After a week of lovely summer weather on the Kapiti Coast, Saturday morning (aka parkrun-morning) started off a little cloudy, but dry and calm. Perfect conditions for a run!!

As I turned into Otaihanga Domain it was fabulous to see a large number of people already milling around the start line. Familiar, friendly faces as well as some guests from ‘overseas’ ie the South Island, line up at the start. It’s always nice to have new parkrun participants, and I wish a warm Kapiti welcome to our 29 first timers. I hope you all had a good time and you’ll be back to join us again soon.

We are so lucky to be able to enjoy this experience considering the large number of countries struggling with COVID. I feel almost guilty reporting back to friends and family overseas the freedom that we are enjoying. On that note I hope everyone signed into the Domain using their COVID tracer app!!

The briefing is given, our canine companions give their woof of approval, and we’re off. The pre-race chatter soon turns into the sound of footsteps on the ground and heavy breathing.

Today was my first parkrun for 2021, after a lazy start to the year. It was great to get out on course again today, and I was reminded why I like to make the effort to turn up!! I’m on a mission to try to run faster, rather than further, and I appreciate having people on course to keep me honest and pull me along to the finish line.

We had an amazing turnout today, with 153 people completing the course, including Dave Leigh who finished his 100^th event – great effort.

See you next week

Kris

Photo: Jeff Stark

This week 153 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 29 were first timers and 11 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 11 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 11 volunteers:

Tony FARMER • Arend LANSER • Jude WADSWORTH • Jeff STARK • John GLYNN-BEGBIE • Terry B MORRIS • Kristin HICKLING • Joseph LINDSAY • Michelle HOLMES • Graeme CROMPTON • Bruce WILSON

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Kapiti Coast parkrun Results Page.

The female record is held by Hannah OLDROYD who recorded a time of 18:19 on 17th February 2018 (event number 157).
The male record is held by Paul MARTELLETTI who recorded a time of 15:30 on 1st January 2020 (event number 257).
The Age Grade course record is held by Paul MARTELLETTI who recorded 88.06% (15:30) on 1st January 2020 (event number 257).

Kapiti Coast parkrun started on 24th January 2015. Since then 2,570 participants have completed 22,792 parkruns covering a total distance of 113,960 km, including 3,492 new Personal Bests. A total of 343 individuals have volunteered 2,887 times.

This week's run report, features a lady who gives me the inspiration to keep up my running and to keep coming along to Parkrun.

Hazel Ollerenshaw hadn't come from a sporty background, but after devoting many years to bringing up 5 children and juggling time to do a degree via correspondence, Hazel decided it was time for "Me". So at 58, she took up running, with a goal to lose some weight and lost 20kg.

Hazel then decided to push the boundaries further and entered Kapiti women's tri about 16/17 years ago and has competed just about every year since. She is currently training to do the February 2021 race - 400m swim, 12km Bike and 4km Run. Doesn't sound far, but to put the 3 together, takes training, discipline and determination and is quite an achievement when your 75.

Hazel has also done the Lake Taupo cycle race (half) 7 times and completed the whole 160km cycle race, when she was 70. Hazel has also competed in the Marines run several times, which is held each year by the Kapiti Joggers and for those of you have done this course, will know that it is not for the faint hearted.

Hazel loves to come along to the Kapiti Parkrun as she loves the friendly atmosphere and sets herself the goal to try and beat her own times, each week.

Hope this inspires you as it does me. See you all at Park run. Go Hazel!

- by Kate J Photo: Hazel

Credit: Jeff Stark

Photo: Kate

Credit: Jeff Stark

This week 84 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 2 were first timers and 5 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 4 different clubs took part.

Thevent was made possible by 12 volunteers:

Jake ROOS • Jeff STARK • John GLYNN-BEGBIE • Jocelyn FOUNTAIN • Lucy LAWLOR • Kate JENKINS • Adam LAWLOR • Daniel STONER • Dave THORBURN • Michelle HOLMES • Graeme CROMPTON • Andrew MORRISON

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Kapiti Coast parkrun Results Page.

The female record is held by Hannah OLDROYD who recorded a time of 18:19 on 17th February 2018 (event number 157).
The male record is held by Paul MARTELLETTI who recorded a time of 15:30 on 1st January 2020 (event number 257).
The Age Grade course record is held by Paul MARTELLETTI who recorded 88.06% (15:30) on 1st January 2020 (event number 257).

Kapiti Coast parkrun started on 24th January 2015. Since then 2,479 participants have completed 22,088 parkruns covering a total distance of 110,440 km, including 3,438 new Personal Bests. A total of 336 individuals have volunteered 2,814 times.

Tena koe parkrun whanau and Talofa lava

parkrun tourism took me to sunny Kapiti last weekend.  This was my first opportunity to do some parkrun tourism since Hobsonville Auckland in January 2020.  It’s been a crazy year.

I managed to squeeze this run in on our family road trip from Wainuiomata to Ohau.  I know there are parkrun enthusiasts who plan their holidays around parkrun.  There is no better time to do that than Alert Level One particularly as New Zealand now has a staggering 32 parkrun events.  Ticking Kapiti off my list takes my score to a pultry six, so many more road trips are definitely needed!

I joined a field of 96 hearty souls on a perfect morning for running.  The course is a generous flat one which runs alongside Waikanae River and also, probably unique to any parkrun course - under the SH1 Expressway!  The course is an out and back, made up of a mix of gravel and dirt track which fortunately was nice and dry.

It was nice to catch up with work colleague Glen CATTERMOLE for a post-run chat (see pic).  Glen and I are part of a boot camp-style circuits group run at the Department of Internal Affairs.  The Department also offers us subsidised entry fees to Round The Bays.  These are just a couple of examples of how the Department helps promote mental health and wellbeing in the workplace - so crucial in this day and age.  We have four parkrun regulars at the Department so there’s more marketing work to be done there!

parkrun Kapiti is a very friendly flat course with a great group of volunteers, headed ably by run director, Dave.  Crucially for me, there is a children’s playground at the start area where my three lil ‘uns entertained themselves with mum.

I will definitely be back at Otaihanga Domain again whenever our next road trip “up the line” is.  Have a great week all.  Stay safe.

Nga mihi,

Vatau SAGAGA

This week 96 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 3 were first timers and 12 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 6 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 11 volunteers:

Declan MURPHY • John GLYNN-BEGBIE • Bruce ALLEN • Ross WELLS • Dave THORBURN • Michael PEARCE • Andre FRAENKEL • Ruth CARTER • Joanna MARTIN • Martyn COLE • Andrew MORRISON

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Kapiti Coast parkrun Results Page.

The female record is held by Hannah OLDROYD who recorded a time of 18:19 on 17th February 2018 (event number 157).
The male record is held by Paul MARTELLETTI who recorded a time of 15:30 on 1st January 2020 (event number 257).
The Age Grade course record is held by Paul MARTELLETTI who recorded 88.06% (15:30) on 1st January 2020 (event number 257).

Kapiti Coast parkrun started on 24th January 2015. Since then 2,457 participants have completed 21,744 parkruns covering a total distance of 108,720 km, including 3,413 new Personal Bests. A total of 332 individuals have volunteered 2,768 times.

I thought that it would be a wonderful idea to get to know a little bit about our runners. So I decided that it would be great to feature them from time to time, in my run reports. I am starting off with someone who I have alot of respect for, both as a runner and a person.

Roger Childs came into running at a later stage than most, he was in his late 30's. A neighbour asked Roger if he would be interested in training for a marathon and so began his running career.

Roger is a very experienced runner, having competed in distances from 5k to a full marathon, both on and off-road and has a swag of medals. His best 5k was at the Kapiti R&T Monday night road race when he was 49, posting 17.30. His best 21.1k was at Palmerston North, running 1.17.54 and a 2.45 for his best Marathon in Taranaki.

Roger says that one of his most memorable running moments, was when he ran the first leg (Wellington to Petone), in the Wellington to Masterton Relay - 11. 3k in 38.40. That's an impressive 3.25km pace! As soon as he finished, he jumped straight in his car and drove to Auckland with his son.

Roger has played a huge part in my early running days, helping me to pace for a half, then a marathon and then an ultra marathon. We have run many hundreds of kms together in all sorts of weather and on every run, he has always had many a story to tell (mostly about running of course).

There's more to Roger than meets the eye. He has been a teacher at Kapiti college, where he taught our very own Peter Jackson. Also taught at the correspondence school, spending lunch breaks with fellow runners up in the hills 8hrsaround Wellington and now volunteers for many causes.

When asked what inspires Roger to keep running and what draws him to Parkrun, he said this. "I love running because of the company, the environments and the challenge. The non-competitive runs with people are great because there is plenty of time to chat and solve the problems of the world. Parkrun is fantastic because it has a friendly atmosphere and gives people if all ages and abilities, the chance to improve with the encouragement of fellow runners/walkers and officials."

Happy running everyone,

Kate

 

105 keen Park Runners completed their runs today on an absolutely stunning Kapiti spring day. We had 3 newbies, 2 visitors, and 14 of you set a new personal best.

Congratulations everybody, and doubly so to Zoe Cooper, reaching 250 Park Runs, and Mark O’Sullivan running his 350th Park Run today! What an achievement for you both.

Personally, I am now on 13, and even 50 seems very far off, thanks Covid for keeping me in the teens! I’m one of the ones who comes in towards the end, and admires the runners who pass me on their way back while I’m at around the 1.5km mark. But we’re all out there, giving it our best, every week (or mostly!), and should all feel proud of our achievements.

I’m sure you all noticed the sun and heat today so a timely reminder to slip, slop, slap and swipe! And drink plenty of water. I hope everyone’s enjoyed a fabulous rest of the day, there’s plenty on in Kapiti this weekend so let’s make the most of it.

Nga mihi

Sharleen M