Latest from Kepler Challenge

Kepler Challenge and Luxmore Grunt Press Release 27 October 2010
Hi everyone
Please find our latest Press release below. If you require any further info please email info@kepler.co.nz
Kind regards
Kepler Challenge Media Team:
“With less than six weeks to go before the 23rd Kepler Challenge and Luxmore Grunt, there are lots ofeager runners maintaining their training. The waitlist is long, but dropping steadily.
Martin Lukes, 3 time winner of the Kepler Challenge Men’s, wants to knock one more off before heturns 40.
2009 Women’s Champion, Vanessa Haverd, is low key about her chances this year. She is lookingforward to a good holiday and finishing in one piece.
Luxmore Grunt’s Men’s winner last year, Matthew Broad from Winton, is back trying to make it ‘two ina row’. With none of the top three women’s Luxmore Grunt placegetters for 2009 returning, the fieldis wide open. Bridget Davies from Queenstown, is looking to take top honours with an estimated timeunder two hours.”

I am glad I aren’t in the Luxmore Grunt, with Bridget Davies gunning for a sub 2hr time I am guessing there will be quite a few guys getting chicked. Mind you, I heard there is a little lady that can run pretty well that is after the womans Kepler record of 5hr23mins, so I might be getting chicked anyway…….

Crater Rim Trail Run

The start of the 2010 Crater Rim 30km Trail Run

Yesterday I lined up in the 30km Crater Rim Trail Run, after doing the 2okm race last year. I was pretty excited, as I was looking at this race as the one to kick start my 2010/11 trail  racing season, as well as being a really good tester leading in to the Kepler.

“with an aura of smugness “……

I aren’t a “marathon” runner, but some of this is pretty funny. I guess some one might read this and get hurt feelings, but it is good to have a laugh at your self.

Top 5 Things to HATE about Marathon Runners

Got this link off the Alcoholic Mountain Runners blog

PP-FP-PP Run

Did a great run up from Porters Pass to Foggy Peak and back this morning, taking 36mins to reach Foggy Peak and 14mins back to Porters Pass. You can choose a Google earth option and even a fly over on the above “mapmyrun”, I think?

Best part was as I drove out the gate and check the mail box, my new Salomon Speed Cross2 had arrived! I love these shoes and they are the business when it comes to this kind of run/terrain. I remember why they were my goto shoe for Avalanche Peak earlier this year.

September

47+hrs, 19500 vertical meters. Thats all made up from running (not counting ski touring). The body is feeling good after it all which really is the important part. I feel way happier and way stronger than I did this time a month ago, just after I raced the Naseby, so all is boding well in the big scheme of things. Coming up in October I have the 30k Crater Rim race, a few days running in Fiordland and more of the same as the last month. I guess I will start to include a speed session or 2 as well. I really want to get as much time on my feet and as much vertical as I can before November, when I will start to wind down a little on the bigger outings and crank out more short quality tempo type stuff. As soon as a little more snow is gone I will start doing one of my favorite test pieces here in the Craigieburn Range once a week or so. Depending on were I start, it is a 80-100min tempo run, with 800m or so vert that goes over a 1500m saddle. Going over last years log there are a few runs like this that I can not wait to sink my teeth into again!