January 2013 – Ski Runner NZ

Just before Christmas Robert Jarvis gave me a call- it’s always nice when Rob calls as he is always up for a good mission in the hills. Ironically, at the time I was standing in the living room of Rob’s World Rogain partner’s house- Matt Bixley. While some might think Rob’s biggest achievement was the silver medal he got with Matt in the 40+ age group at the 2012 World 24 hour Rogain Champs, I strongly disagree. I think it was putting up with Matt for 24hrs…… (Only joking Matt, I just wanted to work you into this post so you did not feel left out after missing out on an epic outing yesterday).

Anyway, Rob and I finally keyed up a run, our first together in some time as Robert had done his ankle in pretty bad a while back. Robert’s cousin Karl, fresh off a 5hr45 Kepler was keen also and we set off for APNP. A few years back, when I first started running again and was living in AP Village, I did the Avalanche Peak- Mt Bealey traverse. It was a trip that neither Karl nor Robert had done before and I was keen to do it again to see if I could improve on my 4hr30 time.

The Arthur’s Pass info website names risks: “Height exposure, loose rock & ice, narrow sections” and speaks of the Razor Ridge “at times on a ridge no wider than 20cm, with 80 metre drops on both sides”. In addition to that fun, we also had amazing views and I even did a little “shoe skiing” coming off Avalanche Peak.

: APNP!!

: Rob and Karl just before Avalanche Peak summit, with Mt Philistine and Rolleston behind

: Rob running across the snow just before Lyell Peak

: the boys on Lyell Peak with Mt Murchison in far distance- APNP highest peak

: “Razor Ridge” and Mt Bealey

: some poser on “Razor Ridge” with Mt Bealey behind

: Robert scrambles down with the Waimakariri River below

: Karl climbing around one of the sections where we were forced off the “Razor Ridge”

: Rob and Karl running down Mt Bealey, with the Avalanche Peak track we went up in center

It was an excellent day out in the hills- 10.8km, 3hr54min and 1450mD+.

After a nice training week to finish off 2012- 17hrs, 4270mD+, 125km, I felt like this week built on it- even if it was smaller- 12hrs45, 4000mD+, 97km. Both weeks included 3 very good quality speed/tempo sessions.

Last night I watched a movie of the 2012 edition of the UTMF- the next big race that this new block of training is working towards. It is 50mins and very very much aimed at non running viewers, but is still well worth a look.