Doing Hard Labour

Despite the best laid plans, injury, illness oh yeah and a Grade 2 assessment plagued our merry team of wannabes for a labour weekend Sat expedition over Goats Pass. So I found myself driving up to Mt Sommers on the gorgeous spring morning that greeted Christchurch, ready to undertake my first ever solo mission.

I decided to be cautious and head over to the ‘other’ side of Mt Sommers – taking the Miners Track past the first hut and up to the saddle, before the decent to Pinnacles Hutt begins. As I signed into the DOC intentions book I did ponder how long it would actually take me – this being a reccy for the Teva Run in late November which I am doing as a team with the flying Scotsman.

Due the rain we’d had during the week it was quite wet underfoot – to a point where there was a stream running down the track – a great way to wear in my new off trail shoes – ok so I may have stood in some muddy patches I didn’t need too! :)

It dawned on me throughout this hike/run which I guess kinda equates to a ramble (can it be called rambling when done outside of the UK I wonder?) that I have a bit of work to do on my running between now and coast. In reaching the saddle some 2.5 hours later I was rewarded with a sense of achievement and snow (and the knowledge it was pretty much downhill from here!)

So a successful solo mission complete, 4 hours in the saddle all up, injuries sustained - just 3:
1. Cut my finger (opening one of the farm gates on the way in) 2.Another smaller cut sustained on cutty cutty grass (or is it just cutty grass – hmm not sure)
3.Final injury – scrambling off trail to take a short cut and my leg got taken out by some falling debris – a wee reminder to stay on track when on your own!

Monday saw my first venture out on the road bike properly…probably since coast this year lol taking on short bays and shaving off around ten minutes on my usual time (still dam slow up those hills though!! J) I had a combined session where had to hit the hills running straight after – so of course I thought it would be a ‘great’ idea to head into unknown territory – so I headed up Farm Track – doh!

So much for running –the first 20 or so minutes was really uncomfortable – simultaneously my legs were screaming out me ‘you’ve got to be joking’ whist my brain was doing the math for Coast and telling me ‘you’ve got to be joking’, thankfully things started working again and it was great to get to the top of the Mt Vernon Track – take in the views and head off home.

This weekend is my first proper off trial run – The Flagpole Run Up – my aim for the day is to have lots of fun (and maybe take a few photos?? Lol)

Keep ya posted