I have now walked just more than half of the South Island of New Zealand on part 2 of #WalkNZ. More than 650km. Woozers! That explains why the tread on my shoes is looking a little bald and why I’m now slightly obsessed with food. The past 10 days have provided some of the best … Continue reading Days 45-55 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Clent Hills, Two Thumbs Range & Te Araroa’s highest point
#WalkNZ
Days 38-43 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Deception Track and the boyfriend’s rude introduction to Te Araroa
“So, what did you make of your first six days on the Te Araroa Trail?” I asked my boyfriend, who had newly flown in from the UK and was still suffering the after effects of jetlag. “Well, it’s not so much a trail, rather a route,” he mused. “The terrain is much wilder than I … Continue reading Days 38-43 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Deception Track and the boyfriend’s rude introduction to Te Araroa
Day 8 – 15 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Richmond Ranges
I can confirm that: Deep Heat does not deter sandflies; mice seem to have the magic skills of getting into a closed backpack to eat my peanuts; I have a selective memory of how hard the uphills are in the Richmond Ranges; five days warm up walking the Queen Charlotte Track is not sufficient for … Continue reading Day 8 – 15 of #WalkNZ part 2 – The Richmond Ranges
Day 1-5 of #WalkNZ part 2 – Queen Charlotte Track
It was cold. It was grey. Where the hell was summer? I shivered as I did some stretches before the official start of #WalkNZ part 2 began. Here I was at the top of the South Island of New Zealand, and less than a year since I was last here ready to walk the Queen … Continue reading Day 1-5 of #WalkNZ part 2 – Queen Charlotte Track
Part 2 of #WalkNZ begins
And so, part 2 of #WalkNZ is about to begin. I have just 1,000km left to walk to complete the 3,000km Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. After having to pull out 20km short of the 2,000km mark in March this year due to a knee injury, there was no question about … Continue reading Part 2 of #WalkNZ begins
Why perfection is a self-limiting belief and counter-productive for goals
Twelve. I had twelve fricken blisters. Twelve annoying, excruciatingly painful blisters; twelve little swollen mounds of encapsulated liquid intent on ruining my life. I sighed, staring at them glumly. The fact none had popped was beside the point. They were there on my feet, in places I didn’t know you could even get a blister. … Continue reading Why perfection is a self-limiting belief and counter-productive for goals
Why comparing yourself to others stops you from being awesome
I was in Taumarunui, New Zealand – Day 68 and 1,032km into #WalkNZ. I was just sitting, eating breakfast, really just minding my own business when the Dutch Te Araroa trail walker sat down next to me and proceeded to interrogate me. “How many kilometres are you walking a day?” was his first question as … Continue reading Why comparing yourself to others stops you from being awesome
Why is starting the hardest part? The secret to starting your goal or dream
Let me tell you a story... It was a two-hour drive to Cape Reinga for the start of #WalkNZ, my 3,000km solo walking adventure along the Te Araroa trail down the length of New Zealand. Dad drove. Mum sat up front. I took the backseat, staring out the window as a diverse landscape whizzed past … Continue reading Why is starting the hardest part? The secret to starting your goal or dream
Life after #WalkNZ: Return to normality
I went to the dentist on Monday. Over the weekend I went clothes shopping for the boyfriend and filled a skip with junk. I drank gin and tonics on Saturday night and the other week I voted in the European Parliament elections. You can’t get much more normal (or dull) than that. Life in South … Continue reading Life after #WalkNZ: Return to normality
10 things I learnt about self-doubt walking the Te Araroa Trail
I’d just returned to Auckland after being forced to push pause on my #WalkNZ adventure after injuring my knee at the 2,000km mark. I was catching up with friends and family and one friend asked me: “So how’s the self-doubt? Do you think you’ve conquered it now that you’ve walked 2,000km down the length of … Continue reading 10 things I learnt about self-doubt walking the Te Araroa Trail