Day 194 - 3.5 km in the hot sun and hills

Ran down St Andrews, down an alleyway that turned out to be a driveay, to turn around and come back, cross the road, run until the steep part then walk 100 metres almost 50 metres up.  Well maybe not quite that steep, but pretty steep. Ran downhill up the rest of At Andrews, cut though Carlsson School, doubling back again to find the right path.

Ran up Mt Eden Road, pausing once and walking three more times I think and then had a final walk just before home, feeling the burn in knees and thighs.

Distance: 3.53km
Time: 22:53
Average Speed: 9.2 kph
Soundtrack: Duran Duran Greatest.

Day 193 - A mile no stops - feeling a bit shattered

Ran from the house round the block and made an ok time, stopped nowhere and ran even the steep parts. Feeling a bit tired and sluggish today but still made it without stopping, walking or slowing down.

Distance: 1.57 km
Time: 8:47
Average Speed: 10.7 kph
Soundtrack: Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody/Another One Bites The Dust/Bicycle Race

Day 192 - 2 runs 2 km each

The second of my days off this week booked in some time to go to the cinema. It's 2.11 km there and 2.03 km back (though I suspect that the GPS is acting up a little as they were almost the same route). Ran all the way there without stopping and ran to the crest of the very steep part of Ellerton and then had a rest at the top as my legs were burning like that in one go.

Distance 1: 2.11 km
Time: 11:59
Average Speed: 10.6 kph

Distance 2: 2.03 km
Time: 11:24
Average Speed: 10.7

Soundtrack - Faves Mix.

Day 191 - Ran a Mile to School -2 songs

Ran up St L's, up St A's (not stopping for the hill) down Watling, across then up Mt Eden and then down Ellerton to the school to pick up the kids. No stops/walks even crossing the road as the break in the traffic was at the right time.

Distance: 1.54 km
Time: 8:54
Average Speed: 10.3 kph
Soundtrack: Billy Idol -Rebel Yell & To Be A Lover

Day 190 - Run before work, in the rain, 2 song mile

I actually got my breath and rested a little before the second song had finished. It was drizzling and a little chilly but not too cold like autumn/winter was. Ran all the way no stopping and I felt like I was making decent time. The pace and energy of the music certainly helped. I was well over halfway when the first track came to an end.

Distance: 1.55 (1.65 really)
Time: 8:30
Average Speed: 10.9 kph
Soundtrack: Billy Idol - Rebel Yell/Dancing With Myself

Day 189 - Run 2 km from BK to home no stops

Apart from the major traffic intersections where I crossed with the lights for no more than a total 55 seconds in three intersections, I ran the whole way - mostly flat except the Onslow Ave climb to home stretch, but downhill all the from there.

Distance: 1.90 km
Time: 11: 04
Average Speed: 10.3 kph
Soundtrack: Duran Duran - Greatest

Day 188 - 5k run - 2 or 3 stops

Ran pretty well most of the way, though the park section was where I started to fade, and the uneven rough ground and occasional grass patch made it a bit harder in places. By the time I hit Rawhiti Road I ran the last mile without stopping/walking.

Distance: 5.29 km
Time: 32:16
Average Speed: 9.8
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - ending with Best of you - The Foo Fighters

Day 187 - Post 2 - A Second Run again

This time I was running form the bus stop on Kakariki to the dairy to get there in time before it closed.


Got to say that 6 months ago I would not have made that distance in any shape without running out of breath or stopping/walking.

Instead did it in sneakers, not runners, in jeans and a t-shirt not shorts.

Distance: 0.7 km
Time: 3:53
Average Speed: 10.9 kph
Soundtrack: Silence

Day 187 - 1 mile, no stops 2 songs

Ran before heading into work for the day to finish up the office move from yesterday, so got it out of the way early on. But as I'll have my son with me it is definitely better to do it before than try and juggle that later. Ran all the way with no stops and in under 2 songs including warm up. They must be over 4 minutes each but they were not chosen so ... woo hoo!

Distance: 1.63 km
Time: 8:59
Average Speed: 10.9 kph
Soundtrack: Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams & Here Comes The Rain Again

Day 186 - 2 Run day

Unlike times where there have been issues or glitches that caused the two runs, this was a conscious choice. I ran in the morning from old office to new and then got dropped off after and took the opportunity to run another kilometre or so, to add to the day.

No walking each time except crossings, and ran 100-200 meters up Parnell Rise without stopping which was tiring.

Distance 2: 0.84 km
Time: 5:02
Average Speed: 10.0 kph
Soundtrack: Duran Duran - Planet Earth/Girls On Film

Distance 1: 2.14 km
Time: 13:24
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Can't Remember.

Day 185 - Mile before work again

I did this last friday to accommodate an after work function that never happened, postponed until today.

Ran all the way without stopping but the time, while good, is nowhere near my best time by 29 seconds and that included 2 stops? I guess with stopping or walking I run harder afterwards?

Distance: 1.61 km
Time: 8:46
Average Speed: 10.9 kph
Soundtrack: Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody/Another One Bites The Dust/Fat Bottom Girls

Day 184 - 2km from the Village

Ran from Baker's Delight to Balmoral Road, trying to pick up the pace now I know what I am capable of in distance, trying to increase pace a little.

Ran from Balmoral lights downhill as fast as I could without tripping and then slowed to a better pace from Irene Avenue onwards. Ran to home without stopping, keeping pace with a bus from Balmoral Road until Watling Stop.

Distance: 1.90 km
Time: 9:53
Average Speed: 11.5 kph
Soundtrack: Duran Duran - Is There Something I Should Know/The Reflex/A View To A Kill

Day 183 - The First Figure Eight

Have thought for a while now that the usual mile round the block can easily be extended by running through the park halfway and then looping back around to Mt Eden and Watling to chop the block into two halves.

Did that today and managed all the way to the Dairy without stopping, picked up a lemonade ice block for my son who I had to pick up from school early as he was unwell. Then ran back to the crossing and back up Mt Eden, Up Watling and then back through the park again. Walked only the last steep part of Watling before the park, at about the 2 km mark.

Distance: 2.27 km
Time: 13:36
Average Speed: 10.0 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending in Lanterns by Birds of Tokyo

Day 182 - 2x Runs in parts

Ran a mile or so from town to the bus stop near the bottom of the hill. Was struggling with it most of the way so decided to catch a bus the rest of the way. A few minutes later was feeling rested and the hill was out of the way so I got out at the village and ran the 2k from the village instead.

Did stop a few times but mostly ran it.

Distance: 3.58 km
Time: 21:32
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Prince and 3rd Eye Girl - Plectrum Electrum

Day 181 - 1.7 km Run to the Cinema

I walked the same course in reverse on the way home since I came back with some BK for the kids.

Ran up St A's, walked the steep parts as I was tired all the way up St L's which was more to do with lack of sleep than much else. Ran to the Drive, crossed various places and paused 3:30 in total at lights and things and ran the rest of the way to the Cinema where I went to see Gone Girl.

Distance: 1.69 km
Time: 10:27
Average Speed: 9.7 kph
Soundtrack: Various Faves ending in Tacky by Weird Al

Day 180 - 5k run from Town

Had to work in the office this morning for an urgent conference call and so went in dressed for a run and then run home without any extra weight in bag/clothes etc... Ran to maybe halfway up the hill slope of Mt Eden instead of walking it so I ran well over 95% of the way this time but do not appear to have made any significant time improvements. And this time I did not walk the crossings at all.

I stopped in the Village to pick up something (light) and accidentally saved instead of resuming my run so I to start another from that point, which is annoying but thats the way it goes.

Distance: 4.9 km
Time: 29:56
Average Speed: 9.6 kph
Soundtrack: Eurythmics Greatest Hits (Great for running, who knew?)

Day 179 - one mile before work - 300 km in total today

I did a 5k run yesterday because I knew I was close to the new total of 300 km in under six months! Since I am running further and longer now I assume that by the end of the year I should more than double this amount, but for now 300 kilometers is a big achievement for me!

Overall

Activities 180

Distance 300.85 km

Duration 29:20:24

Calories 30455 kcal

Elevation gain 2974 m

Elevation loss 5662 m

If I were running on the road from Auckland that would be 23 kilometers south of Taupo heading to Turangi.

Today I ran a mile round my home block and did so without stopping, slowing or walking even the steepest parts of St Andrews. I thought I might have made it in two songs but the third kicked in when I was about 200 odd meters from home.

Distance: 1.6 km

Time: 8:47

Average Speed: 10.9 kph

Soundtrack: Eurythmics - Missionary Man/Right By Your Side/Love Is A Stranger

Day 178 - 5 km best time

Ran from Queen and K Road to Clive Road only pausing for intersections. Walked 230 metres up Mt Eden Slopes to Honeywell House. Ran to the Village paused for a set of lights, then ran to Balmoral Road, paused for less than 5 seconds as lights changed in my favour as I arrived and then ran all the way home.

Made a record time over the 5k (again despite the GPs claiming 4.72) from work to home.

Distance: 4.72 km
Time: 30:00 (best time by over a minute)
Average Speed: 9.4 km
Soundtrack: Eurythmics - the Best of

Day 177 - 2km from Village no stops

Except for lights at Balmoral Road that is.

However it was also without any music today as I forgot my bluetooth headphones and did not have a wired backup pair on me. So I ran without from the village and made ok time, but I really had no idea of pacing without the music.

Also I ran to the soundtrack of my laboured breathing which was disturbing to say the least. I pity the people I run past who must be wondering if I am about to have an attack of some ilk...

Distance: 1.90 km
Time: 10:20
Average Speed: 11.0 kph.
Soundtrack: Nada, Zero, Nothing, Zip...

Day 176 - 5k run home via Mt Eden Road

I ran most of the way at a slow but steady pace - considering the uphill nature of the course to start off. Walked every intersection - which was a good recharge as well as cautious as traffic turns quite suddenly off Mt Eden Road. Walked a little bit before the hill, ran about a quarter of the rise to Mt Eden, but then walked the steepest parts (about 300 meters or so) to the crest. Ran the rest of the way only stopping for lights and walking the intersections.

Distance: 4.8 km
Time: 31:40
Average Speed: 9.1 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix Ending with Monkey Wrench by the Foo Fighters

Day 175 - 2.33 K run with only intersection stops

Got off one stop before the Village, small rise to the crest of the hill down to the Village. Stopped at Stokes Road intersection lights to change, then ran to Balmoral Road, aching calves but only stopped at Balmoral Road intersection waiting for lights. Then ran all the way to home, though it was a bit grim mentally just kept plugging away at it.

Distance: 2.33 km
Time: 13:13
Average Speed: 10.6 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with U2 Everlasting Love

Day 174 - 4 km run - so much hillage

Max suggested a run down Mt Eden, down Mt Albert and back up Buckley - which is mostly flat apart from that small steep rise at the end.

EXCEPT it was 90% uphill on Buckley and I ran less than half of it. I ran all the way to Buckley, then realised how far uphill it was. I had taken a couple of walks and rests already as it was very hot out and hard work running but doing ok until Buckley. Selwyn was worse (but I knew that at least) and finally got near the top and ran all the way from Coronation Road to home.

All in all probably ran 70% of this route, can't see me trying it again as the hill is just a killer.

Distance: 4.0 km
Time: 29.40
Average Speed: 8.1 kph
Soundtrack: Better Than Ezra and then Faves Mix ending on Pearl's Girl by Underworld.

Day 173 - Run a mile around the Park

Went to BK with the kids and took takeaway to the park behind it - it's the length of a few rugby fields long with a League and Carlton Grammar club presence there. Wore my Zemgear barefoot running split toe shoes and ran the perimeter of the fields from the park bench where we stopped to the same spot again running clockwise.

Grass running saps the strength a little but less so in these shoes which are very thin and conform to the curves of my feet quite well. Ran the whole mile around (it looked like it may have shaved a few meters off here and there, which I know it does.

Distance: 1.54 km
Time: 8:34
Average Speed: 10.8 kph
Soundtrack: U2 - With or Without You/Grouplove - Borderlines and Aliens/Living Colour - Glamour Boys

Day 172 - 5.8 km run From K Road to home via Dominion

Took another LONG run today this time same start and end point but taking the Dominion Road Route instead of Mt Eden Road. This added almost a kilometre to the journey and the start had some serious uphill moments. Ran most of the way, a good 95% of the distance, walking up the steep hilly parts only and a few stretches of 50 metres or so before running again. Tried to stick to running every block, walking through the intersection only. I did stop at Milton Road for a breather of about a minute in the shade as the sun was beating down and I had been up and awake since 5:50 am.

Feeling pretty good with self having done two 5k runs this week. Am 10 days away from 6 months (or thereabouts) and have 20k to go before I reach the 300 mark. If I manage one or more 5k a week then I'll definitely hot 300 before 6 months, but if not then I need to average 2k a day to make them coincide (roughly).

Distance: 5.52 km (on GPS)

Time: 36:47

Average Speed: 9.0 kph

Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Aint No Love by David Gray

Day 171 - The Run of the Ancient Mariner

Ran Upper Queen Street to Symonds Street and dammit that is the definition of UP Hill. Hard work and sapping of strength. But made it all that way some half a kilometre without stopping and then waited at the lights to change to get breath back, exhausted.

Then ran the rest of the mile pausing only for lights and taking the uphill in my stride as much as possible.

Distance:1.61 km
Time: 9:50
Average Speed: 9.8 kph
Soundtrack: Faves ending with Three Women - Jack White

Day 170 - 12/13 days from 6 months

Ran from the Village with no stops except the lights change at Balmoral Road. Got tired between GlenAlmond and Watling, but after running 5 k yesterday the nagging voice is switching gears to 'harden the fuck up already' rather than 'I'm too tired - need to slow/walk'.

Distance: 1.91 km
Time: 10:11
Average Speed: 11.2 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix ending with Birds of Tokyo - Lanterns

Day 169 - First 5k run. Work to Home

Ran from just outside the office at the intersection of Queen and K Road and then ran 90% or more of the way home. Stopped for intersections and lights obviously but did pretty well to not walk until at least one mile passed and then on the steep section of Mt Eden Road up to the Honeywell house - maybe 200 meters or more bursting into a run a little but it's a long hard uphill stretch. then in bursts to the village, then the final 2k home with occasional stops but pretty good considering the length of the run, the beating sunshine and the fact that it's not even been 6 months yet.

Distance: 5.1 km
Time: 31:03
Average Speed: 9.4 kph
Soundtrack: Faves Mix - finishing on Best of You by the Foo Fighters.

Day 168 - A mile no stops

Ran the block again for the second day in a row without stopping all the way and the steep parts included, it's a little slower overall but more of an achievement.

Distance: 1.58 km
Time: 9:05
Average Speed: 10.5 kph
Soundtrack: Happy/Ways to Go

Day 167 - Run the block - no stops no power

Power cuts today made cell coverage spotty, Data infrequent and for some reason could not get a GPS signal until 2/3rds of the way around the block. However ran the mile without stopping in a slowish time but still made it running all the way - including the slow uphill stretch on St A's.

Distance: 1.62 km
Time: 9:06
Average Speed: 11 kph ish
Soundtrack: Jesus Jones - Who? Where? Why?/Foo Fighters - Learn To Fly

Day 166 - Terrible weather - ran to the shops, the longer way.

Ran a mile in okayish time, did not stop for the steep part of St Andrews, feel no need to do that any longer, though still tired from the running.Ran 3/4 of the way and had to stop to cross the road, the traffic on Mt Eden Road has been abysmal of late and getting across is a task. Popped into the dairy on an errand and then ran the rest of the way home, though I could have made the block again with no walking parts.

The wind is high and I had to wait for the rain to pass and now the sun is blazing, but bound to rain again so soon that you have to take your chances where you find them.

Auckland in the Spring right?

Distance: 1.52 km (pfft GPS)
Time: 8:37
Average Speed: 10.6 kph
Soundtrack: Jesus Jones - Who? Where? Why?/The Temper Trap - Trembling Hands

Day 165 - Mile from Fairview - No Stops

Ran from the bus stop near Fairview which is about 1.55/1.6 despite the GPS shortchanging me... It poured with freezing rain as soon as I stepped off the bus but eased by the time I had set the music, the app and secured my bag.

Ran to Balmoral Road with no stopping, waited 42 seconds for the lights to change, then ran all the way home no stops, a little plodding at the end and it was quite windy.

Keen to change up my run and maybe extend the distance a little more once or twice a week and in the weekend.

Distance: 1.49 km
Time: 8:06
Average Speed: 11.0 kph
Soundtrack: Jesus Jones - Real, Real, Real/David Gray - Babylon (Live).

Day 164 - Walked and Ran 5 Km

Buses were mentally full and weather atrocious - waited over 45 minutes for buses that never let anyone on them. Walked 4 k's to the Balmoral Intersection and ran from there. I did have to run in my jeans as I forgot my running shorts, but had the right shoes. Also carried umbrella and bag with extra clothes and some stuff from the shops.

Counting the whole fucking distance though - I earned it.

Sadly the first Bus I saw that may have had space on it was at the Village - about 3 kms from the start.

Distance: 3.7 Km Walking 1 km Running
Time: 41:47 Walking 7:26 Running
Average Speed: 5.3 kph & 8.0 kph (laden and with a stop at the shops/traffic)
Soundtrack: Aphex Twins - Collected Ambient Works