Distance today = 46.60 km; Total distance = 1574.22 km; Location = Hamurana –  38 01.600′ S, 176 12.948′ E; Start time = 0826, Finish time = 1513

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/146048668

Firstly, in my tired state, it appears that yesterday I wrote over the top of the previous day’s blog, and forgot to change the date from Jan 29 to 30. Unfortunately, I think the blog for Jan 29 is now gone forever, but I have at least corrected the date for Jan 30.

I have also reverted to the link as you see above, as I was informed (by the very capable Jimbo) that not everyone could view the link as I had it set out. Hopefully everyone can now see all my daily run data details.

OK, so now to today’s run. I started near the famous Waiotapu Thermal Wonderland, and will hopefully have a video related to this area downloaded later. There is steam coming out of the ground in thousands of locations, with occasional boiling mud.

I had a bit of sore tendon behind my right knee today, so I experimented a bit and found that it only hurt when I was running slowly, but not when I picked up the pace a bit (or walked). A bit of a no-brainer, really. I simply increased my pace – not that it was fast; just faster than I have been running – and I had a good run as a result.

I passed through Rotorua, with a quick stop for some photos for the local newspaper, and headed off to the northern end of the lake, where I was picked up by the support vehicle in Hamurana. Tomorrow it’s on to Tauranga.

Today marked the end of the first month of my run around the world. The 1574 km covered so far is ahead of my expectations, so I will probably take it a little easier during the final week in New Zealand. Distances will be more like what I did today.

Distance today = 46.94 km; Total distance = 1621.16 km; Location = about 3 km west of Tauriko –  37 45.812′ S, 176 04.080′ E; Start time = 0857, Finish time = 1532

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/146296876

Had a very hilly day. The total ascent and descent was quite high, but it was really the steepness of some of these hills which made it a difficult day.

I made my way to Tauranga, at which point I turned left and am now heading toward my New Zealand finishing point in Auckland, by way of Hamilton. I am expecting to conclude the NZ leg within a week.

Tonight we are staying with Scott in Tauranga. He has arranged a BBQ with his cross-country team at his school. I will sign off now so I can mingle with the runners, and will update you on the evening in tomorrow’s blog.

PS Thanks to Tony (Obe) Stubbin for locating my lost blog from Jan 29 in amongst the Google ether. It pays to know people in high places.

Distance today = 52.38 km; Total distance = 1673.54 km; Location = Taotaoroa –  37 54.871′ S, 175 37.519′ E; Start time = 0904, Finish time = 1645

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/146517772

Sorry for the hiccough with the web site. Hopefully things will be back to normal from now. I published yesterday’s blog but it is only just now visible. Please read it first if you haven’t already.

Following on from the previous instalment, we had a great BBQ last night with members of the Tauranga Boys College cross country team, including some of the parents. It was great to chat and answer questions, and the hospitality was unprecedented. We then stayed the night with Scott and Kirsty, which was greatly appreciated.

This morning we then returned to the school, and I ran a few laps of the playing fields with the boys (distance not counted in my total), before some photographs with the press. It was all a very pleasant experience, and hopefully I have been able to impart a few pieces of wisdom to the boys as they start their training regime for the upcoming cross country season.

From there it was straight to the point where I stopped yesterday for today’s start. The first 20 km was all uphill to the Kaimai Pass (I kept thinking ‘Kyber Pass’, one of the great examples of rhyming slang ), where I had a great view down into the Waikato Valley.

After a hair-raising descent, it was across the valley floor to my finish point for the day on Taotaoroa Road.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s run into Hamilton, as I’ll be meeting up with Roger “Chook” Evans and members of his running club, who will be accompanying me over the final kilometres. It will be great to have some company again on the run.

Just finally, I read with amusement last year the blog of Nick Hayes and his mates.  They ran from Melbourne to Sydney, competing for the title of who could find the most coins along the way. When running highways it’s amazing how many coins one finds. Well, how about this one Nick – did you ever find a Tongan coin on the road? I guess it might be common in Tonga, but it’s a first for me.