3RY Update Part:

10

Date:

12th May ‘19

Day:

110

Title:

100 KM CHALLENGE!!

¡¡Whoop whoop!!

KM Mark Start:

1461

Start Location:

Palmerston North

KM Mark Finish:

1361

Finish Location:

Whanganui KM 1361

Actual KM Today:

104

Weather:

Clear at night to start, sun during the day and as night rolled around again it bought a southerly system with strong winds and rain.

General:

I don’t know where to start with this one….It was a physical and emotional battle. Started at midnight and the first 40km were relatively enjoyable with calm weather conditions and quiet roads.

My legs started to feel the hurt at around 45 km and this just got progressively worse until the 75km mark. Heels started to bruise and blister so some running repairs were required.

At around 80km I had a burst of energy after something substantial to eat and drink. This wore off quickly and as night rolled in, so did the rain and wind. The last 15km seemed to stretch on forever!! I really had to work hard to distract myself from the negative thoughts. I was pretty dark on it for the last 15km. With about 5km to go I had just had enough and broke into a walk/jog, just to end the struggle ASAP 😆. Haha, in saying this, I loved every second of the challenge and am super stoked I was able to firstly complete the 100km and secondly complete it in 20 hrs and 20 mins.

Thank you to everyone that sent messages of support before, during and after!

Thanks to Karen Griffiths for all her support. She’s the entire support dream team wrapped up in one person!

I have some 10km update videos which I may post at some stage.

Body/Health:

Pretty sore legs, blistered soles and backs of heels. Nothing permanent, so happy camper.

Outlook:

Really happy I managed that. Happy with my time. I honestly wasn’t sure if I’d get there when I decided on the challenge. I knew I was determined to give it everything and expected it to be difficult, but it still managed to throw unexpected challenges at me, which I was stoked to overcome.

Tune of the Day:

110. Is this Love – Bob Marley & the Wailers

Day 110 Images:

3RY Update Part:

10

Date:

9th, 10th & 11th May ‘19

Day:

107, 108 & 109

Title:

100km Challenge Prep!

KM Mark Start:

1461

Start Location:

Palmerston North

KM Mark Finish:

1461

Finish Location:

Palmerston North

Actual KM Today:

0

Weather:

Clouds with patchy rain.

General:

Washed kit, prepped for 100km challenge, website updates etc etc. Leg massage. Had a few beers at Brew Union…great place.

Was lucky enough to be invited over to the house of a pair or Trail Angels (Anthony and Fiona) who have recreated a replica DOC hut in their back yard!

It is a great piece of kiwi ingenuity and craftsmanship.

All Kohas received from those staying in the hut go towards protecting the Whio Whio (New Zealand Blue Duck)

https://www.whiowhio.nz/

On the Day of leaving for the 100KM challenge (@ midnight) I went to bed @ around 5pm and slept till 10pm. Had a breakfast of sorts and strong coffee before leaving to attempt Challenge #2 (100km in less than 24hrs).

Body/Health:

Calf’s are still giving me grief

Outlook:

Pretty psyched about the challenge ahead.

Tune of the Day:

107. Shame on a N$$R – Wu-Tang Clan

108. Seriously – Katchafire

109. Low Lays the Devil – The Veils

Day 107, 108 & 109 Images:

In keeping with the ‘3 Reasons Why’ theme, it’s time for challenge #2 (of 3)!

100 km in one go.

I’m going to give it a whirl. There is every chance I won’t pull it off…but there’s only one way to find out.

100% of the money raised goes to the ‘3 Reasons Why’ charities.

1. New Zealand Spinal Trust

2. Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ

3. Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Money is great for these charities but in my opinion, just as important as the money, is the awareness.

If your not in the position to donate (or just don’t wanna), a message of support or telling someone about the project is just as much appreciated.

3 Reasons Why:

1. Traverse the length of NZ self propelled

2. 100 km Challenge

3. Still to come!

If you are keen to show your support now you can click the below link to the donations page!

https://3rynz.com/donate

3RY Update Part:

9

Date:

8th May ‘19

Day:

106

Title:

Good ol’ Palmy North

KM Mark Start:

1494

Start Location:

Toko Corner Whare

KM Mark Finish:

1461

Finish Location:

Palmerston North

Actual KM Today:

30

Weather:

Sun with some cloud

General:

Followed the forestry roads and Back Track through Arapuke Mountain Bike Park. Eventually walked parallel to Kahuterawa Stream on the road until State Highway 57. We turned off Highway 57 to cut through Massey University Grounds and onto The Manawatu River walk to bring us home (for the night).

Body/Health:

Pretty good, calves felt better today.

Outlook:

Thoughts occupied with 100km challenge

Tune of the Day:

106. Reggae Revival – Katchafire

Day 106 Images:

3RY Update Part:

9

Date:

7th May ‘19

Day:

105

Title:

First to stay in Toko Corner Whare

KM Mark Start:

1508

Start Location:

New Shelter in Forestry Area

KM Mark Finish:

1494

Finish Location:

Toko Corner Whare

Actual KM Today:

16

Weather:

Sun with some cloud

General:

Followed Burttons Track past Burttons Whare. Trail was in and out of gorse, rivers and some rejuvenating native bush. Finished up with a climb up a good sized hill to come out in forestry blocks. Met four fellas from the TA Trust who were doing some repairs on the trail and they mentioned they’d just finished the Toko Corner Whare (our planned destination for the day). A great wee open shelter, with a stream running alongside. Looks like we will be the first to stay here. We had the biggest spider I’ve ever seen (in NZ) accompany us in the shelter for the night. It is a male vagrant – big, hairy but super friendly.

Body/Health:

Calves Cramping up again 😤

Outlook:

Pretty good, yeah good.

Tune of the Day:

105. You Rascal You – Hanni El Khatib

Day 105 Images:

3RY Update Part:

9

Date:

6th May ‘19

Day:

104

Title:

Tararua Forest Park

KM Mark Start:

1530

Start Location:

Poads Road intersection with trail

KM Mark Finish:

1508

Finish Location:

New Shelter in Forestry Area

Actual KM Today:

22

Weather:

Fine with some sun and clouds

General:

Picked up by Brad and Karen @ 7:30am. Brad dropped us at the point I finished day before yesterday. Karen is a trail angel that wanted to walk the section between Levin and Palmerston North. She’ll be doing the trail next year!! Awse Karen 🙌🏼

We stopped in at Makahika outdoors centre for a coffee and met the owner and two dogs.

Trail alternated between grazed farm land and bush. Passed a Plaque that marked where Helen Clarke officially opened the Trail. Thanks Helen 😚😁.

Day ended at a newly built shelter in a forestry block.

Body/Health:

Weirdness with my legs, cramping calves etc.

Outlook:

Good

Tune of the Day:

104. Lydia – Highly Suspect

Day 104 Images:

3RY Update Part:

9

Date:

5th May ‘19

Day:

103

Title:

Levin Zero Day

KM Mark Start:

1530

Start Location:

Poads Road intersection with trail

KM Mark Finish:

1530

Finish Location:

Poads Road intersection with trail

Actual KM Today:

0

Weather:

Fine

General:

Spent the day sorting out supplies for next section through to Palmy North. Not much goes on in Levin as far as I can tell? It’s a interesting/strange wee town. The locals (in the local) were great when heard about what I was up to! Much appreciated guys.

Body/Health:

Calves cramping up?!

Outlook:

All g. Hope the 100km is doable…not sure.

Tune of the Day:

103. Spoonman – Soundgarden

Day 103 Images:

3RY Update Part:

9

Date:

4th May ‘19

Day:

102

Title:

Richards Knob

KM Mark Start:

1543

Start Location:

Te Matawai

KM Mark Finish:

1530

Finish Location:

Poads Road intersection with trail – Then Levin.

Actual KM Today:

15

Weather:

Sunny with a few clouds

General:

Left the Te Matawai Hut at dawn. I have noticed the huts in the North Island (so far) have nothing on the huts in the South Island which in general are all pretty amazing. The trail was again mostly ridge sections of muddy track through bush and tussock. Saw a black morph fantail which is even less common up here than it is down south. The night before I’d found a drone in the hut and suspected the owner would be coming back for it as it was an expensive piece of kit. Sure enough, I met him half way down the trail & he was super stoked to get his drone back and not to have to hike all the way back to the hut.

The highest point of today’s trail was Richards Knob. From here it was mostly down hill (still in mud) to exit the trail onto grazed farm land along Poads Road.

Body/Health:

Legs pretty tired with a few niggles but nothing to worry about.

Outlook:

Thinking about challenge #2…

Tune of the Day:

102. Zombie – Bad Wolves

Day 102 Images:

Telly 🙌🏼

3RY Update Part:

9

Date:

3rd May ‘19

Day:

101

Title:

Stags, No Wind, Sun, Mud, Mud and Mud.

KM Mark Start:

1555

Start Location:

Nichols Hut

KM Mark Finish:

1543

Finish Location:

Te Matawai Hut via Dracophyllum Hut.

Actual KM Today:

15

Weather:

Sunny and not a breath of wind

General:

Had another incredible day weather wise. Very lucky to have gotten such a good window of weather in these ranges. Was also another relatively technical day with long stretches of muddy, tussocky and rocky ridges. There is no way around it but straight through. I lost (and found) my shoes and the ends of my walking poles in the deep mud a bunch of times. It can be hard going on the steeper slopes when the mud either prevents you from going up, or sends you down the slope faster than expected. Still really enjoyed it all. Along with the amazing views I spotted a few huge stags which was a first for me. In the first image below you can see Mt Ruapehu above the clouds in the distance, at sunrise.

Body/Health:

Muddy but in good health

Outlook:

Almost through the Tararuas! Pretty happy with that.

Tune of the Day:

101. Brothaz – Nesian Mystik

Day 101 Images:

3RY Update Part:

9

Date:

2nd May ‘19

Day:

100! Whoop whoop 🙌🏼

Title:

100! Whoop whoop 🙌🏼

KM Mark Start:

1563.5

Start Location:

Waitewaewae Hut

KM Mark Finish:

1555

Finish Location:

Nichols Hut

Actual KM Today:

10

Weather:

Sunny not a breath of wind

General:

Straight into it today with a 1000m ascent over a distance of 3km, up to Shoulder Knob. Then it was a few hundred more vertical metres to the peak of Mt Crawford. From here I had some epic views. I could see the South Islands snow capped Kaikoura Ranges and Queen Charlotte Sound as well as the North Islands Mount Taranaki, Mount Ruapehu and Kapiti Island. Really happy I waited out the bad weather. Today was sunny and not a breath of wind, which is rare as hens teeth on the Tararua Ranges. 2nd to last photo below is from the loo with a view.

Body/Health:

Good

Outlook:

Pumped – Pretty nervous about challenge #2

Tune of the Day:

100. Ain’t no Sunshine – Bill Withers

Day 100 Images: