First day of Spring

In New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, the first day of spring has no relation to the equinox.  September 1 and March 1 mark the first day of spring and autumn, respectively.  Auckland's first day of spring this year proved to be sunny and mild and the only day without rain since I arrived.  This week has been dedicated to walking (mostly)  Auckland and looking into places to live.

I have found many pockets of quiet parks and beautiful vistas.  In the midst of the city, I came upon a marae, a Maori sacred place.  I ran along the shoreline through the city center, past the Auckland Bridge and into Herne Bay.  At the base of the Auckland bridge there is a park, with a pool and some running paths: Pt Erin Park.  The marina in the photo above sits on one side of the park.  In honour of my friend, who shares the name, I ran around the outside of the park and took a picture of the sign.  (Not bad for cellphone photos!)

What I have not yet found is a place to live.  I am weighing the different aspects: commute time and method (train vs car), in town or in country, ambiance, noise, cost. These pictures are from a park in Parnell, my favored neighborhood, where I have not found a place to rent in my price range...

(I had a grand chat with an older fellow who was perched on a park bench under the branches of this beautiful tree.   Harry, the soft coated wheaton terrier, was enjoying the first of spring as well).

I drove out to Cockle Bay to look at another rental, much less money, but would require a drive to work  I would also be farther from the city center and amenities.  The single BR overlooks this vista and the beach. Serenity, beauty, and many birds serenading are the best benefits of this rental. It is small, though. Essentially one room with a porch.

I have logged miles of walking, running, some biking, some swimming.  (Tuesday morning was spent riding with a group of 30 cyclists  that meet each Tues and Thursday at 6am to do a hard ride around town before heading off to work. It poured. This did not deter them).

My work starts on Monday after which I will not be able to meet folks for morning swim, rides or runs as I will start rounding at 7:30am.  I am glad to have had this week to sleep, walk and acclimate to Auckland.  If the weather breaks this weekend, I may take the ferry to Waiheke Island and hike, oops I mean tramp.

I almost forgot!  I have promised some folks that I would keep up with posting the swim workouts...

Today's workout: I would call this the 100's...

Warm up: 100 x 4:  1st=swim, 2nd=fingertip drag, 3rd=three point drill, 4th=IM
25 Underwater, no breath
4 x 25 kick, sprint
4 x 100,  1st and 3rd swim,  2nd 100 all head up freestyle, 4th  flip just before the wall/no push off
   repeat the 4 x 100's above, but with Paddles  (ha, I don't have any yet)
4 x 25 kick, sprint
6 x 100: odds free, evens: 2nd: heads up, 4 and 6: no flip
100 backstroke
4 x 100: "110%" race pace on the 2:15.  Goal: come in < 1:30
100 IM, easy
100 swim anything but free, 100 pull, 100 kick
DRY LAND TRAINING
60 seconds of plank, 30 seconds of side-plank then switch sides
repeat
60 seconds of side-ups: 30 seconds per side (from side-plank position)
60 seconds of back kick (lay on your back, head up, small of your back on the mat, kick str legs)
60 seconds of bicycle (elbow to knee)
60 seconds of dips
60 seconds of front crawl stroke with high elbows/ elastic bands
3 x 10 push ups
60 seconds triceps with bands
60 seconds of high elbow pull only (with bands)
Cheers to spring...