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If you’re going to run a half marathon, you want to do it somewhere scenic. Daisy Sillis tackles The Bayleys Mountain to Surf Half Marathon, in one of our country’s most beautiful spots
Clockwise from far left: a picturesque day in Taranaki; taking time out at The Social Kitchen; candlelight yoga at The Yoga Space; hitting the streets with fellow runners
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RACE TIME Standing at the start line, time feels as though it’s crawling by. With two minutes remaining I take a long, deep breath to calm my nerves while stretching my calves and quads. Surrounded by fellow half-marathon runners, we watch in awe as the full
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ccording to my good friend Google, the average training time for a half marathon is three months. I arrive in Taranaki feeling anxious, nervous and very unprepared with a mere three weeks of training up my sleeve. This is my first visit to New Plymouth and while my two-day trip is packed with relaxing activities, there is a three-hour time slot dedicated to a rather strenuous activity – The Bayleys Mountain to Surf Half Marathon. After a quick hour flight from Auckland, my first stop is a short climb up Paritutu mountain to get my bearings. Taranaki is known for its epic west coast surf, botanic gardens, cultural events and the mighty Mount Taranaki – which today is unfortunately hidden behind
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low cloud and fog. The climb up Paritutu isn’t for the faint-hearted but once I’m standing at the lookout, with roaring surf to my left and green pastures to my right, the view is magnificent.
RELAXING THE NIGHT BEFORE Yin is a slow-paced style of yoga where poses are held for up to five minutes, which helps promote circulation and improve limb flexibility. This is exactly what I need before my run. I find The Yoga Space studio behind a cupboardlike door down a hidden alleyway off the main road. It takes my eyes a few moments to adjust to the dark yoga studio, which is lit in small pockets by flickering candlelight. An hour of
calming yoga in this tranquil setting has set me up perfectly for my run.
FUELLING UP My pre-run dinner is at The Social Kitchen, a new cosy bistro on Powerham St. In order to fill my quota of protein and carbohydrates, I order the free range chicken and house-made flat bread plus sides of green veggies. Taranaki has become home to trendy new coffee bars including Ozone, an artisan coffee roaster that supplies beans to local cafes and specialty stores both locally and abroad. Elixir is another must-visit when in Taranaki. This quirky café has a menu bursting with healthy food that doesn’t compromise on flavour and, like most of the region’s cafes and restaurants, uses locally
marathon participants (who are now halfway through) effortlessly jog their way past us. The Bayleys Mountain to Surf Marathon route starts at the Egmont National Park, 460 metres above sea level. For the half marathon runners, the route starts at Inglewood and ends at the Marine Park, Waitara. Once the signal is given, the majority of us half marathon runners are herded like cattle while the faster participants
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