Leave the running to the Runners

Porirua Grand Traverse, Hawkins Hill Climb and My Return to My Running Career:

Check list:
Tick - Skimpy Flappy Panel Shorts
Tick - Old skool, retro running track suit
Tick - Legs that look like they belong to a chick
Tick - Free running shoes from where ever you can get them
Tick - A plethora of national medals that you don't really deserve, as you only fluked them in the beginning - Priceless



As you can tell I looked more like I was ready for a retro class running race than a hardcore mountain adventure run/bike, but I guess I could look worse...


PGT = I had forgotten over the years just how hard it was to put one foot in front of the other at a pace faster than a walk. Paaaain!!!! was the order of the day for this race. I had a runner lined up but this had fallen through at the last minute. How hard can it be, I asked myself as I put my "Individual Duathlon" entry in. So off I went on the Mountain Bike section constantly reminding myself to "Reserve some energy for the run". As some of the usual suspects (Hiskey, T-Rex, etc) steamed past I had great problems letting them go "It's not a lunch time sift with Davo & Angry, let them go! I said"

I survived the ride and actually enjoyed parts of it, but now it was time for the run... Transition went well and it was off across the field to begin the arduous steps up to Colonial Knob. Before to long I found myself running around an industrial area... 5mins later I made my way back on course Orsome!!!

Once I had finally run "BACK!" to the start of the race and found the marker I missed I started on the steps, on and on and on and on they went, they were just relentless. As I popped out near the top of Colonial Knob it was at least a change to fire road, I felt relief... for a second! Now it was time for the thigh shattering down hills to smash my punny pins in just a little more. Along the coastline, across Titahi Bay Beach, Up to the radio towers, past the Golf Course, through the swamp land and finally the 3km straight stretch of boring road to home... I was spent! Run in! Beaten! but somehow I managed 2nd place What The &*@#$!!!


Hawkins Hill Climb = I'll keep this one brief. Speaking of briefs, Marco was sporting his usual pair of Flappy Panel running short from back in the 60's.

The race started as it did last year with a "Hare" off the front until we turned into the hill section where the "Pins Of Power" kicked in and I took over the lead. Running hard I had one goal in mind, to catch the God Father (Marco Renall) who had left 5mins before any of the runners. Before I had even broken into a sweat or passed the stockyards I caught Mailman puffing heaving like singles night at Mermaids. Giving him a slap on the ass we past each other a couple of times until it was back into the steep stuff where I was able to get the better of him. Onward to The God Father now, who deemed harder to catch than an STD in a nunnery. 500mtrs from the top I caught him, his Flappy Panel Shorts. This made for the perfect target as I ran past for a quick down trow (Apologies to any female runners blinded by the sight of his glowing white cheeks as he struggled to hike them back to ball choking levels).

Finished to be first runner home. A massif ups to Alex Revel who stormed home the Mountain Bike for a course record that will stand for what may seem like years to come.

My return to my running career= Once again a fluke and maybe short lived... (But great Cross Training fun)

Enough said, I'm a Mountain Biker now not a Runner.
Tiger