The first part of this running adventure was covered in part one, which you can find HERE.
RUN FOUR: Hokitiki and Castle Hill Run
This one was mainly hiking up a hill for the first part which, of course, reminded me of the Appalachian Trail. Then when I reached the top I saw the videographer and photographer waiting for us to come around the bend. I jokingly called to the runners behind me, “Let’s pretend like we’ve been running this whole time!” And we did. Then I realized that I could just keep going because it was flat and windy, like all my runs in Texas! That only went on for a little bit and then the mountain started descending. For most runners this is a nightmare. But I guess I hadn’t run quite enough for this adventure because I just booked it down the hill. Overall, it wasn’t my fastest run, but it was definitely fun! Near the very end, I wanted to stop. The end of the road was not where I thought it was supposed to be and I tried walking for a second. A trail runner from the hosting group called out, “Put all your gas in the motor!” and ran beside me for a couple steps. I did make it to the end and got to chat some with this runner afterwards. In that area of New Zealand there is a group of runners called Speed Freaks who work with people on mental health awareness, with going outdoors as a therapy. They help people who suffered with addiction or depression to get outside and run, discover new places, breathe in fresh air, and build community. Before heading to Christchurch we stopped by some large rock formations at Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area. Beautiful, but we definitely didn’t have enough time to spend there. All of us walked as far as we could and snatched some fun videos and pictures.
We made our way to Christchurch and had a chance to walk around town, taking pictures at a botanical garden, catching up with a couple other runners, and eating Greek gyros from a market area. There was a beautiful botanical garden where my roommate and I stopped to take pictures. The ducks and birds in this area were adorable because they had absolutely no fear of humans! I found a Public Art Scape that was being set up to start just a few hours after we were scheduled to leave, but I got to take a sneak peak of some of the art that had already been set up.
It was a memorable day.
RUN FIVE: Christchurch and Lake Tekapo Run
The run was flat today all the way along a lake, with a little bit cooler temperatures. Still as gorgeous as always. There was a gas station later on that had live bees for the fresh honey that we had seen all along the South Island. Many bee farms were popular, too. We had lunch on our own and found a cute little brunch spot similar to La Madeline bakery. The highlight was getting to fly in a small plane, circling the lake and getting a closer look at Mt. Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. We got a crash course on Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to scale Mt. Everest, who hailed from NZ. That evening was a chance to walk around, take pictures, and eat a TON at the hotel restaurant. It was a great time for me to catch up on some writing and to sketch.
RUN SIX: Lake Tekapo and Alps 2 Ocean Trail Run
The next morning we were greeted by a rainbow at the trail site. It was a fun run with a beautiful ending, though several of us had to find a bathroom site in nearby brushes. Nearly all of us decided to try their ginger honey tea, recommended by our bus guide. Then we got to visit a lavender farm nearby for lunch and we snatched some souvenirs and ice cream (on the coldest day we had so far!). Queenstown gardens was within walking distance from the hotel and it was fun to try to snap random pictures here. I also snatched a jar of honey the morning before our run.
RUN SIX: Queenstown and Moke Lake Run
Our final run was a beautiful one, and while we were excited that we would be done with sore muscles, it was bittersweet because our New Zealand journey was coming to an end. We stopped to take group pictures and selfies. Several in the group were continuing south on their own or traveling over to Australia, but most of our New Zealand crew were eager to get back to their hometowns. At this point I was trying to just take it in and when my roommate asked about tobogganing down the mountain, of course I said yes! Parasailing was calling me, but that will have to be an activity for next time. We did snack at Wahlburgers before heading down to the dock for final souvenirs and the ferry that would take us to our farewell dinner. This was so sweet because several crew members said something, they gave out awards for some in the group, and we got to see a rough version of our video for the week. Once I got home after around thirty-six hours of flying, I had to remind myself that more adventures will come and that I’ve learned and experienced a lot on this one!
Takeaways
I will say that I would have loved a little more downtime. Yes, me. The person who tries to fit five things into every vacation that I go on! I think some of this change in attitude has occurred within the last six months to a year. It has been intentional on my part to write more and to read books. Because of this, I spend more of my time in the quiet, or mulling over what my next chapter needs to be. For publishing reasons, none of that ever makes it to my blog, but it happens behind the scenes. Then trips like this, which are completely unforgettable, brings even more of the WOW-factor into my imagination and future stories that I will create. But they are constant movement and constant introductions with people and places. I am very glad that I got to experience this with others. That I got to share the first-time experiences with so many runners of different backgrounds who also love travel. But I look forward to the day where I can go there to sketch and to hike, even if I am alone. I will try more of travel writing and drawing in a small scale soon, but until my next NZ journey, I have these pictures and future paintings to remember the experience!
Always exploring!
Hannah Marie.