A run up a volcano

Today’s scheduled run (OHR program) called for a run of 38 minutes. I decided that I would be a bit ambitious and try to run up one of the volcanic cones that is quite close to my workplace – not the same one that I ran around last week.

Auckland is built on top of a volcanic field so we have a lot of volcanoes (all extinct I think) around the place.

I started off in the Auckland Domain and headed up Mountain Rd towards Mt Eden. Mt Eden is the volcanic cone I wanted to run up. I should have realised that a road called Mountain Rd would be all uphill but it wasn’t too bad.

I arrived at the bottom of the volcano and that’s when I realised how steep the climb was. I ran most of the way up it but the last 200 metres or so were too damn tough were stairs and it was slippery so I walked them (that’s my story and I’m sticking with it). The view from the top was great and I felt rather virtuous having made it up. Running down it wasn’t bad at all as it was all downhill.

I then headed in towards the city and decided I would run a different route back to my starting point. Unfortunately the run took me past a lot of little cafes and bakeries and the smells were making me really hungry. I was thinking some fond thoughts of a custard pie. Fortunately I left my wallet back in my car so I wasn’t overly tempted.

I ran over the motorway and saw hundreds of people sitting in their cars not really moving much and it felt so great to be outdoors and running.

I arrived back in the domain and was supposed to end my run but I was really enjoying it so I decided I would run a little longer and added an extra loop through Parnell which headed me back towards work.

If you click through to the actual map you will notice that I ran over 10 km today! That’s a personal best and a major milestone for me. It took me 1:09:11 which includes a short walk up the stairs as mentioned earlier.

I probably shouldn’t have run that far but it just felt good today so I did.

Some of you may have noticed that my traineo counters on the right have also hit another mini milestone. This morning I hit over 90 pounds lost. That means I am now just over 75% of the way towards my goal.

Since I started running this year I’ve lost 30 pounds and done 132.5 km worth of running. Not bad if I say so myself.

That is week 05 of the One Hour Runner program completed. Hmm – I ran for over an hour today but I still have 5 weeks to finish the program!

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April 17, 2008 | Filed Under Milestones, OHR, running 

Comments

24 Responses to “A run up a volcano”

  1. MarshmallowNo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 3:24 pm

    I do not know whether I should congratulate you or call you insane.

  2. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 3:47 pm

    Both?
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  3. Metroknow - AlmostFit.comNo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 5:00 pm

    Wow, that traineo number is incredibly inspiring. I go for my third run this week, tomorrow – much of which is inspired by your progress here. Thank you!

    On the volcanoes thing…I must say, as I’ve mentioned here before they make me kinda’ nervous. We visited lake Taupo when we were in NZ, and being an active volcano and all didn’t really sit well with me. The thing that the locals were all “hot” on (pun intended) was the idea that you could dig down a foot in the sand, in the shallow parts of the lake, and feel a noticeable heat coming from underneath. . .

    Of course, lol, I live about 50 miles from Mt. St. Helens, so what am I even talking about ?!?

    Metroknow – AlmostFit.com’s last blog post..Personal entry: Changing my habits means continuous adjustment

  4. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 7:00 pm

    Metroknow: You better be careful, you’ll get hooked on running!

    I always thought that people who lived on top of volcanic fields were nuts until I realised I’ve been doing it for a while now!
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  5. SallyNo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 7:29 pm

    Well, I think you are a bit of a nutter but who would have thought you could run for ages and still wanted to run more!! But hey if it means you are all happy afterwards, why not! :D
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  6. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 8:10 pm

    Thanks Sally. I must be a bit of a nutter to have married you eh. :)
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  7. WundaLucyNo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 10:37 pm

    Hah you’re definitely the only person who I know who has set a PB in anything on a volcano!! To borrow an American-ism – awesome!

  8. izzy on April 17th, 2008 10:59 pm

    wow … the distance that you covered is amazing! i woudnt call it ‘insane’ … its the buzz, the high you get isnt it … 10km is massive!

  9. Jim PurdyNo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 11:12 pm

    90 pounds lost … now running up volcanoes … that’s inspirational stuff. Thanks for sharing!

  10. NancyNo Gravatar on April 17th, 2008 11:44 pm

    AWESOME! I never did OHR but I just kept going for mileage. You are a fast runner at that pace! I’m between 10 and 11.5 mm. Keep up the awesome work

  11. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 5:57 am

    WundaLucy: You should try it. You never know when it might blow so it adds a bit of spice to the run! ;)

    Izzy: It is indeed. When are you coming to join me on a run?

    Jim: Thanks for reading and supporting me.

    Nancy: Thanks. I think I’ll stick with OHR but just run a bit further if it feels good.
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  12. JeffNo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 7:02 am

    Congratulations, Andrew. Don’t get hung up on the program if you’re exceeding it, as long as you’re comfortable doing it. If the run feels good and you can go, just go.

    What a great day for you!

  13. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 9:16 am

    Thanks Jeff. I took it nice and easy as I didn’t want to get injured but yeah, it felt good and I remembered the advice you gave me before about just keeping going. ;)

    AndrewE’s last blog post..A run up a volcano
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  14. Diana the Scale JunkieNo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 12:11 pm

    Thats just crazy…fabulous but crazy!! Congrats!! YOU ROCK!!

  15. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 1:22 pm

    Thanks Diana. Fabulous but crazy indeed. ;)
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  16. AmyNo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 1:56 pm

    Way to rock that volcano! Oddly enough, I was running in SNOW today! A lot of the accumulation thats in shady areas still hasn’t melted! It was 22 in Ottawa today!

  17. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 2:47 pm

    Nice!
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  18. CarlyNo Gravatar on April 18th, 2008 11:15 pm

    91 pounds????????!!!!!!!!!!!! You are melting! Wooo Hooo!

    Nice job on the run, it is always an awesome feeling when you can keep going farther than you set out to do.

    You had to mention custard pie….*drooling* (I don’t know what that is, but it sounds delicious)

  19. RobNo Gravatar on April 19th, 2008 4:21 am

    Great job on the 10k Andrew. I don’t like being the voice of doom and gloom; however, the connective tissue in your legs builds a little slower than your desire to run longer distances. Just be careful on the the distance build up. You are doing a a fantastic job!

  20. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 19th, 2008 6:48 am

    Thanks Carly. Custard pies are basically pies filled with custard. And they are goooooood.

    Rob: I need to hear the voice of doom. I think I’ll stabilise for a few weeks now and not try to do more.
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  21. Kathryn OHalloranNo Gravatar on April 19th, 2008 11:15 am

    Congrats on the 10 kms. Hope you pulled up okay afterwards.

    My usual 5 km running route takes me via lots of cafes and it’s hella tempting, esp if I go running before breakfast. One of the worst places is the fruit shop with all their lucious fruit on display. My goal is to run fast enough to knick a piece as I run past (although I’d prolly get the guilts and go back and pay for it later…lol).

  22. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 19th, 2008 11:17 am

    Oh I like that! I run for larceny! :)
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  23. HeidiNo Gravatar on April 19th, 2008 11:27 am

    Congratulations on your weight loss and running up a volcano. I am impressed!!!

  24. AndrewENo Gravatar on April 19th, 2008 6:53 pm

    Thanks Heidi. :)

    AndrewE’s last blog post..A run up a volcano
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