2012 Annual Review

This year I clocked up my 30th ultramarathon finish and, a few weeks later, my 10th finish at the Marton-Wanganui ultramarathon.

This year I also made an effort to visit more trig beacons. Some just happened to be in places where I was going, others were easily accessable, and some waranted special trips in their own right. In total, I visited over 20 trigs: Holdsworth, Para Trig (Baring Head), Kaukau, Te Tiringa (Awakeri Springs), North Climie and Climie No. 2, trigs IT B and IT A (Belmont Hills), Omanawanui (Hillary Trail), Trig Q (Blowhard Track), Rimutaka Trig, Cannon Point, Trig A (Sutton Salt Lake), AHK6, Karangahake, B9JR, A7X5: "GG", A53J: "BMM29", B1DN: "Oturere", A5CX: "F" (Seddonville), B0VJ: "Cruiskshank", A3UW: "Ohakea", A46L: "Pukemako No. 3".

At Jumbo, the ridge to Holdsworth behind January A trip around the Jumbo-Holdsworth Loop in the Tararuas Explored Wellington's new Regional Park at Baring Head A fun run and photo session along the Wellington Skyline with Heather and Viv A big day out circumnavigating Ngauruhoe Visited Te Waihou Springs Ran Latham's Track near Whakatane

Looking down to Karekare Beach   February Competed in the Belmont Rogaine with Heather Attended a 2-day "Running Wild" running camp Ran the Bedrock Ultramarathon

Approaching Ketetahi Hut from below   March Went for a run up to Ketetahi Hut on Mt Tongariro Helped mark out part of the course for the Tarawera Ultramarathon Support crew for Heather at the Tarawera Ultramarathon

WWII Bunkers at Sinclair Head April Started the month with a very pleasant late summer run up Karapoti Gorge and the start of Deadwood - enjoyed lots of wild blackberries! A short run up the Mangatepopo Valley Spent ANZAC Day exploring Wrights Hill and Sinclair Head with Heather, Richard, and Viv.

Stream crossing at the bottom of the Horokiwi Bridleway, XTERRA Belmont   May Ran the Lower Hutt Parkrun, my first 5k running race for many years Ran the XTERRA Belmont Long Course Ran my harrier Club Cross Country, improving my time for the 3rd year in a row

Simple cairn on Hardman's Ridge, Mt Tongariro   June Started the month with a trip up Tongariro, back down Hardman's Ridge. Ran the Mt Joggers Half Marathon. Ran (and walked) the Harbour Capital Marathon. Visited Rimutaka Trig with Heather.

Cannon Point Trig   July A new route (for me) over Cannon Point. Another jaunt up my new route over Cannon Point.

View across Naseby Forest   August Guest Post #1 on the Back Country Runner: Controversy. Visited Trig A at Sutton Salt Lake Clocked up my 30th ultramarathon finish at the Great Naseby Water Race.

Above the Desert Rd at Trig A7X5 with James September Visited Trig AHK6 with Heather and Brian Prescott. Completed the Marton-Wanganui Ultramarathon, becoming the first person to complete this ultramarathon ten times. Guest Post #2 on the Back Country Runner: That Costs How Much? Visited Karangahake Trig with Vicki Woolley. Travelled halfway up the North Island with James, visiting 5 trigs along the way.

Spelungula cavernicola October Guest Post #3 on the Back Country Runner: Everybody's Doing It, So Why the Hell Should I?" A very early morning wake-up to watch Felix Baumgartner skydive from the edge of space Went for a holiday on the West Coast, during which time I: Visited trig "F" (A5CX) in Seddonville Went whitebaiting Visited Kohaihai and the Oparara Caves Visited Seddonville Falls Found the remains of Trig B0VJ "Cruiskshank" with Heather

Te Maari November Together with Heather, ran with Brian Prescott on his run around Maungatautiri Trip up Tongariro to Ketetahi Hut to see the damage from the Te Maari eruption Ran 20:46 at Everyone's 5k Visited Ohakea Trig Went for a run around Te Miro MTB Park Found the remains of Trig A46L (Pukemako No.3)

December Nothing of any great significance in the outdoors.