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CONTENTS 6 Hi, I'm Wellington
Geography
Weather
To See and Do
12 Wellington Running
Local Running Heroes
Training Hot Spots
Wellington Running Clubs
Wellington Races
20 Running Routes 24
Wellington
51
Hutt Valley
75
Porirua & Kapiti Coast
91
LOCAL RUNNING LEGENDS
101 Safety & Running Gear
HI, I'M WELLINGTON The earliest Maori name for Wellington is “Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui”, which means “the head of Maui’s fish”. According to legend, the demi-god Maui, shortly after slowing down the sun, hauled the North Island from the sea like a fish—Welling-
ton’s perfectly-shaped harbour providing the ideal mouth from which Maui could hook his massive catch. And it’s an appropriate analogy given the way Wellington, at times, seems to thrash about (or be thrashed about) amidst ocean and
Wellington sunrise. Photo: Dillon Anderson (Wellington photos courtesy of www.wellingtonnz.com)
air, like a fish being dragged from the water. What I mean is that the Wellington region is a place where oceans, land and air converge in a tumultuous combo of wind, hills, raw beauty and change. Being in the latitudinal centre of New
Zealand and spanning three coasts (with the Tasman Sea to the west, the Cook Strait to the southwest and the Pacific Ocean to the southeast), the greater Wellington area rises sharply from the water and, as a result,
7
WELLINGTON RUNNing
The annual AMI Round the Bays.
g
. Photo courtesy of Sport Wellington.
LOCAL HEROES Wellington has a recent strong heritage of producing quality mountain runners, and when I say quality, I mean three world champs in the last 12 years. Jonathan Wyatt (Olympian and six-time World Mountain Running Champion), Melissa Moon (two-time World Mountain Running Champion) and Kate McIlroy (World Mountain Running Champion ’05 and current professional triathlete) all provide ample proof of the benefits of training in Wellington’s rugged terrain. Of course no Wellington running guide would be complete without a mention of the Hutt Valley’s hometown hero, Commonwealth gold and bronze medallist and Olympic silver medallist, Nick Willis. Preferring to race the more level surface of an athletics track, Nick has continued the great New Zealand middle distance legacy laid out by Jack Lovelock, Peter Snell and John Walker (and so on). Although his racing surface of choice is mondo, Nick loves coming home for the New Zealand summer to visit family and to train on his hometown turf in the rugid Hutt Valley hills.
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WELLINGTON SH1
J I H G A D E C
Wellington Harbour
B L K
RUNNING ROUTES F
A The Bays
25
B Mt Victoria (Tangi Te Keo)
28
C Makara Loop
31
D Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Fence Line
34
E Polhill Reserve
36
F Eastern Walkway
38
G Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park
40
H Wellington Botanic Gardens
41
I Tinakori Hill
42
J Skyline Track (Johnsonville to Karori)
44
K Tawatawa Ridge & Mt Albert
46
L Tip Track to Red Rocks
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Wellington central & SOUTH COAST
the bays On any given lunch hour you’ll find hundreds of feet pounding the well worn pavement of Oriental Bay—the early stages of a stunning 30km coastal, paved route. From Queen’s Wharf in the CBD follow the wide footpath south toward Te Papa and on to Oriental Bay. Approximately every 500m is marked by a round brass plate in the pavement. The markers The Boatsheds, Oriental Bay
continue for 6.5km to Evans Bay and the Zephyrometer (wind wand). For those out for a longer run, the route continues from here right around Evans Bay to Scorching Bay (the home of a regular summer triathlon series). At Seatoun you leave the waterline, turning right into Inglis St and over the Pass of Branda. After this short climb you’ll descend into Breaker Bay on the south coast. Follow the coastal road to the airport and Lyall Bay, Houghton Bay, Island Bay and Owhiro Bay. The full loop via Happy Valley and Brooklyn is approx. 38.5km (including a decent hill coming home).
DISTANCE GUIDES (Starting from Queen’s Wharf) 3k = Point Jerningham; 5k = NIWA Centre (Evans Bay); 14.5k = Scorching Bay; 18.5km = Pass of Branda; 23km = Lyall Bay break-wall (end of runway); 27.5km = Houghton Bay Rd; 30.5km = Owhiro Bay (Happy Valley Rd).
25
SOUTH COAST, Wellington
TAWATAWA RIDGE & MT ALBERT 11k This south coast loop takes in the hilly sections of the City to Sea and Southern Walkways, with a nice flat return journey
adding on some extra miles. Follow the City to Sea signage toward MacAlister Park and Berhampore Golf Course,
around Houghton and Island Bays.
which you will descend into after a long stair climb up Tawatawa Ridge.
START POINT Shorland Park, corner of The Parade and Reef Street, Island Bay. There are toilets here and a cafe over the road.
Tawatawa Ridge stairs
DESCRIPTION Look for the City to Sea sign post leading you south on The Parade and then a quick right up Milne Tce. Carry on up through Oku Street to enter Oku Street Reserve. Enjoy the views of the south coast before descending the stairs to Severn Street. Turn right here and then left onto Frobisher Street. Follow this for 1km, slowly climbing up to the beginning of the trail through Tawatawa Reserve. This hilly reserve of shrubs and regenerating bush has several trails ideal for
Keep heading north until you reach the end of the golf course and leave the City to Sea path by turning right on Morton
Near the radio masts at the top of Mt Albert, follow the sealed path down to Mt Albert Road. Turn left, then right into Buckley Road, before turning left again to follow the path (then roadside pavement) all the way down to Houghton Bay. When you reach the coast turn right to make your way back home.
Street. Then left into Stanley Street and right onto Britomart Street (which becomes Herald St) and run to Russell Terrace, where you turn right, then left to head up the back entrance to Newtown Park and the Zoo. Follow the trail that leads around the south side of the Zoo until you reach the Southern Walkway signage. Follow these towards the south coast, choosing between these two options: the harder ridge line or the track that skirts around the side of Mt Albert.
Great south coast scenery on two popular ridge-top trails. The signage can be tricky to spot and to make sense of. And sections of the trail are steep and unstable under foot. 2km
8k gton WellZinoo Russell Tce
Mt Albert
Houghton Bay
Southgate
6k
Britomart St
1
10k
Adelaide Rd
The P
arade
Berhampore Golf Course
T STAR a taw wa rve Ta Rese
4k Happy Valle
y Rd
Island Bay 0
2k
Owhiro Bay
47
Mt Climie
Unbeatable workout with some nice bush and a reward of incredible views at the top.
This peak is very exposed and the climb so intense that it’s best saved for a still, clear day (not that common around here).
Elevation MT CLIMIE metres above sea level M
800 600 400 200
0 1 2 3 4 5 KM
Rimutaka Rail Trail
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Porirua
Colonial Knob Colonial Knob (including Porirua
one of the best vantage points in the
Entry to the reserve can be made at either the Broken Hill Road (turn left off Rahia St) or Elsdon Youth Camp (follow Rahia St till you see the sign) car parks.
greater Wellington region for pano-
DESCRIPTION The Elsdon
Scenic Reserve) boasts the largest area of native bush in Porirua and is
ramic views of Kapiti, Wellington and the South Island (all from one spot). This is definitely a great fine weather option.
START POINT From Kenepuru Drive (in Porirua), turn into Rahia Street.
View north from Colonial Knob (Kapiti Island far left)
Camp entrance is probably the pick of the two as the trail leads you straight through the most untouched portion of lush native bush. After a short jog along a flat track you’ll hit your first set of stairs. And then
another set of stairs. And then another.
START
For at least the next 10 minutes you’ll
Camp Elsdon
be heading uphill. Be sure to let the lactic acid drain from your legs for a few moments by stopping to take in the
Rahia
beauty of the nikau palm grove.
be disappointed, this is one of the hardest 2km stretches of trail around!).
South Summit (468m)
d Hill R RT STA
n Rd
just travelled from Camp Elsdon—you’ll
Colonial Knob
ken
at the sign displaying the distance you’ve
Bro
reach an intersection (warning: don’t look
St
North Summit
When you emerge from the trees you’ll
Mai
Left provides a smaller loop back down a gravel road to Camp Elsdon, but right will take you to the summit of Colonial Knob.
0
0.5
To Tawa
1k
To get to the summit there are a few more hills to climb, but at each hill you’ll be well rewarded with a fresh view out to the Tas-
bush trail you’ll pass by a disused water
man Sea and eventually to both the Cook
reservoir on your right as well as several
Strait and the Pacific Ocean in the south.
alternative route options to your left.
After the final peak (of 468m) the gravel road gives way to a narrow path on private farm land that takes you down to the bush above Broken Hill Road. There are a
Beautiful bush, incredible views and opportunities to run alternative loops. Definitely not an all-weather track
couple of loop options in bush at the base
(the tops are very exposed to the wind,
of this hill that are worth a quick explore.
and heavy rain can make the steep hills
As you head back toward Camp Elsdon
and stairs dangerously slippery).
along the undulating (but relatively flat)
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LOCAL LEGENDS Photo courtesy of Hannah Johnston
Tim Prendergast He’s one of New Zealand’s most successful Paralympians, winning both 800m gold (2004) and silver (2000) and a 1500m silver (2000). But beyond Tim’s running, this Porirua boy’s raw passion for life inspires people the world over. What was the unexpected turn your
Macular Degeneration. It’s the most com-
life took as a kid? As an eight year
mon form of blindness amongst older
old I was afforded every opportunity to play sport and had high hopes for the future. Over the course of four months I
people, however, there is a rear strand that affects young people. No one else in my immediate family has the condition.
went from a young person with the world
I was, and still am, very keen on cricket
at his feet to a boy struggling to come
and this was a passion as a youngster.
to terms with losing 95 per cent of my vision. The condition is a genetic disorder called
My diminishing sight put pay to any dreams of playing for the Black Caps. I had an amazing support network around me who encouraged me to do my best.
And when did running enter the scene? At age nine I began running for Kapiti Harriers purely because my sister and father did. Talent certainly wasn’t a given, but enjoyment soon followed. Although cross country races were difficult there were supportive people around. The opportunities were there for me to explore my potential, but internally for several years I didn’t have much belief in myself. In the end, it was through athletics that I discovered this belief. It must take an incredible amount of self-belief just to strap on the shoes and go for a jog? One of the most common questions I am asked is, “How can you run if you can’t see?” I have five per cent functional vision, which is all peripheral. So I can walk and indeed run without too much immediate difficulty. I do occasionally come a cropper, however, when running through bush tracks: firstly, with roots and bumps along the trails and, secondly, the contrasting light from sun to shade tends to wreak havoc with what little vision I do have. Road works and the occasional lapse in concentration (leading to collision) have occurred over the years but
thankfully these experiences are few and far between. The key for me is to be familiar with my environment and have a knowledge of what is underfoot and what is ahead of me. Running with others is always useful as potential hazards are generally pointed out. When running alone I need to make sure I keep away from really crowded areas and trails that I don’t know. Bunch running in races is also tricky; perceiving distance to other athletes can be tough. You can imagine how this all goes when you put 12 runners together, who are all in the same boat, in a 1500m race. It can be, and has been, chaos! Can you explain the classification system at the Paralympics? My degree of vision is such that I compete as a B3 athlete (vision between five and 10 per cent). During the Paralympics, however, I am paired with another class, B2 (for athletes with between two and five per cent) to make the T13 class. T stands for track and 13 is the classification number alongside all of the other classes (i.e. blind is 11, 12, 13; amputees compete in the
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