Nike – Addiction
Posted under: I’m a Nike fanatic, so excuse my bias, but this ad has it all… Like any good ad it starts with a TRUTH. In this case the truth is the idea that ‘running is an addiction’ – and I should know, I run between 85-100miles per week. Nike plays and expands on the idea of this truth, and takes it to the next level in an interesting and thrilling way. Not only does the ad resinate with all runners and athletes, relating to athletes in an intrinsic way, it also captures a market that finds interest in creative and exciting videos – A double whammy.
NIKE 9.5/10
And yes, I’m going to continue to by your shoes, because they’re just better!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPTpEkdceic&w=560&h=349]
2011 Canterbury Cross Country Champs
A snapshot of the 2011 Canterbury Cross Country Championships at Halswell Quarry. I shot this using my GoPro Surf Hero HD camera.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxROJPrmpMU&w=560&h=349]
The New Buildup
After running a successful Half Marathon at the SBS in Christchurch, I’ve now secured my ELITE entry into the Auckland Half Marathon. So now the buildup starts; a few easy weeks of miles followed by 3:1 week ratio of hard-easy. Looking forward to the challenge, and longing to run a sub 68…watch this space.
2011 SBS MARATHON REPORT
Queens Birthday weekend once again witnessed the legendary SBS Christchurch Marathon with the Town Hall, Convention Centre and virtually the Avon River out of commission the organisers were forced to move or shut up shop.
Thank-fully they felt the show must continue and did a great job to pull together this year’s event within a tight and challenging time frame. Rewarded with 3759 entries mostly from locals wanting to show their support to the event and as the tag line went “help Christchurch get back on its feet”
As many of you are aware the vast majority of these keen people do not belong to clubs and could benefit from having training partners / friends and good advice to help them improve their times and distances. The half marathon runners and 10k runners totaled 2418 and these are the people we need to target to join our club and as a club we need to ensure that we are providing value and services that are relevant to their needs. Hats off to our friends at Olympic who were being very proactive and had a great display stand at the pre race registration with lots of photos and copies of the Marathon Post who were handing out excellent flyers promoting the club.
Race day dawned and the road was wet and the air still and dry – perfect. After a bit of pre race mayhem with traffic and parking the start was delayed 15 minutes before the masses were released into rural Lincoln as the day developed so did the wind making the course long and challenging as long exposed straights battered athletes with no protection and little spectator support. Thank fully the threatening clouds that were looming nearby 5km into the race didn’t materialize into anything more than a few brief minutes of cold wet stuff – no doubt blown to somewhere less fortunate.
Jason Woolhouse who started as joint pre – race favourite with Dale Warrander went out hard and he took up the front running as he likes to do along with Dale and Dougal Thorburn (Dunedin) for company. Just past the outskirts of town the pace lifted (approx 3km) and it was at this moment that Jason realised that today was not going to be his day. Although in great shape his legs were flat from his last race or should I say races…..
Based in Melbourne one of Jason’s favourite races and voted in the worlds top 100 races – The Great Ocean Road International Marathon was held three weeks prior. This event is a weekend of races including a 6.5km, 14km, 23km and 45km event. Last year Jason set a race record in the 14km event running 41.38 to eclipse Steve Moneghetti’s record. This year he lined up at 10am on Sat the 14th of May and won the 6.5km event in 21.25 (3.17 km pace) before lining up in the 14km race later that day at 2pm where he finished 3rd in 43.46 (3.07 km pace) having been in Marathon training for the last 18 months the next morning Jason completed the trifecter by finishing 10th in the 23km in 1.22.00 (3.33 km pace through 21.1km in 1.15.05). This totaled 43.5km of racing in 24 hours in a combined time of 2hrs 27mins and 8seconds.
Off the back of the lead two Woolhouse continued to roll along obviously frustrated that he hadn’t quite recovered after feeling like he had “come right” in the days prior. It was a long way home and he had to tackle the wind alone with Brett Tingay running through Woolhouse not long after 10km.
Behind the solo boys were two packs of 4 – 5 runners the first containing Richard Bennett the second containing our own Dave Ridley and Brett Dawber. The Brighton boys were targeting there first sub 70 min half and had a well organised pack with everyone doing there bit into the headwind. Up ahead the lead chase pack wasn’t quite so organised and fell apart towards the end of Shands road (approx 13km) with Oskar Inkster Baynes and Andy Haigh (Auckland) moving clear of the rest.
Looking very comfortable through 15km Dawber and Ridley were moving well and had started to move away from the rest of the pack as they wound around the outside of large packs of walkers and turned up the heat as Dawber lead the charge. Up ahead Bennett was coming back the lads quickly gobbled him and spat him out. Ridley was tracking Dawber and trying to maintain contact counting off each kilometer before focusing on holding on for the next one. Part way through the 18th kilometer the bungy broke as Dawber threw it all at the clock and stretched his long legs on the slight downhill on Collins road.
Woolhouse comfortably held on for 4th in 1.09.54 after lifting the pace through the final series of chicanes leading to the finish with a royal battle for 5th between Haigh and Inkster Baynes a couple of seconds back.
Dawber attained his goal of finishing top 10 being next across the line in 7th place with Ridley next in 8th both outside 70 minutes after being robbed by a windy day running well off pole to circumnavigate walkers over the final 6km and a few tight turns leading in the final few hundred meters. There times worthy of sub 70 minutes both were pleased with their results and went home happy.
Olympic member Peter Larkin came through to win his age group (VM60 – 69) in a very respectable 1.21.45. Dale Warrander won in 1.06.13.
In the 10km race coach Nick Burrow ran his fastest time for 8 years to stop the clock in 32.53 in 8th place – obviously those weekly tempo runs with his young charge Brett Dawber are starting to pay dividends! Impressive stuff for a man who still weighs in north of 85kg.
Leyton Tremain
Gebbies Pass Sunday Run
An early start on Sunday 24th of April lead to one spectacular run. The 27km loop around Christchurch’s Port Hills is one of the most scenic, challenging and reachable runs out!
Have a look at a few of the photos to appreciate how AWESOME the region is.
2011 Hagley Relays
What a great event! Todays’ Hagley Relays was race right down to the wire. New Brighton (my team) was able to overcome the several attacks from our close rivals UC.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BIL8WG26go&w=560&h=349]
