with a fresh pair of legs. I learned the 11th commandment, the one that was chopped from the bible, because at the time of going to print the publishers didn’t think trail running was a big enough sport to deserve its own commandment- thou shalt respect thy course.
The run started in perfect conditions. If anything, it was probably a bit hotter than desirable. The half marathon field of 400 took off and I started up near the front. The first couple of k’s was a gradual up hill on a gravel farm path. After a few k’s I was in a pretty good place. I don’t know exactly how many we’re in front of me but probably 15 or so. Never before have I been so close to the leaders in a foot race. “This trail running thing is my cuppa tea” I prematurely told myself.
After about 8km the run turned from gravel path into a single lane bush track.
This was fun! Hard yakka. But I enjoyed the concentration required. The k’s just seemed to fly by. I was too busy looking down looking for places to jump and land to pay any attention to the distance I had covered. I had a few near trips which are a good wake up call! These became more and more frequent as fatigue kicked in.
I did suffer one fall which was embarrassing. It happened when I took a tight corner on a loose gravel path. At the time there were two other runners alongside me and a manned drink station 50 meters up ahead. Shame!! Grazed hands and a knee were e only damage….apart from the humiliation.
After 17km of what felt like pretty much all uphill running the course turned onto farm paddocks for the final 4ks to the finish line. And this is where I hit the wall. Mentally and physically I was, as the medical experts put it, totally rooted.
My body started to cramp up and I was reduced to a mixture of brisk walking and jogging to get to the finish line.
I should have been mad at myself for going out too fast and not respecting the course (being a marathon runner, I had expected this to be a comfortable wee training outing) but I was too exhausted to even care. Any hope of a good time slipped away and other runners passed me. There was nothing I could do about it. I was broken and beaten. I have not felt this crap at the end of a run in many years.
I limped home in 2 hours and 9 minutes but still managed to finish in the respectable enough 31st place.
But the lesson I learned was invaluable and will serve me well on the Routeburn-
Start slow.
Respect the climbs.
Conserve energy.
Constantly remind myself this is very different to road running.

I still have a few weeks to tweak and get prepared for the Classic. I plan to hit the hills as often as possible in that time. I thought my preparation was right on track. Now, I realise I am not so sure.

Bloody nervous!!

April 16, 2012

So, two weeks to go. I am excited, I think.
I have been talking non stop about this event.
I’ve been talking about it so much that I can comfortably say “Route Burn” without sniggering. In the past I would hear Mike McRoberts or Hillary Barry say something on the news about the Routeburn track and laugh like an immature 14 year old. Just the other day a mate invited me to a function at the end of the month. I replied without even thinking about what I was saying, “sorry I can’t make it. I’ve got Routeburn that weekend.”
The laughter from my friend and others within ear-shot served as a reminder about just how funny it sounds to the untrained ear.

Another reason why the name of this famous track no longer entertains me probably comes down to the fact that I am so intimidated by this run that I actually tense up a little bit when I talk about it.
I know I can cover the distance, 32km is a distance I can run and bounce back the next day without too much trouble. The difference is time is the stuff my shoes will be landing on! What is making me shit my pants here is the fear of the unknown. And reading through the extensive list of gear and accessories each competitor is required to carry on the run only serves as a reminder of just how different this is to a boring old road race.

So anyway, the day is almost upon us. And just like all the marathons I have competed in in the past I am experiencing self doubt about training and whether or not I have done enough. Or more specifically, whether or not I have done enough of the trail training required.
There is a trail run round Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges next weekend being put on by the Lactic Turkey crowd. There is a 16km and 21km runs. By now, all of us who were lucky enough to make the cut for the Classic should be into that horrible restless taper zone, but I have been contemplating doing this- just as a slow-ish training run. One final chance to get more acquainted with a surface other than concrete and asphalt. I am still undecided. I know there is a big risk I could get caught up in the excitement and rush of being around other runners and go harder than would be beneficial. But I also have this niggling worry that I am under-done and not ready for Routeburn.

On the plus side, I went out for my final big run on Friday. 34km round the streets and roads of Auckland. I felt fit and fresh. I am carrying no niggles. My feet are in great nick- I currently am the proud owner of 10 healthy toenails. And my right knee, the one that was operated on last June to take out a piece or torn cartilage, is feeling better than ever.

And for the first time in my life I have the nutrition side of things sorted. It’s ot something I have ever paid too much attention to. The night before a marathon I’ll usually go out for tea and get something loaded with carbs, just a usual size portion though. Then the morning of the run my typical routine has been to have 2 pieces of vogels toast with lots of honey on, a banana and Powerade. Then during the run I’ll drop a few carboshot gels and drink whatever is on offer at the various stops.
I got put onto a website called http://www.trailblazernutrition.co.nz
You answer a series of real comprehensive questions and they give you a big 20-something page plan to print out. Its real good stuff.

So that’s where things are at. I’m rambling. I tend to do this when I get nervous. Once I get on top of my active over-analytical mind I reckon I’ll be sweet.

So, that is the Routeburn Classic eh?

May 2, 2012

“Shit, I think I have bitten of more than I can chew” I recall saying to myself in the early stages of the Routeburn Classic.  And I mean the real early stages, like 20 minutes into the run.

As a life-long road runner who was having a crack at trail running for the first time I was expecting hills and some tricky terrain to negotiate.  I just suppose I was not really anticipating hills that long or that steep, or terrain that technical.

Biting off more than I can chew seems to be something I have a habit of doing this and my time on the Routeburn track gave me plenty of time to soul search about this character flaw of mine, this eternal “she’ll be all good” attitude.

You see, without doing much more research on this run other than watching a couple of you tube clips, I reasoned that if I can handle a 42km marathon on the road then I could handle a 32km run off the road.  Using a mathematic formula based on nothing more than a hunch I determined that I would be fine if I trained for a 42km road marathon.  This trail run was a whole 10km shorter so even will the hills of Routeburn I should still finish with a bit of petrol in the tank.

What can I say but, what a learning curve.  I was wrong.  I AM AN IDIOT.

The training I did was woefully inadequate.  I got off the road and onto the trails aroundAucklandas often as I could in anticipation of this run but, to be fair, there is NOTHING aroundAucklandthat could adequately prepare a first timer for the Routeburn classic- Not even the most challenging trails of the Waitakeres come close.

I ended up hobbling to the finish line in 4 hours 24 minutes, making me closer to a “rooster” than a “horse” in the time groupings (sigh).  Also making it the longest run I have ever been on in my life.

And there I was sitting at the briefing at TeAnau the night before with visions and expectations of being a “leopard” or a “hare.”  Again, using a mathematic formula based on nothing more scientific than I hunch.  I figured that if I can run 32km on the road in 2 hours 20, adding an extra 40 minutes to that time should be plenty enough to allow for the hills and terrain of Routeburn.

Once again, I was wrong, I am an idiot.

Now, here is the funny thing- despite all of this I LOVED IT!

I loved everything about it; the views, the pain, the difficultly, the camaraderie, the early start, the long bus ride, the cold Speights at the finish, everything.  But especially the beer.

I got to meet some really cool people.  Including a bunch of inspirational pensioners who I road the bus with from Queenstown to TeAnau. I think their names were Mark, Hodge and Graham (my memory is probably worse than these guys).  These blokes still get amongst it and do these endurance events.  They don’t train as much anymore, they just do runs and events they enjoy.  I could not think of anything more rewarding, quite frankly, than being in my mid 60’s and still being about to run 32km in the mountains.

I joined these guys for tea at a place called Moose’s in TeAnau the night before the run.  Me with my plate of spaghetti carbonara while these guys all got greasy fish n chips.  Brilliant.  I thought they were mad but I was in no position to pass judgement- one of these guys had done the 60km Kepler challenge 17 times- if he wants to eat a big plate of greasy takeaways as his pre race meal who the hell am I to stop him?

On the run there were numerous periods of walking on my part.  I have never been shy of hills, I love them.  But some of these inclines on Routeburn are so steep they are just taking the piss, it is nature and Evan McWhirter having a laugh at the competitor’s expense.  The plus side of these stints of walking was that I got to look around and pay attention to my surrounds.  I’ve never been a tramp guy.  Quite frankly, the idea of spending a few days walking in an area with no cell-phone coverage or wi-fi gives me heart palpitations plus I start to get a nervous tick if I go for more than a day or two without seeing a sign for a Westfield mall.  Add to that the prospect of sharing a smelly bunk room with a bunch of snoring foreigners and you pretty much have described hell for me.  But after running Routeburn I think I now get it.  The reward for the walkers of these tracks is the views which are unreal.  It is a part ofNew ZealandI had only ever seen before in photographs inside books and on postcards at airport bookshops and on my nana’s fancy place mats.

But back to the run, so after the first 20k’s which felt like about 15km of that was inclines!  The fun part came, the 12km to the finish which was predominately downhill.  This should have been fun, a chance for me to get my long skinny legs working, a chance to make up some time and tear past a few people.  None of those scenarios actually took place!  In fact, the downhill’s proved even tougher than the uphill’s for this wide eyed rookie.

From road running long distances I have developed a skill of getting myself into a zone of, I suppose, concentrating on not-concentrating, in order to help pass the time.

With this run I had to focus on each step as it came.  Which was a pisser, because it meant I missed admiring some beautiful scenery.  But if I risked looking up instead of down I would very likely suffer a bad fall.  If I’m being honest, I thought I was caning the downhill’s.  I felt like I was a nimble goat gracefully bouncing from rock to rock with speed and agility.  Then, the runners started passing me, one by one by one and I realised just how technical these tracks are, and just how un-technical I am!  I got passed more on the down’s than the up’s which was humbling.

The clincher was when I heard a soft voice from behind me; “Passing on the right.”

She was very soft on her feet and appeared from out of nowhere.  I moved over to allow this runner to pass and it was a lady who must have been in her early 60’s.  She then FLEW past me and bounced down hill.  Very well aware of the gap in our ages and physicality, I did my best to keep up but my effort was futile.  And within a minute or two she was out of sight never to be seen again.

In fact, attempting to keep up with this skilful old duck delivered a timely warning that I had to pay my dues and learn the ropes- I rolled my right ankle with about 10km to go.  I experienced a sharp numbing pain in my right ankle that shot up my calf muscle.  I could still run, well, hobble more like.  But I was in a shitload of pain.  After 4-5 minutes the pain subsided a bit and I knew I would still be able to finish.  As much as I love helicopter rides I did not really fancy being ‘that guy” that was airlifted from the track with a sore ankle.

I kept running on the sore ankle without too much discomfort but every now and then my right foot would land on a bit of an angle and I would get a lightening bolt of pain up my right side.

Before I could see the finish line I could hear a muffled public address system with about 1km to go which was encouraging.  I have never been so pleased to see a finish line…or a bottle of Speight’sSummitfor that matter.

After a couple of hours at the finish just taking stock of my day, the things I had seen and the lessons I got taught.  I managed to scab a ride back into town with Kate, a fellow competitor, and her family.  This is not something that would ever happen at the end of a city marathon.  Ever.

I got to ride in the front with Kate’s husband, Philip.  While Kate rode in the backseat with their 3 kids.  We stopped off at Glenorcy for another beer then continued the road trip back to Queenstown.  My legs ached, my ankle throbbed, I worried about whether the injury was serious or not (it sure looked gnarly), I smelt real bad and had dry salt caked on my face.  But I could not help but smile.  What a day.

Like a famous Austrian action movie hero once said, I’ll be back.  And, who knows, maybe next year I will be a leopard or a hare.  But one things for certain, I won’t be going into the run just assuming I will be a leopard or a hare.  It will be a label that is hard fought and earned.

michelle

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Big Bird goes live..

February 23, 2012

I hope this finds my fellow runners and keen beens alike, well. I’m excited to be blogging for the Classic….cheers Ev!

Me  – this is my second Routeburn Classic and I am in LOVE with this event. A combination of motivated, awesome running friends and strings of epic long runs have really started to instill my love for being out in trail. I’m no elite and never will be…nor do I try to pretend to be a runner I’m not. I plod along!

I left Christchurch last year to move back south to be closer to family and have somehow landed on my feet in a dream location in Wanaka with all the trails I could think of…literaly on my back doorstep. Very fortunate to have this area for training grounds thats for sure!

Well I’m sure more will come out about me during the course of blogging anyway. Race day draws ever closer…toenails are getting looser, miles increasing steadily (along with my hunger! I’m sure I am not alone here!) and the mild hope that my performance this year race day will be a great improvement on last year. I hadn’t trekked 32km in one day through a steep, technical trail last year and with all the quakes happening in CHCH where I was living, I spent too much time on the flat, not enough time in the hills. An external factor that could not be helped. I also completely bombed out with my electrolye intake (yuuuuuuck way too much sweet, not enough water!)….rookie mistake Michelle!! Something I didn’t give a heap of thought to last year but this year I will not be as silly! There will not be a nauseous, semi disorientated Michelle reaching the Harris saddle. No sir.

Loads of improvements to make, lessons to learn and fun to have in the meantime. Happy running and reading

Melting in Central!

February 27, 2012

Pre-planning mistake today…..long run planned after work and as I was getting ready for work I overheard the weather forecast – fine, expected over 30deg. Meaning in my language – ‘increasing amounts of pain and suffering on the run, resulting in breaks of sunscreen dripping into the eyes followed by collapsing into a crumpled heap at the finish’! Its funny how when you get into the long mileage, a day that is seemingly attractive weather wise to others, can seem like you’re planning to run on the sun or something equally as HOT!

I’ll still get into it tonight…muscles should be well rested after resting two solid days and walking last night. Always a challenge to fit in life’s events in with training. I travelled to a beautiful location for my friends wedding on Saturday. Alarm this morning for work was beyond horrible. We all know weddings are very good for treat food and good wine!

One of my friends from school’s father I found out has entered in the New York Marathon later this year! Had a great conversation at the wedding with him about real people and their training. We swapped plenty of laughs and tips. I’m so envious of him doing the New York…I had only been reading about it the night before in my Runners World.

I have a feeling its going to be a good week for training (bar the heat!). I struggled with motivation the two weeks prior to last Wednesday’s great run in the rain. Since then I’ve felt much better and remembered that pain and discomfort are temporary….and lining up small rewards for myself (like favorite foods and sleep ins) is super effective! Also one of my close friends has asked me to be her pacer for the Northburn Ultra race in a months time. Crazy, awesome, inspiring time it will be for sure. Absolutely buzzing and cannot wait to be part of Virginia’s journey

Happy Monday to all – hope everyone made the most of their weekend and explored some trails!

Bumps in the road…..

March 1, 2012

Bumps in the Road
Ok so I have been floundering quite a lot with my running motivation for a couple of days. I remember feeling this way at this time last year with about 5 or 6 weeks of full on training to go. It hasn’t lasted for long but oh my god imagine seeing a graph showing the highs, lows, dips, ebbs, flows and all that of the runners mind! Exhausting just to look at! I’ve had some reassuring discussions with friends that are also training for the race and sounds like it is an across the board feeling in the last couple of weeks.
The last few days have made me think a lot about the stages you go through training for an event and the ridiculous mind games one plays with themselves. Heres a bit of an example of what mine does on a regular basis: Sunday night, have planned (most of the time its in my head because things change ALL THE TIME) the weeks training to a degree. Monday and Tuesday happen, resolve is usually pretty good at this point for a high mileage run and a good cross training day. Mid week – hmm heres our problem. I’m not necessarily worn out, but sometimes I will be. I start giving big cakes, the TV, the couch and generally just lazing about, very longing sideways glances. Glances turn to full on stares and if I give it all day to think about…well we know there are always two options. So late in the Mon-Fri working week I get excited I can not feel as pressured to bowl out the door straight after work to get the mileage in on the weekend. And sleep ins….oh the power of the mighty sleep in and no alarm! After the mini mind meltdown if it happens mid week – all is once again well once I have once again reassured myself that yes, I will be fine and yes, I will continue to train as I’m a sucker for punishment (haha!) and when I do get out I love it so much.
Ahh happy days. Good friends and like minds are so important at times like these. It is the 1st of March and we are now just under 2 months until race day! Rather exciting! I am laughing at how much overthinking I do about getting out on the trails. Monday’s 18km was successful…..however blinding sun for about 7km on the way back – pretty sure I’ve acquired some new crows feet from the squinting, haha!
If theres one piece of decent advice I can dish today – it would be to overcome the inner voices that argue that the couch would be a better idea AND/OR listen to the body if it is tired. It is ok to rest for a couple of days. It is not ok to be pushing uphill for the final few weeks!

Tail end of another chanllenging week

March 9, 2012

Well what a crazy couple of weeks it has been. Go the life juggle!! I’m sure every single entrant in this race can relate to trying to fit everything in and prioritize training. What I have found hard recently is motivating oneself to get out there after a full day at work. I think the chances of me rising early to run outside in the dark are slim to none because 1. The dark I don’t find particularly inviting at 5:30-6am – I am actually scared of my own shadow and the imaginary noises and movements I tend to make up, and 2. I am tiiiiiiiiiiired! My phone is lucky it survives five working days a week going off with the alarm. I admit when it goes off ( I do have it set to a nice relaxing tone – but lets face it – its an alarm – ITS IRRITATING!!) I would quite like to have a hammer beside my bed and go smash smash smash, look at my phone like ‘yes that’s right, I just won’, and go back to sleep.
The weekend was rather productive training wise with a medium size run on Saturday then Sunday I explored a new track and managed just over 20km. Very happy, took some nice photos….hell I even ran into a herd of young steer (that’s young bulls for you city folk!) that were very interested in what I was up to. Gave me an awful fright when I saw them out of the corner of my eye on my way in. They were following me and I had a quick glance around and the only escape was a bit far away….ie I had already missioned 10km in and a dead sprint wasn’t really on the cards! I suppose if I had to try and escape being charged by them, I’m sure I would have found the energy!
Christchurch this weekend – very excited for a long mission in the hills like I used to when I lived there. Monday hopefully another nice long mission while I have the time off to do it. Trying to put a real focus on strengthening the core up to take me through the long runs. I think a lot of people forget that as soon as the runs start to get longer and more demanding, a strong mid section is so key. So I am trying to really prioritize a few minutes a day on some useful core work. Strong, yes. Slim, hmmmmmm can’t guarantee, haha! Growing up on a farm with ‘clean plate syndrome’ has not done me too many favours in my 20s!
Go hard, keep strong and enjoy the weekend!

Like old times..

March 12, 2012

I am topping up the old stores with cups of tea and wine biscuits and looking over at my bag, hoping it will unpack itself from a quick fire three nights and two days in Christchurch over the weekend. I definitely have the ‘vacant stare’ tired going on today and will more than likely spent the next two hours deciding whether or not a walk or run will help the tired feeling or make it worse. For now…jug is on!
Excellent weekend in Christchurch! Definitely also one of those times where it was so full on trying to get the visits and things I wanted to do . I rarely sleep on planes but big bird had a kip today. I had a really good mission in the Port Hills on Saturday with the wonderful Virginia. Totally managed to trip on my tired feet a few times on our mission though (idiot). I’m not exactly graceful when it comes to recovering either! I go tumbling, make some form of startled noise and my arms fly out. No, Michelle, you cannot fly. If I happen to be running with someone….well they have to have their wits about them, because it is going to hurt if I land on you! There was also a big magpie that was lurking in the grass below us when we traversed across back from Rapaki. I am extremely nervous around birds, especially magpies…in the past three years I think I have been dive bombed four times that I can think of off the top of my head. Possibly more. Is this more common than I am aware of? The risks we literally run when we do the missions on our own!
Running with Virginia on Saturday after having not done for so long, I enjoyed so much. It set in stone that I am more than capable of tackling this run next month. It is so important to surround your oneself with positive friends. We look to them for advice and when there is doubt in our minds or if the chips are down, they will be the ones that tell us things will be alright. In the end though I have to be the one to run myself through the preparation. Make sure I train well, not forgetting the importance of cross training and stretching, get a good nights sleep as often as I can. Haha I just caught myself about to write ‘eat enough’ and realized well this is not something I’ve ever had to work on! I’ve thought lately that gosh wouldn’t it be awesome if I didn’t work full time, because sheesh am I struggling to motivate for a run after a busy day at work. Head all over the place, bed and naughty carbohydrates loudly hollering at me, everyday I get out there, I’m more than pleased I did 
On that note, it really is time got my skates on and went to the gym!

Autumn is well and truly here!

March 20, 2012

Slipping into my compression tights for second night in a row to sleep in , it is becoming more and more apparent I am reaching the business end of the training journey for the Classic this year. Before I continue..if you have compression tights and get sore from your long hilly missions, don’t knock sleeping in compression gear till you try it. Ah. May. Zing! Tightness in my quads seems to be holding on for dear life no matter how much Anti Flam and stretching goes into them. Time, patience and a Body Balance class tomorrow I feel is in order.

Last week was a challenge. I need to crank up my juggling a million things at once skills once again. Or possibly just say no to more? Who knows. I did get to laze about and catch up on domestic things and most importantly, I made Saturday afternoon a nice 21km return hike/run up to Isthmus Peak and back. Thankful for the two extra layers I took as up high that wind was crazy, blustery, knock you off your feet kind of stuff. I love my moments up the top. Such clarity. Nothing much matters to me when I’m sitting on top of a hill or mountain and happily munching on my hard earned scroggin that I may or may not have started eating halfway up. I wish it were my day job. Both missioning up hills and eating running treats like Power Cookies and scroggin!

I think I only have time for one decent run mid week due to other commitments this week. Then Saturday through till later on Sunday, its ultra marathon time, my sole focus making sure Virginia gets through her 160km in one piece. It will be a challenge for us pacing and supporting but I am beyond excited to get out on that Northburn course and get all star struck with these big runners tottling about!! I think it is just going to amp my Routeburn excitement up another notch really.

Also something something completely unrelated which I just found HILARIOUS. Sitting at my desk at morning tea time trying to complete some more work before I have a break…stomach grumbles a couple of times. Second time, my workmate hears it and said it sounds cute! Hahahahaha didn’t know there was such thing as a cute tummy rumble

Best feed the machine. Enjoy those autumn colors forming on the trails!

Taking it all in

March 29, 2012

Had an awesome, crazy time this past weekend at the Northburn100 Ultra Marathon! Strangely enough, watching ultra runners slogging it out, some being ambulanced off the hill hasn’t out me off climbing hills, sometimes in less than ideal conditions, or attempting the bigger mileage. I sadly didn’t get to pace my runner (and good friend, Virginia) on the final 60km of the 160km course – poor thing took a wrong turn in the middle of the night on her second 50km loop. Her husband and I had a couple of very nervous hours trying to figure out where she was (headlight was dimming and she was expecting to be back at base starting third loop, where the extra set of batteries were) with two badly sprained ankles. She had also stopped for about 20min which we were very concerned about as she had been going about 18-20 hours by then and the weather was atrocious, very very bad. Snow, the works. So a very tired Virginia sitting down thinking a rock might be quite nice to sleep on, started to ring high alarm bells.
Angus her hubby did some pretty sweet 4WD-ing in terrain his Mercedes would have bellied out in – so he did very well. I missed him leaving to go and get her as I was on my way to the site after a 1:30am alarm. I think I wore a hole in the grass going for nervous pees between 2 and 4am waiting to see what was happening. I still had to make sure I was eating like I was going to be on my feet for 12+ hours and mentally preparing. In a nutshell I came out of that weekend having felt like I was hit by a freight train with no more than 8 hours sleep in a couple of days. It was a shame I didn’t get to run, especially on something so gnarly but it wasn’t my time. Met some great people that are passionate about the same things and getting out there so a weekend I will not forget in a hurry that’s for sure! Lisa Tamati runs one grueling event – but everyone is there for each other and helping out – that is so much what the trail running community is about 
I had definite gains from 5 days off anything strenuous though. God it was good to not have any niggles. Hip flexors seemed to be tight as well as having to take good care of my Achilles and calves. Me as a runner even a year ago would have been panic stations with, heaven forbid, 5 days off! I ran a strong 12km on Tuesday night including a power up and over Mt Iron, no doubt because I was nice and fresh. Training for an event such as the Routeburn, a couple of sets of more than a couple of days off not only refreshes those constantly pounded muscles, but gives the mind a rest. It’s a long time building up to something like this – rest is equally as important as the training itself.
Off on the Albert Town – Hawea track after work tonight with a friend (always good to have a chat to take the mind of the work) and we have been so lucky with the weather. Eeeking out the daylight hours like nobodys business.

wheeee – taper incoming!

April 4, 2012

So I’ve been putting a fair bit of thought on how I have improved this year’s training and lead up to the Classic. I have put so much more time into climbing mountains and so thankful for this paradise I am living in this year to be able to do so. Well aware there are a lot of people out there that aren’t as privileged and have to travel some distance to get to a decent hill or track.
Nutrition wise whooooooah I came come about face with this one. Its actually hilarious last year’s race how I fuelled and that I thought I could run well. There will be no budget supermarket sugary stuff in my hydration pack this year. I have discovered the beauty of Nuun! That stuff is right on the money as there is no sugar in it and it delivers the right amount of potassium and electrolytes you need on the longer ones. There are a handful of brands that do something equally as good. I just seem to have latched onto this. I still am quite naughty and have far too much sugar in my general diet – I currently cannot actually comprehend not having little things here and there to look forward to. Maybe it’s the desk job, maybe its my lifelong insatiable appetite! I have learned a bit of balance though so if I blow out, then I must make up for it. Oh big bird, will you ever learn?
And it is actually taper time. I admit I am glad. There are still a small handful of longer missions to do especially with a nice long weekend up and coming and not having to race the daylight after work. I will definitely be making the most of that. Maybe some people are in panic mode? I know I kind of was last year. The fear of the unknown! Routeburn is not a race to be taken lightly but it now being the business end of it, it is time to reflect on accomplishments (small or large), all that hard slog and the personal life sacrifice on top of it. I’m excited to get out on that course this year and its so well run, we make it into a fun filled weekend with family and friends. If theres advice I can dish this week it would be to try and dissolve those nerves and enjoy the final few weeks beforehand 

Real world is going to sting tomorrow..

April 9, 2012

I don’t want Easter to be over and I could definately get used to a four day weekend. Speaking to friends yesterday we agreed that full time work gets in the way of many a thing in a runner’s lifestyle…..unfortunately working is required to live!
Good Friday turned into Big Friday. Decided I was keen once again to explore a new trail. Little Criffel range in the Cardrona Valley on a very pleasant 21deg no clouds in the sky, autumn day. I haven’t been on many tracks harder than this. In fact alot of it there was no set track. And boy did i know about it on the descent! Step, step, doof. Step, step, doof. Falling on ones rear end. Numerous times. Up the top it was desolate but the views stretched on forever and I could see both Lake Hawea and Wanaka. Definately took a good 5-10 minutes to suck in that feeling from that incredible view. As I mentioned before though, the descent was REALLY technical. I had to keep watch for the track markers and as soon as I dropped my eyes and looked up again they had either moved considerably or were hidden. Twice I had to back track, back up the hill on tired legs to get my bearings again. And it probably didn’t help that I’d uncharacteristically ran out of water 2 hours before I got tot the bottom. 24km return and I was finally at the bottom, dropped myself in the Cardona river and proceeded to recover the rest of the night.
Yesterday I drove over to Queenstown to support a good friend doing the Long Arm Run, catch up with her and run one of my favourite tracks between Glenorchy and Queenstown (Mt Crichton). Amazed at how far I had come this season actually not giving up on running a hill and stopping to walk. I’ve really started to ask myself ‘am I really tired? No, I have more’. I definately smiled to myself when I finished that track yesterday notably quicker and stronger than I have done before. Secret fist pump then a quick look around to see if anyone saw me do it, hahahaha!!
Lastly I have been lucky enough to receive nutritional plans for Trail Blazer Nutrition last week. Just when I thought I had sufficient information about what I was putting in my body when I train, I learn even more. Do not underestimate the right timing of the right fuel going in pre training, training, carbo loading for race day (haha my favourite!!) and THE BIG DAY! This guy knows sports nutrition inside and out and I would strongly recommend to use him, even if you are an athlete that thinks they have their nutrition down pat.
Back to Wanaka soon. Cloud has burned off. Going to miss having the dogs here to pat! But a very exciting catch up with a friend who has just come back from overseas. I sense a great day to finish Easter.

Setbacks & sunny days..

April 17, 2012

Not how I expected to spend my 27th birthday yesterday (even though it was only going to be a standard work day anyway!). Holed up at home with a bung back having already seen a sports masseuse and chiropractor. Definitely improved since the appointment but I have a few more visits this week. Waving a sad goodbye to my pay packet! As my good friends have consistently reminded me, health is in the end irrelevant to price when things get bad. A timely reminder. I learned some interesting things about my neuromuscular system and have more exercises to do at home. That moonboot from November’s injury has a lot to answer for in my book!!! Mid this afternoon I decided to take today with a pinch of salt and turn my day around. Sat outside looking at the beautiful garden, made myself a coffee and ate feijoas and a crème egg. Prior to that I was being the worst housebound injured person ever. Pouting, watching Dr Phil and pacing around my house even though I should have sat still with my back.
The past week was actually pretty good training wise so I am thankful I am well and truly tapering. Tuesday evening I ran a new track with a friend who has a faster pace than I do. What a great shorter run. A cracking pace too so it just goes to show training with people faster is beyond beneficial for every runner. A must do for my coming winter runs. Just need to find some faster runners who live here.
So in hindsight only two runs last week. I had started to feel sore and tired and I’ve learned many a harsh lesson on overtraining so decided to pull back. The past couple of days back problem I was reassured was not this. I guess just one of those things. I am chomping at the bit to get out tomorrow night after trying to let me muscles get over all the manipulation they put up with today. Something else I am glad I am overcoming more this year is not having a major freak out if I don’t get in as many runs or as much mileage as I would have hoped during a particular week. Not a big deal – make the training quality when I can – the rest will and hopefully has followed.
Bought new Icebreaker socks yesterday! Just love that new ‘walking around on cushions’ feeling. Re-reading over the nutrition plan made for me. Starting to finalize what will be on my back next Saturday food, drink, gear. Such an intricate process getting the gear sorted as every gram counts. Parents here soon to give me some birthday cheer. Such tireless people are parents, love them 

Final free bird weekend

April 20, 2012

Rather intensive week with a chiropractor this week! Probably not the most ideal thing I’d like to be doing one week out from the Classic, but this guy is good and knows his stuff. Things would probably be ten times worse at this end of the week had I not been told by a sports masseuse to go straight to him as soon as I could on Monday. Turns out the moonboot from December just keeps on giving! In fact a very generous gift of an out of line pelvis and spine not feeling and looking the way it should. Thank you moonboot, too kind! I see him three more times before race day next week. Wallet feeling more like a pitiful coin purse! That’s the price we sometimes pay for our health, no regrets there.
On the upside – I am running fine…….so to speak. Tomorrow I will go to the Diamond Lake track and do the Rocky Mountain loop which is great, nice and technical in parts and smaller in mileage. It’ll be awesome to not be racing daylight either. After work poses many a challenge, getting those precious daylight minutes in before the dark swallows you up. Nearly got cleaned up by a cyclist on Tuesday night – I’d come off Mt Iron and was nearly home with about 100m to go, took an open shortcut and HELLO – very close. Poor cobber might have come off worse off smashing into Big Bird though! Maybe……Neither of us had lights on – as soon as the sun is down you underestimate just how quickly the light wants to disappear in winter.
Heading into the last weekend ahead of the insanity that will be the Classic next weekend. Feeling relatively relaxed and hoping that feeling will stay with me right up until Ev tells us its ok to attaaaaack the track on Saturday morning. Beautiful extended weather forecast, but in the mountains you accept the weather you have as it changes within minutes. Now is the time to prepare ones mind for handling any kind of weather situation and what exactly is going to go into my pack, food wise. I don’t want to leave those details until last minute.
Having a nice reflecting thought on the solid summer of training, the ridiculous heat, the missed social gatherings because ‘I have training or a run tomorrow’, sweaty gears and already thinking wow I am going to miss looking forward to this event! P.S The lowered consumption of wine and alcohol over the summer hasn’t actually been a drag and much easier than first thought! 

1 sleep

April 27, 2012

One sleep!! Half a day of work to go then a drive to Queenstown to meet my two close friends who are also running the Classic, then we travel to Te Anau together. Can’t wait for the roadie through a beautiful part of the country. Then the run over the mountains into home! Nerves not too bad. I think I’ve been quite preoccupied with work this week and trying to get rid of this daft pain! Its ridiculous, in fact I’m still outraged my body would deal to me like that in my final couple of weeks leading into the race. I’ve worked so hard so hopefully I don’t run out of steam. Much more clued up on watering and fueling this year so I guess that has to count for something.
On the way to Te Anau and tonight I will be thinking about why I enter an event such as this. Its such an incredible track and a great, hardy bunch of people choose to do this event. We are the lucky ones! A good friend and fellow runner in Christchurch yesterday reminded me that pain is a runners friend (not the neck and back I’ve been referencing to!) so I will be thinking of what she said when my legs start to burn on the way up to the Harris and embracing how hard I am working. I’ll lumber through that finish line at some stage and have been drilling into my head that I would love to improve on last year’s time – so lets do it!!!!

In one piece!

May 1, 2012

My second Classic done and dusted. 4 minutes shy of last year’s time (Ev sorry for the F bomb at the finish line when you told me what time I’d come in at – haha!) but dang I don’t know if I had much more in the tank this year. How lucky we were to have another pristine day in the mountains. I listened to the rain on the roof in Te Anau the night before and wondered how we’d all fare up there and how ground conditions would be. But it turned out pretty ok really! I secretly want it to absolutely crap itself at least one year I do it so that I can really challenge myself.
I completely bombed out with my fuelling. I can’t believe I actually did after thinking it over time and time in my head about what I would do and how I wouldn’t let myself lag or get hungry or thirsty. It is SO much easier said than done. Especially when your heart rate and breathing are constantly elevated for hours on end AND the fact that you do not want to stop to sort yourself out. Me in my stupidity thought it would be the best idea ever to eat between Mackenzie Hut and Oceans Peak (very steep!). Idiot!!! I’d sort of panicked as we’d had that 12km to the hut and I think I’d only had 1 mouthful on the way up there, then saw the climb to Oceans Peak looming. Problem being – one mouthful of a Power Cookie or peanut butter sandwich literally took me 3-5mins to chew and get down in between flared nostril breathing trying to get in the same amount of oxygen I was before I’d shoved food in my gob.
It is amazing that when you get your mind so set on getting to the other side of something so challenging that those little but oh so important details can easily be delayed or not utilized. Something that made me laugh pretty hard in the last 5km or so was a guy in front of me, there were three of us running, another chick behind me and the poor guy tripped. Please note I am not laughing at him tripping (!!!) but what he did to recover was beyond hilarious to my tired, warped, ‘where is the finish line’ brain. Really thought he was going down, but he recovered nicely, arms spread wide, head shaking and all. One he’d gotten himself together I asked if he were alright and he said ‘Not going to lie, there were nearly tears!’ – oh my god I had to get my giggling under control – this race reduces you to nothing at times, even grown men!
It was still such a great challenge that I will be back for – especially because I want to deal to my time a bit. Unfinished business! Also looking forward to a buffet up the Skyline is reason enough for me to enter again haha!
A special little mention to Ev for asking me to blog my journey to the Classic this year – it’s a race that is close to my heart and always will be. Unique and epic. And my lovely friends Emma and Mel who entered this year and girls you gave it such a good nudge – WELL DONE!!! Anyone that can enter this and get to the finish line is a legend in my books.
Big Bird out……