Iron Jack

Who knew that a run around the designer footpaths of Ponsonby would be nearly as dangerous as running in my beloved Whaka* Forest?

Tree roots, rubbish, holes in the footpath, pot smoke in the air, it was more like a commando obstacle course than central city Auckland. I had to keep my eyes on my feet for practically the whole run. But it did keep me amused. In fact, I found all sorts of things very amusing on my run around Auckland city earlier in the week.

I arrived in Auckland on Monday around lunchtime for a meeting with my business coach to help get my life sorted. Its about to be one full-time job, one consultancy job, one family with children and dog, and one Ironman training plan.

Enter Russ the wondercoach stage left.

After an excellent planning session I left his place feeling a lot more confident that I’m going to be able to fit everything in. Of course it is going to require some sensational planning skills (which is what Russ is for), good organisation on the home front (which is what Mike is for) and some early nights for me.

Anyway, I checked into Sky City Hotel, got suited up and headed back out the door.

I was scheduled to do a 60 minute run - my first ever full hour run. I have done “run 7 min and walk 3 min” sessions for an hour, but never running for the full 60 minutes. I had decided to head around Westhaven Marina - mainly to get my plodding, oversized running style away from the busy city footpaths. Of course I had forgotten that I had quite a few streets and people to get through first before I got to the waterfront. So naturally I headed off at a fast pace so I looked like (despite my size) I was meant to be heading out for a run! Fortunately it was mainly downhill.

I got to the waterfront and just about fell over. I had completely over-exerted myself in an effort to make myself look good. Lesson learnt. I absolutely plodded the rest of the way around. But I got there and that is the main thing.

As I was running along Ponsonby Rd**, I couldn’t help but think back on some words from Lee-Anne when she was kicking my butt into gear at one point…

“Do you know what I think when I see people out giving it a try and going for a run?”

“Oh look at that poor old soul, at least she’s out there trying?” I suggested hopefully.

“No! I think bloody good on them. I could never do that.

“And that is what nearly everyone else out there is thinking as well. They’re thinking, I could never do that. But you are, and that’s what’s inspiring everyone around you.”

And when I was running along Ponsonby Rd, past the designer shops, past the beautiful people in their designer black, carrying designer coffees and designer handbags, that’s exactly what I thought.

“Good on me. I am out here doing this. It might not look pretty, but I am bloody doing it.”

I did crack myself up a number of times as I came across the absolute stereotypical Aucklander (there is no place like home), but mainly I just enjoyed the fact that I was out there doing it - and getting myself closer back to the hotel with every step.

I cruised into Franklin Rd and here’s where the obstacle course comes in. Franklin Rd is one of the nicest streets in Auckland. Its very steep (I was going down) and is filled with beautiful old villas and lined with lovely old trees. At Christmas time all the houses have Christmas lights and you have to queue to get down there to have a look.

I had purposely chosen my route to end going down Franklin Rd because I thought it would be a nice finish. Wrong! Steep downhill is not easy, its actually very hard - and the footpath was an absolute mess! The trees are very nice to look at, but the roots are completely cracking up the footpath and I had to tread extremely carefully to ensure I didn’t end up expecting them in front of my nose. It felt like an age to get down that street. Again, very amusing.

I got back to the hotel and was asked by the concierge if I’d had a good run…

“Actually, not too bad,” I replied.

*(for international readers, Wh is pronounced (faka) - and yes, when pronounced properly it really does sound like that!)

**posh shopping/cafe area in Auckland