In preparation for the Heaphy Suffer Fest

After I did the St James Ultra marathon in April, I promptly said that I will not do any more stupid long distance running races any more. The organiser Nathan announced a silly new race "Heaphy 5-0" to be run on November 29th. Since I have already done the 80 km (50 miles in) once before as a day trip two years ago with Julian et al, I really didn't feel like doing it again. The trauma from loosing 2 toe nails was still there.

Charlie hasn't done the track and signed up in August for the race, but I was adamant I wouldn't do it...but then I started thinking about it. If he was going to do lots of training and get really fit, I wouldn't be able to keep up with him and come along. This would certainly not be possible if I didn't have anything to train for...I signed up for the Heaphy 50 when Charlie was in Canada.

Here we are, one week away from the race and I must say that we have done some awesome training missions. We have explored some more of Canterbury. One weekend we climbed Mt Peel (approx 1600 m located south west of Chch) together with Mike, Lara and Mat. It was a stunning day and unfortunately we didn't reach the top due to snow cover. Running shoes, high winds and snow/ice don't go well together.
Lara is training for the Kepler Challenge in which she came second last year. Fingers crossed she'll get the first price this year!


A few weekends ago, we went to Arthur's Pass where we ran up the Edwards valley, over Tarn Col and the fallen Mountain and back to the road via Hawdon Valley. It was an amazing trip which offered many different kind of sceneries.
Cool sections through beech forest
Sub-alpine section on top of the Edwards valley (Taruahuna Pass)
Another perfect day for shorts

A steep climb, which felt a bit dodgy in places, up to Tarn Col.

Cris took the photo looking down on Mike and I

Mike elking uphill
The view towards Otahaki Valley from the top of Tarn Col
Charlie was the only one who dared to have a swim in the sub tropical water in one of the tarns. He is not getting baptised as it may look.

Charlie, Mike and I have spent many Wednesday nights covering different sections of the Port Hills. It all came together when Charlie and I planned to spend Show weekend in a nice bach in Wainui with a big bunch of friends. Wainui is located in a small bay opposite Akaroa in the Banks Peninsula just south of Chch. Charlie came up with the brilliant idea of running to Wainui from our house, all along the tops and ridges of Banks Peninsula. Nick and Clare kindly offered to take our stuff in their car, otherwise the whole idea would have turned to custard. The plan was to run up to the Crater Rim Walkway which goes all around the Lyttelton Harbour to sign of the Packhorse, behind Mt Bradley, up to Mt Herbert, Port Levy saddle along all of Summit Hill Walkway to Hilltop and along the ridges above French Farm and Wainui.

Mike was keen to join us, but since he is a bit of a softie, he decided to start from Diamond Harbour and meet us up on Mt Herbert to save him about 2 hrs of running.

We left our crib at 7 and had stunning views all along the Crater Rim Walkway. "Morgonstund har guld i mund"

Looking towards Mt Bradley and Mt Herbert where we were heading

Walking up to Mt Herbert to meet up with Mike. This area is all infested by the pest gorse, which is spiky and very uncomfortable to bosh through. We had to do a few hundred meters of bush bashing and were happy to leave the gorse behind us when we continued our mission towards Port Levy Saddle.
A sad look of old totara trees which were cut down many years ago.

A view towards Sugarloaf (the hill with antennae), Mt Vernon and our immediate playground from Hillsborough where we live. It was nice to visually see where we had come from already with a few hours to go.
Looking back at Mt Herbert (dry looking bump on left). You can also see Sugarloaf at the far distance again.

This good old Totara tree reminded us what the whole Banks Peninsula would have looked like before men cut or burnt down the forests.

We are now around Wainui Saddle admiring the views towards Hilltop

Almost there...

Finally at the bach!! It took 11.5 hrs to cover approximately 70 km and a staggering 3500 m elevation...still smiling.

Since the Wainui mission, I have stayed low and not done much physical exercise (only stuffing my face) to preserve my energy. I am just hoping to have a great race next Saturday. I don't really care about my race time, I simply want to feel good and enjoy it.