Frank's New Zealand Trip

Frank and the Pakuranga 5km road race
Most of you will know that I visited New Zealand in October/November. While there I visited Gareth Patchett who lives in Howick, Auckland. Garteth's nearest athletics club is Pakuranga who are based about 3km from his home in a park that contains an historic village and sports facilities for rugby, cricket, hockey as well as a synthetic athletics track and a club house that has a bar. Pakuranga Athletics Club arrange a 5km road race every Monday evening until 19th December, starting at 6pm . The winners of these races have completed the course in over 18 minutes.
I decided to enter and turned up and paid my $2 (£1) entry fee. They just wanted my name. No club or age. About 60 to 70 runners of various ages from vets to early teens started the race that was on footpaths in and around the park on an almost flat course. I had not run for over three weeks but I had been walking a fair bit. I was happy to finish in the mid 20's in a time of 23mins 20secs. For my $2 I got a sausage sandwich after the race. There were no results on the day and only the overall winner received a prize. There were about 6 spot prizes.
The following Monday, after more walking but also a couple of 4 mile runs, I turned up again. This time I was accompanied by Gareth, fresh from about 12 months 'resting'! I set of a little more confidently than my first run, settling in about the 20th place of the 80 starters. Gareth used me as pacemaker for all of about half a mile before easing past, preferring a male buggy pusher just ahead. I settled for my usual strategy of letting those I feel I can keep up with get about 50 metres ahead and then spend the rest of the race trying to catch them up! My quest was in vain and Gareth extended his advantage to over a minute, 21.52 for 21st place to my 22.53, 26th of over 70 runners. The buggy pusher finished well ahead of us.
New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of us so as you get up on a cold Monday morning think of Gareth who, on a cool summer evening, may be starting this pleasant road race.
Frank Reddington