Big attractions for jogging tourists

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 13

Big attractions for jogging tourists

I RUNNERS’ DIARY

By

John Drew

"The fame of Christchurch as a beautiful city to run in may spread in several districts of . California as well as to Alaska and as far south as Florida because of the successful visit of a group of Ameri-

can runners to Canterbury at the week-end.

According to their leader, a college teacher and athletics coach, Merv Smith, Christchurch has the most beautiful facilities for running of any area he had been to in the world. “For runners, Christchurch has everything,” said Mr Smith. “Beautiful beach running, hill training handy to the city, plantations, winding harbour bays, great scenery, well kept parks and the best sports stadium I have seen anywhere.” “And, of course, a temperate climate so you can train all the year round,” he added. He should know because, like most members of the group, he sampled almost everything the city has to offer in the way of running during the three day visit. Hagley Park, he said,.had the most beautiful facilities for recreational running of any park he had seen. “Summing it up, I think its the beauty of the city, the lovely suburban gardens and the friendliness and hospitality

of the runners we have met here, besides the places to run in, which has impressed us all. “One of the first things I want to do when we get back home is to .organise club arid inter-club runs like you have in Christchurch. We have nothing like that,” he said.

The decision to do a running tour in New Zealand came as the result of a chat over a glass of wine between the athletics coach, Arthur Lydiard, and Merv Smith at a highaltitude Californian running camp at Bear Valley, a short drive inland from San Francisco.

Lydiard is annually an invited guest coach at the camp. which attracts runners of all varieties from many parts of the United States. This accounts for the cross-section of the American community which went to make up the visiting party to Christchurch. All attended the Bear Valley camp. The party included some fit and well performed runners in several age

groups. They ranged from one of the top American schoolboy athletes, Brian Carroll, who has a mile time of 4min 20sec and. a two mile time of 9min 40sec, to Bob Gallagher who is retired and recently ran his first 26.2-mile marathon at Honolulu at the age of 60. The group included university and high school teachers, a banker, physical education specialists, wrestling and tennis( coaches, a former airline pilot, real estate agents, hotel employees, space shuttle scientists, a draughtsman, students and running couples ranging from about 30 to 55. There were half a dozen single women in the party.

From the far north came Wendy Parrott, aged 20, of Alaska, who majored in Phys Ed and is a specialist instructor in skiing and swimming.

At short notice — sometimes less than half an hour — Christchurch club runners rallied to show the visitors the city’s running sights. Bruce McGregor, of the New

Brighton club, took a big party running with the New Brighton club, including a substantial low tide beach run.

The Bumside joggers extensively entertained and billeted the visitors and took them on scenic runs including visits to the Deans estate at Riccarton and several of the beautiful running spots in the Ham area.

A large party visited Q.E. II Park stadium.

Don Cameron, who was convener of. the groups who entertained and billeted the visitors, took them for a run on Cashmere hills the day of their arrival — Good Friday. George Stowell and Alex Smith, also of the New Brighton Club, took a large party for a run in the Arthur’s Pass area. They inspected the alpine gardens and made the steep track run to the Punchbowl followed by a Chalet meal at Arthur’s Pass.

Mr Smith said that Canterbury had not scratched the surface of the possibilities for tourism by groups of runners from the United States. About 30M — or about one in eight of the population of 220 M — are runners and they were mostly good spenders on running tours.

“I was told Canterbury is the running centre of New Zealand. Now I know it is,” said Mr Smith. He has plans to bring as many as 1000 visiting runners to Christchurch at the time of the World Veteran Games in January next year. Several of the visitors said the best way to see Christchurch was by leisurely running. The run through Mona Vale had a special appeal for them. The last sight-seeing run of the visit was through the inner city area. -’’ After a leisurely brief run through the grounds of Christ's College the party visited the . old university buildings, and the Provincial Council Chambers.

Later that evening there was a farewell gathering

for the visitor? at the Avon Motor Lodge. The manager, Eric Hunter, is a runner who represented Canterbury at the national marathon championships last month. The party left Christchurch early on Monday morning for a three-day running tour at Rotorua. From there they will return to Auckland on their way back to the United States.

You have 26 days to go before the big annual “The Press Park-to-Park” fun run on May 4. Walkers may feel inclined to extend their training this week with a walk on an alternate shortlong basis so that their outings will accumulate to about 100 minutes for the week.

Runners can try this schedule for the coming week:—

Day one, run or walk and run 25min.; day two, walk briskly 30min.; day three, run or walk and run 25min.; day four, walk briskly for 30min.; day five, run or walk and run 50min.; day six, walk or rest; day seven, walk or rest.

Keep reminding yourself that if you can’t run for an hour you are going too fast for your capability.