The MARATHON training schedule

As given by the Marathon Clinic... it involves a lot of running, and doesn't give distances to achieve but running time. This is also known as 'time on ya legs'. It seems the training is mostly about getting used to walking, jogging, running, sprinting or whatever for longer and longer periods of time. So that's my time cut out for me then.

The Blue Swallow

It's a 6 Ft Fish with a fat nose and a Blue Swallow on it.

Hence, the Blu... You get it.

Xmas time in Taranaki

Ho, Ho, Ho...

Merry Xmas to you all,

My first summer xmas was quite an experience. People tend to mainly celebrate xmas day in EnZed, it seems. While xmas eve is as good excuse as any to load up on a few - and a few more - drinks until everything shuts down around midnight ... on account of xmas.

So, this year, I was on the other side of the world. Instead of cold and rain/snow, sun and surf were on the menu. With fellow orphans of Europe and a token Kiwi, we spent the eve and following day in Oekura, about 10km south of New Plymouth, where many glasses were drunk, and most people too soon after.

On the 25th, I awoke feeling a little worse for wear, went for a run to clear the spirits, then for a surf. Yes, a surf on xmas day, with santa hats on, an absolutely fantastic feeling.

Lunch was a regal affair, Idris, our Welsh host, conjured up a feast of turkey, roast potatoes and parsnips, vegetables, gravy, and mash.

The Feast, with Idris' Welsh friends, Harry, Tom, Tina, Olly, Idris cutting up the Banofee pie, and Cat was there as well but hiding behind Tina.

The best was saved for last as Idris brought out a home made Banofee pie. For those unfamiliar with Banofee, it is a biscuit base cream pie with BANanas and tOFEE = BANOFEE. Amazing stuff. After a post-prandial game of Cranium to keep the brains ticking over, Idris, Harry, Tom and I looked out at the beach 50 yards from the house. The wind had died and the waves rolled in unhurried and inviting. We took longboards out and had a le-gen-da- "wait for it" -ry surf session til dusk. And that was my merry xmas day, à la Taranaki.

The setting sun, the chillin' behind the break, and photo evidence of me on a wave.

Idris having a stretch on a long wave

On Boxing day, further surf was riden in the morning, after a heartwarming Skype conference with the Boston Bolands. In the evening, we went to Pukekura park where live music and concerts are being held every day well into February. The park is lit up at night with very colourful displays which set a rather fairytale-like scenery.

The Festival of Lights in Pukekura Park

Managed to get up the next day for my morning run, at 7 am, with the Marathon Clinic group, the New Plymouth Runners and Walkers Club. After which i went straight back to bed. Back in the Park that evening, a lively Irish music group, full of talented Kiwi musicians played some classic Irish and Scottish ballads to much aplause and singalong. A testament to the Celtic roots of a large segment of the population of Taranaki.

18 holes of terrible golf on the sunday were followed by a career-best - and only - time at the Bell Block 10km run. This was a local event, part of a summer 10km run series. I ran it flat out to see how fast i could go with my marathon training. The first 1km I spent running behind a little kid who was really setting quite a testing pace, I eventually overtook her and got halfway (5km) in 20 minutes. The second half was a little more about hanging in there and I finished the whole thing in 42min and 58secs. As I approached the finishing straight I saw the seconds ticking towards 43 mins so put my foot - or feet- down and sprinted the rest to make it just under that mark.

The evening was again spent in the refreshing environment of Pukekura Park for an outdoor movie.

All this in just 4 days...

1896 Olympic Marathon - they look like they've escaped from prison. Legendary!

Quick update, went for 20-21k run today (in 2h15) with the Marathon Clinic Runners. Am shattered but that's the longest i've ever run. 3 Months to double the distance...

PS Pictures of boards to follow.

Four nights down, three to go. A little time between pager calls to write a few words.

It's been about 3 weeks since I arrived in New Plymouth and it feels like a lot has happened. I've managed to miss three marathon clinic long runs, partly because they start at 7 am on a Saturday morning, partly because Friday night can be a big night. So I'm mostly doing my training by myself, exploring the network of roads and walkways around New Plymouth. Couple days ago, I ended up getting a little lost on the run back towards the hospital, in an area which, I have now been informed, is the part of town where Mauri gangsters hang out, live, and racketeer people.

There's two main gangs in New Zealand apparently; the Mongrel Mob who all adorn dog tattoos on their body, and the Black Power gangsters.




- pics curtesy of google eh, i haven't really met any of them... yet -They loosely affiliate themselves with notorious LA Gangs, the Bloods and the Crips. They entertain themselves by dealing drugs and shooting each other it seems. But they ain't messin' neither. Anyway, I feel i'm probably lagging behind the X-man, training-wise, as I hear he's been shouting across rooftops that he went for a 10 mile - 16 kilometers sounds more impressive - run. I've yet to match that.

On a slightly different note, the surf in Taranaki (the Mauri name for the region and the volcanoe which surplombs NP) is pretty erratic as it's very dependent on the wind. This wind seems to change every other day from the South to the East to the West... You get the picture. That, however, has not stopped me expanding my surfboard collection. The new additions are a 6'1 shortboard (not quite ready to use it yet) and a 6'0 fish. I acquired the Blue Swallow, as the latter board is known, from Mike Pinkerton aka Pink to some of the local surfers. I also acquired his van which is a 1989 Toyota Grand Saloon Masterace Surf with 14 windows of which about 10 open. The van also has a name, Simon. So Sancos, Simon and the Blue Swalloow are hoping for some great surf adventures over the next few months.
Simon, the 1989 Grand Saloon MasterAce Surf. 14 windows - 10 of which open, plenty of space for gear and a mattress.

My birthday came and went last week. Thanks for all the phone calls and wishes. It was very touching - figuratively as well as literally. The Canadian friends Alex and I had met on the South Island came down from dozy Raglan, a little ways up the coast, and even brought a carrot cake - good on 'em.

Jumping off some rocks near a fresh water and rather chilly stream with B and C.

... It felt much higher at the time....

The team I was covering for had no patients, and so I was able to get off early, chill out on the beach with them. In the evening, we all went for a big meal at a seaside restaurant called Fish or something like that. Good food, I had the duck.

Birthday meal, Becky and Caylee were there but somehow dodged the pictures

What else? I'm hopefully moving out of the hostel and into a house with a few fellow doctors. Haven't seen it but have bought a hamoc for the back garden already. The job. Ah yes, well it's still interesting and very learningful. Night shifts, especially, even if they can be a little stressful.

A few stats to finish off:

Longest run: 7 miles;
Number of waves caught with the Blue Swallow: 1 - but it was swee-eet;
Cardiac Arrest calls: 1 - but the patient came to within seconds;
Money won at Tuesday Night Poker: $0 so far;
Cost of ticket to Tiki and Shapeshifter concert: $50 - for some good times.

Thanks and good morning,

Sancos

After a week

Catriona and Tina in Downtown New Plymouth

New Plymouth, the best city of it's size in the World!

I can sort of understand why.

Good weather, picturesque mountain, black sand surf beaches, friendly atmosphere around town. People seem happy to live there. I am happy to be there.

The first week of 'work' started intensely with a 'late' day. On-call til 11. The rest of the week was mainly spent off the work roster and so gave me plenty of time to get my affairs in order, familiarise myself with the way the hospital operates and spend some time with the general surgical team I'll be spending most time with over the next few months.

I also managed to go running about 5 times in my new running shoes. Went to the beach and paddled around for about 1 hour on a shortboard.

Back beach - the local spot

Drove - was driven actually - to the base of the volcanoe a couple of times to hike around.

Short hike around Mt Taranaki

Swam in the hostel pool every day the sun was out - which was pretty often this week. Went out a couple of times, went to a bbq where they roasted a whole pig on a spit. Some huge Tongan dudes, who'd played rugby for Tonga vs France, had set it up.

The spit roast pig

I mean, i don't know, but this is a little bit like hanging out in paradise. A little surreal. The world events and tragedies don't really seem to reach this little pocket of EnZed. So i'll have to make an extra effort to 'keep it real'.

hanging out for a bbq around the pool with Olly, Nicky, Tom, Charlotte and finally Idris - destroying a burger.

Yup, that's it for now.

Peace

Sancos