Run around the volcano
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I had to work from home today as we had two sets of tradesmen popping around to fix a) our ventilation system and b) our security system. I don’t think either set managed to fix what they came to fix which is a bit annoying but such is life.
I decided that I would go for a run in Cornwall Park during my ‘lunch break’ as it would be a run in a place that I haven’t run before.
Cornwall Park is a big park in the middle of Auckland. It’s actually a working farm and my run today incorporated the aromas of fresh cow dung when the wind was blowing the wrong way. It’s actually quite nice being in the middle of the city and seeing sheep and cows.
The park also has One Tree Hill (of the U2 song fame) inside it. One Tree Hill is a volcano cone that used to have just one tree on it. Some idiot chopped the tree down as a form of political process and so it is now known colloquially as No Tree Hill.
I ran right around the hill and it was a good run. I had REM’s new album Accelerate blaring away on my ipod and that, combined with the fact that the weather was just perfect, meant that I didn’t even notice how long I was running. I was supposed to run for 29 minutes today but went closer to 31 before I realised that I had shuffled a bit too far.
You can see the volcano and park on this route map:
I love getting maps of my run from my Garmin. It’s great!
The run today was quite a bit hillier than normal. Nothing too steep but just a steady climb and then a sharpish descent on the other side of the volcano. I really enjoyed the run. It was slower pace wise than I normally do (6:11 per km - I like to aim for at least 6:00 per km) but I think that may be a good thing. There is something almost spiritual about getting out and running in the middle of nature. It was great.
That was run 02 of week 04 of the One Hour Runner program.
I love exercising outdoors. Sounds like a good run even with the “fresh smells.”
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It was. The more I run outdoors the more I really enjoy it. I’m starting to see why some folks call the treadmill the dreadmill.
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What a great place to run!
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Gosh… your run looks and sounds lovely despite some stinky aromas and (what I consider, anyway, to be) a fairly stinky REM album. (Sorry, love REM. Hate the new album). I always find that I am able to put myself further and get so much more out of whatever exercise I am doing if I can be outdoors. I think it makes all the difference, though I’d never heard “dreadmill” for treadmill before — that surely won’t stop me from using it in the future, however!
That said, I did my 2.4 mile jaunt yesterday listening to old school REM with a mixture of songs from Up and Document. Glad to see that you are using things like “working from home” as an excuse to chip away at yet another box of butter. 
Be well!
j
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Wow that park looks so lush and gorgeous! What a nice place to run
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What a pretty park! The running group I just joined is running tonight and I know my shin splints are going to hurt more by running outside. Looking forward to being outside but not the pain.
Karen Sugarpants’s last blog post..Keeping Up With The Boys
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Sounds like a great run!
Question? Are you creating the cool satellite maps of your running or is there a utitlity that will do that with the Garmin data?
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Great run. I think I formally joined the “dreadmill” side today. Sunny and clear is the way to go!
Which program are you using to download the maps? Mine don’t look like that.
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Jeff and Chief Wahoo: I’m using SportTracks to get the pretty pictures.
It’s a free utility that takes uses your Garmin data. I use Running Ahead to log my runs but they don’t take GPS data (yet).
Karen, ChubbyChick and Wundalucy: It is very nice. Auckland has heaps of these leafy parks dotted around the city so it’s a great place to live.
JustTooFat: There are no instant classics on this album I think but I’ll reserve judgement for a few more days yet. Sometimes REM songs just grow on you and first impressions are not always accurate.
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Andrew, I love reading about your runs!! (wait, I think I said that the last time I commented…hrm. Note to self: be more imaginative next time.) I just love your attitude — and your cute smile.
Don’t suppose you’ve got an unmarried twin brother just lying around you’re doing nothing with, eh? haha!
When I read your entries about running, I truly get fired up to get out there and RUN — right now I’m totally in the “shuffling-but-calling-it-jogging” phase, but in my mind, I’m RUNNING FREE, baby! Someday … someday. *sigh*
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Kim: I don’t but if I did I’d ship him off! I’m still a shuffler but I’m getting there as well.
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Looks like a beautiful running route!
Cynthia’s last blog post..1st April weigh-in
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Wow, this post really makes me miss New Zealand, particularly the proximity of farms to such a metropolis. That fact really stuck with us after our trip there. When we visited we confined the visit to the North Island, saving the South Island for our next trip there. We absolutely loved the North Island - we essentially traveled around the circumference of it and were utterly blown away.
Although I must admit…the volcano factor made me more than a little nervous.
Metroknow - AlmostFit.com’s last blog post..Retrain Yourself on Food Portion Sizes - Part 1
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Cynthia: It is.
Metroknow: The South Island is much more beautiful (as much as it pains me to admit - being a North Islander!). Most of the volcanoes are extinct - we think.
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Gosh. Forgive me for poo-pooing your musical selection. I’m just a long-time rem fan who’s been mourning their death lately. But geez, none of that was the point of your post was it? You went for a big run on your lunch break! You’re on your way to a half marathon! You’re getting ever more svelte and fit even as we speak! Sorry if it takes me a little while to focus on the bigger issues.
Cheers!
j
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Justoofat: No worries, I’ve actually quite enjoyed some of their later albums that got panned by the critics but it’s a well known fact that I’ve got craptacular taste in music!
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I guess the new toys is making your run even more fun, eh!
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