The Volcano Challenge Race Report
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This is a photo essay so click more only if you are brave!
I got up at 5:30 and had breakfast (oats and coffee). I got all my running gear together (ipod, garmin, roadID, fuelbelt and camera!). My beloved wife and daughter both got up early so they could drop me off. The plan was that they would meet me after the event for a celebratory snack.
I arrived birght and early and checked in. I could see the spire of the monunment at the top of One Tree Hill peaking over the top of the trees around the start area and it looked reasonably high at that point!
I have to say that conditions were perfect. For the first weekend in about two months we had a glorious sunny day. The downside was that at 7AM it was absolutely freezing! There was frost on all the grass and my feet felt like blocks of ice.
The prerace briefing was short and too the point. The only thing of interest was that the medical staff were only going to be at the start line so the race director said “If you are going to get injured please have the decency of doing it at the start finish line!” Hopefully no one was injured as we all chuckled at that.
There was a good crowd in of about 400 (really random guess) or so people. The start was quite funny. The announcer came on and said “Two minutes to go” then paused and said “Make that 20 seconds!” Everyone rushed to get to the start and then we were off.
The Volcano Challenge is a bit different from most events in that there is no set course. There is a recommended course which is 18.7 km but you are free to take any route you like. The only caveat is that you have to check in at 5 different check-in points which are situated at the 5 highest points on 5 of Auckland’s Volcanoes.
The steepest volcano is One Tree Hill so I decided to tackle that one first while I was fresh.
Did I mention that it was freezing? I couldn’t feel my hands for the first three kilometers. Once we got to the top we had to check in with a marshal and then make our way to the next volcano of our choice. Here’s a view from the top of One Tree Hill. The large mound on the left is Mt Eden and the smaller green mound on the right is Mt St Johns. I headed off towards Mt St Johns next.
I had a route preplanned (as I’d done some reconnoitering earlier in the week) but most of the crowd just ran straight down the side of the volcano (ignoring the paths) and like a lemming I charged after. It was steep and muddy and I was running. Not a good combination. I almost fell over once and decided to slow down a bit.
We did a bit of running through some little alleyways and what not and then arrived at Mt St Johns. Once more the crowd ran straight up the side of the volcano rather than take the nice easy path. I had this guys bum in my face for a while:
Here’s the view back towards One Tree Hill.
We had to avoid the biological land mines!
Here I am at the top of Mt St Johns.
I had a big smile on my face the whole run. Next volcano on my list was Mt Hobson. This was pretty close to Mt St Johns and once more the crowd just ran up the side. Who needs proper pathways anyway eh?
The crowd doing this challenge seemed rather fit and tough. It was quite nice to be part of such a great group.
Here I am at the top of Mt Hobson. I tried to take a photo at the top of every volcano so that I could prove to my wife that I had done the run and not just spent the morning in a cafe reading the paper!
Next I headed off towards the Domain. To get there I had to run through the suburban streets again. It was quite funny as by this time the competitors had all sort of spread out. I finally managed to see some off in the distance!
The next checkin point was in the band rotundra in the Domain.
The final volcano I had to run up was Mt Eden. Along the way I had to run across the motorway.
I’ve been up this one quite a few times as it’s one of my favourite running tracks. That doesn’t mean its easy however! This one is also very steep and I was very pleased to get to the top! The view from the top is fantastic as well!
I think I took the long way down Mt Eden as I was the only competitor I saw from there to the finish. I found some stairs that bypassed quite a long loop and thought it was shorter. I actually ran up these on Friday but luckily today I was running down them!
I then had a pretty straight and slightly downhill run all the way back to the finish at One Tree Hill. Unfortunately I forgot to take any photos at the finish as I was focused on the post race activities.
My wife, daughter and in-laws met me at the end and we went for a celebratory Devonshire tea at one of the local cafes. It was good and well deserved!
Overall it was a fantastic event. I managed to do it in 15.8 km and in 1:36:11. I also climbed more than 1500 meters during the event which is quite a lot I think!
I think the greatest victory I had today was having the confidence to do it. As I was running I kept smiling as I was just so happy to be out and being able to do this event. A year ago I would not have even dreamt of being able to comfortably walk up any of these volcanoes never mind run up 5 in one morning!
Next year I’ll try the epic challenge which is 7 volcanoes!
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Congrats on doing it
Hippygals last blog post..Finally a pic….
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What a great concept for a race, and what a glorious day for it, especially compared to the weather you’ve been having recently. It could have been quite unpleasant on a horrible day!
Well done on completing it so well!
Andrew(AJH)s last blog post..Olympics
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I LOVE THE 4th PIC FROM THE BOTTOM!!
MizFits last blog post..Special Saturday Viewer Mail: the TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE edition.
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Fab pics + report Andrew …. did you *have* to take a photo of the scones and jam + cream ??? !!!
goodbyetoallfats last blog post..My new flat
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Great report and photos. I’ll put that on the list of races to enter when I get fit again!
Bruces last blog post..What have I been doing the last month?
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Great job Andrew, your not even red faced in the photos. you are doing a great job
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Wow! Well done and there are so many things to look at en route. I’m completely jealous. And I’m also now itching to go running!
aishchais last blog post..Aishchai loses his temper
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Yay! I think the fact that you always look so happy in your “running pictures” is evidence that you’ve found the right thing for you. When exercise becomes a joy rather than a chore… well, then you’ve hit on something pretty special, I think. Big bravos to you!
j
justoofats last blog post..The Queen of Denial
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Great job. Looks like a fantastic race, too. And those scones… man, that’s reason enough to run.
Sheamuss last blog post..My First Race - The Elvis Presley International (August 9, 2008)
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The unmitigated JOY you feel in your accomplishments is evident in every single photograph. Well-played, Andrew, and I’m not just talking about this race.
cammys last blog post..Yesterday’s Gone
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AndrewE
reply on August 11th, 2008 6:57 am:
Thanks Cammy.
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I love that you did this race, that you smiled the whole way through it, and that you shared the experience in words and pictures with us. Seriously, good job.
Marys last blog post..Daisy Fuentes Fitness
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Fabulous! I’m so proud of you! And a little jealous
Kates last blog post..
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You’re a nut.
You’re also bloody lucky that the weather turned out to be a pearler - you won’t believe the amount of washing I got done! (seriously!)
I’m going to have scones and jam to celebrate when I run up one volcano (Mt Eden, the one that is right next to my office. I’m certain I could throw something from the top and have it land on Worker Bee’s head), I bet those must’ve tasted bloody fantastic after it was all done
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Sally
reply on August 11th, 2008 10:51 am:
We did a load on Saturday night and another load on Sunday afternoon to wash all these smelly running clothes!
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That’s an awesome race, volcano to volcano, repeat .. and what a great time! All those hills would ruin most runs.
Congrats! Great post race report, also. I love the pics and the food shot is fantastic. I’m just happy to get a Mountain Dew after 15 K or more!
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What a cool race! I bet you slept well after that!
Great stuff!
Take care,
Andrew
Discipline Or Regrets last blog post..17th Weigh-In: 2lbs Down & New Progress Photos
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Sounds like great fun! And to do an 18.7km course in 15.8km shows the makings of a good orienteer.
That’s a pretty tidy average pace over those hills too. Well done.
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Way to go, Andrew!!!! What an accomplishment. And so beautiful too. I loved looking at all the pics! You sound really proud - and you should be:)
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what a fantastic race and fantastic race report! awesome achievement…
–steve
Steves last blog post..McMillan Custom Marathon Plan: Week 6 Day 5
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Love the photos! You really DO look so happy in all of them. It shows that you were having a great time. Looks like lots of fun.
Congratulations!
(And, btw, I am now CRAVING some scones! Yum…)
Felices last blog post..Chicken.
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[...] Andrew over at Andrew Is Getting Fit did the race this weekend and I am seriously jealous…not so much of the running up hills but of the breathtaking views he had along the way. Check out his race report. [...]
Way to go Andrew. You make it look so easy.
“Sure I just ran up 5 Volcanoes. Then I had some scones. I think this afternoon I’ll swim the English channel”…or the New Zealand equivalent.
You continue to inspire!
Thanks for taking the time out of racing to take all the great pictures as well.
Tonys last blog post..Another Great Race
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Holy cow! That is amazing. You are an inspiration!
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mmmmm Devonshire tea… oh sorry mate… distracted by the scones. Wow that was amazing. Very very very inspiring!!
weelittlemes last blog post..Back in the Game
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What a great event! Nice job cutting the course by a few km. Who needs paths, anyway.
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Hi Andrew, well done!!!! Your weight loss and discovery of your love of running is fantastic, so proud of you. Have a wonderful 2009 with even more success in your running and may you achieve all your goals. You really are an inspiration to so many people. Sending you loads of love always.
Your old auntie! Sandra xxx Loads of love to Sally and Emma xxx
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