Running with the Kiwis

A Taylor · Running with the Kiwis

Hi Guys

As a previous member of BRC who moved to Bushton in Wiltshire and then got fed up with playing trains with the railway and emigrated to New Zealand. I finally got the job I wanted but had to come a long long way to get it.

On arriving here in NZ Dec 2006 I had a lay off from running for nearly a year and have tried some different things like hitting a small white ball into a tiny hole over a vast expanse and tramping around bush mountain tracks not out of place with Jurrassi Park. I even eat lots of food as people said I look thin but it made no difference so I decided I might as well run again get some real exercise and enjoy what I like doing.

I view your site regular and it is great and it is good to see my old running buddies and lots and lots of new people as the club has really grown with plenty of good runners.

I started running again and complete a series of the Olex Cable Runs mainly doing the 5k option rather than 10K and coming in the top 5.

I even won a 5k race March this year, it was pouring down with rain as it can do here in Taranaki and all the good runners were doing the 10k. After a kilometer I found myself overtaking some teenage lads and out in front. Hey I've never been here before and all I could think was I hope this is marked and well marshalled and I know where to go? and is the lad behind going to reel me back in? But as it was along the coastal walkway and out and back round a Wind Wand I couldn't go wrong. I turned round the Wind Wand and could see I had a 150m lead. I passed Harrison my son who is now 8 and running really well some 300-400m further on and he shouted DAD YOUR IN FRONT. We gave each other a high 5 slap which was enough to sting both of us more than we liked, to which I replies YES I"M WINNING.

There was no challange from behind, it was dead flat and nothing to knock out one's pace. I arrived back to the start/finish and its still pouring with rain. A guy strolls out in full weatherproofs to whom I shout where do I finish. 'Down there on the beach where you started he retorted and I came into the finish with nobody there, no official time, no name taken , no medal, zilch, zippo, nought except this was the first race I had won as far as I was concerned.

What can you expect for a fun run as over they have no medals trophys or anything but they do have great spot prizes and I did win a Colour Printer.

NZ are really big into Triathlons/Biathlons and well anything really. Harrison won the x country at school for his age last year and came 3rd this year and has done 2 triathlons already . I have just completed the Taranki Daily News Half marathon and came 52/393 in 1:38:45 and was pleased with that.

I shall be doing some Triathlons/Biathlons this year and have joined up with the Taranki Triathlete Club and the Energy City Harriers so shall be getting some different events in.

We are all really enjoying living here in NZ and shall probably visit back to the UK around summer 2010. As my mum lives in Benfleet I may well come down to the club and visit and run out with you. Meanwhile if you fancy a chat e-mail me at alan.taylor@vector.co.nz.

All the best to all those have run with me and keep on, its still the best sport.

Alan

debbie g

Hello Alan

I think it's time for me to introduce myself. You won't know me but I feel I'm getting to know you! If you have been looking at the forum you may have seen a thread regarding the 20th Anniversary Yearbook. I am writing that Yearbook. I've been a club member since 2001 so I don't think our paths ever crossed (and you'd have been way too fast for me anyway!) but I do know you were around in 2000 and ran in the Millennium Run. I also know what you look like as John Butcher has provided me with a photo! You feature in the book because you were a Merit Table winner.

Anyway welcome to the forum and I'm glad you are still thinking of us!

I have an appeal to you - I'm writing a chapter on the Millennium Run and I have details of all the leg runners but some are just first names or first names and a surname initial.

You ran the Tower Bridge to Greenwich leg with a Michael whose surname began with L . Do you remember his surname by any chance? Ian Pike thinks it was Leech. Is that correct?

Thanks in advance for your help and if you fancy a bit of nostalgia in mid 2010, the Yearbook should be finished then, post on the forum if you'd like to buy a copy or send me a PM. I'll probably post details on the Yearbook thread anyway.

John Butcher remembers you by the way - when I asked him for a photo of you he said "ooo he was quite fast!" - from your post on here looks like he was right

Debbie G

A Taylor · Hi Debbie, reply from A.Taylor

Hi Debbie, nice to hear from you and your acknowledgement.

I have not visited the site for a while now and hence the delay in

my reply.

I was still running with the club around 2001 and we may have seen each other but I was irregular to the club and in and out of running patterns.

Good to hear about the yearbook I am interested in a copy. I have lots of good memories running with the club and especially the trips all over the country with Clive and Lyn, Lorna, Mike and Ken.

Ian to whom send my regards has a better memory than I because I would have trouble saying who I ran with that day maybe Dave Spain, Ian and Michael Leech or Leach is a slightly familiar name. Put that name down eh, I have no records now of whom I ran with unfortunately I had a bit of a clearout when I moved to NZ and it would have got lost.

I remember the Millenuim Run particularly due to the flooded icy cold banks of the Thames and the diversions we had to take after which steam emitted from one's running shoes as the feet got warmer. I still have the long sleeve shirt which arouses lots of attention with my fellow runners here.

Send my regards to John Butcher he was going well in 1995 and I remember him pipping me at the club champs. It was a small quiet club then and I remember running with Vic Mc Cloud, Paul Norton, Bill Donavon, Clive Hopkins, Ian, Mike, Colin, Lorna, Denise to name but a few. the club looks huge now and there is even a great Junior section which I could do with here for my son Harrison.

I am running the 1st half of the Taranaki Mountain to Surf Marathon on Saturday 7th March with a work colleague and hope to do about 1.38 again as it has a big drop in elevation from start to halfway.

I shall be coming to UK in 2010 and hope to get to the club to meet up with some past running buddies and say hi to you.

Keep on running..

Alan

mikey

Hi Alan

Yes the club has grown out of all recognition since you left, we’ve been know to get over 90 runners on some nights !!!

I’m pleased to say, although the numbers have increased, the spirit within the club has remained constantly good.

Not many members will realize that the “Thoney Bay” 8 mile run on Canvey was devised by you. Pleased to say it’s still a regular on the winter schedules, and the run of choice if you want a smooth 8 miler to get your pace up.

You take care

Regards

Mike

A Taylor

Hi Mike

Good to hear from you and see that you are still active and heavily involved with the club.

Your photo attachement seems as though it may have been when we did the Saunders together which is a good memory.

The running club here is good, better than the Wootton Bassett Hounds that I joined in Wiltshire.

In the summer we run from and then BBQ at one of the runners homes which makes for a really good social meet. Everyone brings a plate and whatever they are drinking.

You can check out the club on www.energycityharriers.co.nz to see what we get up to and find other useful links. I do not run with the club that much but may appear on results occassionaly.

Hope to see you when I return to visit the UK in 2010.

All the best

Alan

Pammie

Alan

Hello you don't know me as i only joined club in 2006 but thought i'd say Hi

You did the team marathon race yesterday hope you were happy with the result. Ironically someone i chat with from New Zealand was doing the full marathon yesterday and she did rather well.

Maybe one day i'll get over there to do a race

A Taylor

Hi Pammie

Good to see someone is watching what I'm up to over here.

Yes I was really please with my time of 1:30:32 even albeit the drop in altitude assisting but the legs still have to run it. It was my second fastest time since Roding Valley in 2007 PB of 1:30:16.

My team mate is a Geordie from the UK and he is really good as the second half is harder and he ran 1:32:02 and has recently won the Duathlon Championships Short Course here in Taranaki.

Who was the friend from the UK I'll look up her time.

You won't regret coming to NZ and running here and the Marathon : . There is an awesome lifestyle here and so much going on with sports and social events we are full out in the summer months Sept- May.

One year I shall visit the UK and hope to meet old friend and new.

Take care and enjoy your running & films.

Alan

Pammie

Hello Alan

My friend (who i've never met) is one of the forumites from runners world is called Christine, she is actually a New Zealander herself i think she won her age category (W50/55) she is very inspirational been running her whole life

Running with the Kiwis

Hi Debbie, reply from A.Taylor