Month: February 2012

Queenstown is one helluva city!

It’s a resort town that’s known as the Adventure Capital of the World, and “every night is Friday night” at the crazy bars. It’s absolutely gorgeous when it’s sunny… but it ain’t half bad for a rainy morning run along Lake Wakatipu, either.

Apparently fancy people like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise own homes in Queenstown. Maybe they’re amongst these mega-mansions?

The water looks so clear and clean! Too bad it’s super cold.

I’ve been running so infrequently that I can no longer knock off four miles like it ain’t no thang. I definitely had to push myself during this run!

Aaaand I either need to start running more or eating much healthier, since I’ve noticed my cheeks growing rounder. It’s so easy to grab an ice cream here, fish ‘n chips there and, oh, how about another package of dark chocolate Tim Tams? Must get some vegetables into my life ASAP.

ANYWAY, I’m in the home stretch of my time in New Zealand. On March 5, I fly to Sydney!

I hope a little more sunshine awaits in Oz…

It was warm and rainy this morning when I did this little run through downtown Nelson, New Zealand…

…and now it’s cold and rainy. Boo.

I had no clue where I was running, but at one point I ended up in a beautiful place called the Queens Garden that was filled with vibrant flowers, romantic arbors and a peaceful, duck-filled pond.

It was quite a nice place to stop, catch my breath and appreciate just where I am.

I just put up a proper blog post on Answering Oliver:

Whirlwind Weeks on NZ’s North Island

It’s tough to sit down and write amongst all the activities going on around me, but I’ve been taking it easy these past few days and managed to put this together.

Good things.

I’ve crashed for two nights at a friend’s* place in New Zealand’s capitol and, my God, did I need the break from constant bus travel, adrenaline-pumping activities and hostels swarming with twenty-somethings. I’ve been traveling now for exactly two weeks.

Wellington has helped me slow down and recharge. Its stunning waterfront also lured me out in the late afternoon for my first run in 12 days.

I wasn’t sure how far or fast I’d be able to run, but Wellington worked its magic and, together, we pulled out a good one.

It didn’t hurt that this was one of the most gorgeous runs I’ve ever done — right up there with a beachfront jog on Oahu and a jaunt along the seawall in Vancouver, B.C.

Very red face = good run.

I’m up bright and early tomorrow to catch a ferry to the South Island, where things like glacier hiking in Franz Josef and bungee jumping in Queenstown await.

My oh my.

*My friend is Nick White, an incredible runner who kicked the shit out of head & neck cancer. He ran a 21K trail race up a friggin’ mountain about six months after major surgery… while still wearing a stomach tube. He trained for it while undergoing chemo and radiation. He’s also just about the kindest, most generous guy you’ll ever meet, and I’m ridiculously proud to call him my friend.