The Domain Loop

This is a picturesque 1.72 mile loop which takes me through the Auckland Domain a superb 75 hectare park in the centre of Auckland City. The dominant feature of the Domain is undoubtedly the Auckland War Memorial Museum which sits on top off a hill overlooking Auckland Harbour.

This is usually a lunch time run. I'm so fortunate to have this great park a stones throw from my office it would be a crime not to make use of it.

About half of the run takes me through the centre of the Domain following Domain Drive, the rest of the loop is along neighboring streets. It's largely flat with only a small climb up Carlton Gore Road and into Grafton Road towards Auckland Hospital which also borders the park.

Each lap takes about 14- 15 minutes at an easy pace so its a case of just doing as many loops as your training calls for on the day. If I need to go a bit further but don't want to do another full loop, there's a running track on the field which I run round until I reach my desired distance.

I like the loop as its a good fall back option if I don't feel like venturing too far from work. Its nice to run on the grass and the surroundings aren't bad either.

Here's the map. You can easily pick out the Museum in the centre of the photo.








Technorati Tags
Running Alignment

 Subscribe in a reader

Easy Running

The last two weeks I've just been easing back into some low mileage slow and easy runs.

Here the numbers;

3/2 2.6 miles 21 mins
5/2 3.45 miles 29 mins
7/2 3.8 miles 35 mins (Round the Mountain)
10/2 3.8 miles 33:20
12/2 4 miles 35 mins
14/2 4.1 miles 35:20
16/2 2.5 miles 30 mins


In addition to that I did 30 minutes of swimming on the 4th and Bikram Yoga on the 13th.

The plan I'm following at the moment is modelled somewhat on this base building plan plan from marathontraining.com. I've just done week two. That's not to say I'm building for a marathon, far from it. At this stage it's just a case of seeing what happens and hopefully I'll work through my injury troubles at the same time as building/maintaing a resonable base.

You will see that my last run was a bit short (and slow) and that's because I pulled up after about 15 minutes due to an aching foot. It was the same ache that I ran through for 50 minutes a month ago which resulted in me then resting up for two weeks. I listened to my body this time and walked it off. After ten minutes or so it was gone and I ran the last K home. Fingers crossed it was just a one off bad run day.

Is it common for runners to pay extra close attention to other runners? I'm not talking about the passing glances we may sneak as a runner of the opposite sex passes us by, but rather checking out their form and technique. You see all sorts from those that barely manage a shuffle, to the obviously well trained and coached runner.

This week, will out running the Domain Loop (more on that run later), I came across two runners (and yes one was of the opposite sex) with a strikingly high heel lift. They were running with a graceful ease that I would love to emulate.

Over the last two weeks I have also been working on my form, mainly concentrating on keeping everything in a straight line. Toes and feet pointing straight ahead, knees tracking over toes etc, not over striding and also working on my heel lift in addition to just relaxing my feet and allowing them to naturally toe off with each stride (gosh thats a lot to think about when running isn't LOL).

When I say 'relaxing my feet', I mean that rather than thinking about heel planting or mid/fore foot landing, I'm just staying relaxed and letting them land where they land.

Back to the heel lift, I was impressed with the heel lift of these two runners and instantly tried to copy what I had just witnessed as I was clearly not doing enough. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered how good it felt. I felt stronger, it seemed to put less stress on my shins and I seemed to be running faster.

Well thats all from me for now. Have a good week.



Technorati Tags
Running

 Subscribe in a reader

Round the Mountain

View of Mt. Eden overlooking Auckland city. Photo courtesy Geonet.org.nz

This run takes me from my Newmarket office around the volcanic cone of Mt Eden before heading back up Mt Eden Road and back to work. Mt Eden is the highest of Auckland's 49 volcanic cones at a height of 196 metres. The run to the summit is another favourite and offers stunning panoramic views, a great reward for the gut busting climb to the top.

This run however, around the mountain's base, starts with a gentle climb up Carlton Gore Road before making a left turn into Mountain Road. After briefly decending down to Kyhber Pass, the road climbs again, taking me over the Southern Motorway and past one of Auckland's oldest boys schools, Auckland Grammer School.

Mountain Road is home to some of Auckland's earliest homes and features some beautifully restored turn of the century (19th century) homes. It's also home to Government House, home of the Governor General.

The half way point of the run and I'm in trendy Mt Eden Village right at the base of the 'mountain' running past it's coffee bars and boutique shops. The road climbs again a little at is approaches the entrance to the summit road before leveling off as I get past the mountain and head back towards the top end of Kyhber Pass.

I cross back over the motorway before heading back down Carlton Gore Road, arriving back at work 30- 35 minutes after I left.

Here's the full map.


Technorati Tags
Running

 Subscribe in a reader