The Riverrun Trail Series offers spectacular scenery, exciting trails that wind their way alongside the region’s most stunning waterways and races that appeal to all abilities.

The Riverrun Trail Series will allow competitors to explore three of the region’s recently developed tracks – the Hawea River Track, the Clutha River Track and the Damper Bay/Waterfall Creek Track. The tracks are all lakeside or riverside and all are challenging in their own respects and will provide a great experience for athletes, from first timers to experienced runners.

The Riverrun Trail Series begins October 2010 and concludes in May 2011 with three races making up the series. There are prizes for place getters and plenty of spot prizes to ensure everyone’s in with a chance of winning.

Enter one or enter the whole series – the overall winner of the series will earn the John Pawson Trophy, named after inspirational local John Pawson who was a dedicated advocate for the environment and the development of the trails.

Race 1. The Hawea River Track with 5km, 10km and half marathon options – 17 October 2010
Race 2. The Upper Clutha River Track 14.1km – 19 February 2011
Race 3. Damper Bay/Waterfall Creek Track 14.3km – 21 May 2011

Re the Queen Charlotte Track. (QCT)

The QCT is on New Zealand land administered by DOC and free to walk. Between ship cove and camp bay its all DOC and unless you want to walk over some private land connecting parts of the QCT after camp bay you do not have to pay a cent. Dont be fooled into thinking you have to pay to walk the publicly owned QCT. 

Hope you can pass this on to your members.

Garry.

S 37° 02.295 E 175° 13.178

When I visited the trig the S.A.S. Army were in training and had covered the trig with cammo cloth to hide their radios and to keep them waterproof.

Latitude and Longitude are in terms of New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000
Geodetic
code Latitude
Longitude Orthometric
Height Order
Height order Land
District Name
1325 37° 02′ 17.64731″ S
175° 13′ 10.65240″ E 687.63 3
3V North Auckland KOHUKOHUNUI NO 2

I’m trying to plan a long trip for next year. I have a fairly clear image of what i want to do… now I just need to turn the dream into reality!

The plan is firstly to hike the Te Araroa trail from the North to South tip of NZ.
Questions:

1) Does anyone know if the trail will be complete by Feb 2011, the maps are fairly unclear and timelines are delightfully vague?

2) Would it be better or is it even possible to follow other tracks rather than this set trail?

3) I’m 18 and planning on going “alone” although in reality I hope not to spend too much time truly alone. Is this safe and am I likely to meet good travel companions on the route?

4) Can I do this trail within 4 months with time inbetween to do some of the more adrenalined things along the way?

Upon completion I’m going to Africa for four months.
Question:

1)For visa purposes will I need to have evidence that I am moving on, I ask because my timing will be variable so I can hardly book an outbound ticket (could I just buy a refundable outbound ticket and cancel it after arrival)?

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to reply in advance. Sorry to ask so much but this is the first time I have undertaken something so big and I have a lot of questions (and probably a few more to come)!

Alex

Refer – http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1925445

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Matthew Frazier of No Meat Athlete.

Why does the popularity of trail running in the United States surge every time there’s a national crisis or period of epidemic uncertainty?

Simple answer: Running like a wild man or woman through the woods nurtures the soul.

Trail running satisfies a primal need for movement through nature, presumably left over from our days as hunters. When things spin out of control in an age of iPads and Droids, running in the woods is one thing we can count on to be pretty much the same as it’s always been.

That’s your fancy explanation. My real reason for trail running? Getting dirty makes me feel way more badass than I am.

So what does the average road runner have to gain from venturing out into the wilderness?

Two things. First, reduced risk of injury: The soft, ever-varying surface of the trail lessens the likelihood of an overuse injury, strengthens core muscles, and ultimately makes for more comfortable long runs than asphalt. Second, a rush that road running just can’t give you. It should come as no surprise that soaking in the essence of the forest results in a quantifiably-greater endorphin release than does breathing in roadside fumes.

Trail running has done more than make me a stronger, happier runner: It has made me a runner, period. For seven years before finding the courage and initiative to learn a new type of running, I ran strictly on roads. I relished the day-to-day routine of my training. But I refused to call myself a runner until I could truly enjoy the act of running for its own sake.

It took trail running to make me feel like a runner. Don’t wait as long as I did to try it. Here’s what you need to know to hit the trails safely and discover this wildly soothing side of running.

Trail Running Gear

At its best, trail running is a more minimalistic endeavor than road running. While iPods, GPS devices, and heart rate monitors have become musts for many runners, technology tends to take away from experience of trail running. Even a watch is dispensable.

Still, there are certain necessities for trail running, some of which require different considerations from running on roads.

• § Clothing: The same technical apparel that you wear on roads works for trails, but choose something that you don’t mind getting dirty or snagged.
• § Shoes: Road shoes work fine for short runs. If you decide to stick with trail running, however, you’ll eventually want to get a pair of trail shoes. They offer a stronger, protective sole and greater stability than most road shoes. And while the idea of barefooting on trails is appealing, it’s smart to run a trail in standard shoes first to get a feel for how sharp those rocks are.
• § Water bottle: If you’re not big on drinking from streams, you’re going to have to carry your water with you. A favorite among trail runners is the handheld water bottle that straps to the hand and has additional pouches for things like keys, ID, and food. For longer runs, consider a hydration vest. Nathan Sports is a popular brand for both hydration options.
• § Insect repellent: Depending on where you’re running, bug spray may or may not be necessary.
• § Headlamp or flashlight: One of the coolest things about trail running is that you can do it pretty safely at night, without having to worry about cars. But for running at night, a headlamp or flashlight is absolutely necessary. The LED versions are both lightweight and bright.

And don’t forget a towel and a change of clothes, socks, and shoes for afterward. If you’re doing it right, you’ll be wet and dirty by the end of the run.

7 Steps to Your First Trail Run

1. Find a trail.

By far the best way to start trail running is to find a local group of trail junkies and run with them. They’ll know the best trails in your area and help you get started. I met my trail-running group through my town’s running club.; you can search for running clubs near you.

Be sure to distinguish between non-technical and technical trails. Non-technical trails are paved, gravel, or dirt roads that are generally easy to negotiate. Technical trails are narrow, dirt or rocky paths offering every variety of challenge that most people associate with trail running.

2. Slow down and take short, quick strides.

You can expect to run about 20 percent slower on trails for a given level of exertion than you would on roads. You’ll find steeper hills, more side-to-side movement, and lots of obstacles to deal with. Trail running is most fun when you forget about pace and do what feels good.

Shorten your stride so that your weight is over your feet most of the time; this allows you to react quickly and maintain balance. You’ll find that trail running works your core and stabilizer muscles more than road running, so it may help to focus on keeping your core engaged.

3. Don’t be afraid to walk the hills.

The surest way to identify a road runner on the trails is to look for the guy who runs past everybody on the uphills, only to be passed again on the downhills. Trail runners know that it’s usually more efficient to walk up the steep hills and conserve energy to make up time on the way down.

4. Scan the ground five to ten feet in front of you as you run.

When you’re running trails, you need to pay extra attention to where you step. But you certainly don’t want to be staring straight down at your feet the whole time.

Continuously scan the ground a few yards ahead of you while you’re running. As you notice an approaching obstacle, shift your attention to your feet to do whatever is necessary to clear the obstacle. And don’t be lazy—pick up your feet just a little higher than you think is necessary to avoid a root or rock. Too many falls happen due to simple complacency.

5. Keep a distance of ten feet from other runners.

If you’re going to pay attention the ground in front of you, it helps if you can actually see it. If that’s not enough reason to keep your distance, trail runners are required to change speeds all the time, rarely with warning. Nobody likes getting rear-ended.

6. Watch out for slippery roots and rocks.

If you can step over a fallen tree, root, or large rock, rather than on it, do it. Lots of them are more slippery than they look. And when crossing streams, it’s often safer to walk directly through the water than to try to tiptoe across wet rocks. (You’ll avoid being called names, too.) It’s trail running; you’re supposed to get muddy and wet!

7. Be safe. It’s not called “the wild” for nothing.

You know, the common-sense stuff. Whenever possible, run with a friend. Bring a map if you’re running a new trail for the first time. Have a first aid kit in the car, and carry extra food with you for emergencies. Bring along a cell phone or pepper spray if you’re running alone.

And know the area you’re running—how to deal with the wildlife, when and where hunting takes place, when the sun goes down, and anything else that might pose a danger.

Matt Frazier’s running breakthrough came when he realized he could run faster and farther with a vegetarian diet. On his blog, No Meat Athlete, he shares clean-fuel recipes and running insights gained as he trains for his first 50-mile ultramarathon.

    ]]> http://www.walknz.org.nz/2010/06/19/a-beginner%e2%80%99s-guide-to-trail-running/feed/ 0 http://www.walknz.org.nz/2010/06/18/alpine-crossing-danger-highlighted/ http://www.walknz.org.nz/2010/06/18/alpine-crossing-danger-highlighted/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 07:18:37 +0000 WalkNZ http://www.walknz.org.nz/?p=338 Day trippers should be weather-wise on Central North Island treks, Ceana Priest reports.

——————–

Unprepared day trampers are in increasing danger of being caught out on New Zealand’s most accessible alpine trek as winter approaches, authorities warn.

Last month, there was a dramatic night rescue of a group of unprepared trampers on the Tongariro Crossing.

Experienced mountaineers told the Waikato Times they are worried day trippers will underestimate the exposed hike during the shoulder season before winter sets in and will get caught by snow, ice, and hypothermia.

Three years ago, DOC changed the hike’s description to include the word alpine to reflect the altitude of the crossing. Red Crater (1886 metres) is the highest point, but many people climb Mt Ngauruhoe (2287m) and Mt Tongariro (1967m) as side trips during the day.

Whakapapa Ski Area Safety Services manager Andy Hoyle, who was involved in last month’s rescue with the Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation, said the group of three had overestimated their abilities when they attempted the Mt Ngauruhoe ascent.

“The group was utterly unprepared,” he said. “Inappropriate shoes and inadequate clothing. They started climbing late and when the weather conditions changed, became severely hypothermic. We spent the night carrying them off the mountain.

“Being unprepared is a chronic problem with the crossing because of its easy access. You see some people in their jandals – it’s pretty eye-opening.

“There’s this concept out there the track must be easy because it’s so close to the road.