Knocked the bastard off

It took me a year of trying, two failed attempts, countless hours out training in the hills, but I finally knocked the bastard off.

Eleven of us set off from Arataki at midnight on Friday, the 29th of June (technically, Saturday the 30th). Fifteen hours and 36 minutes later, at 3.36pm on Saturday, the 30th of June, we ran up the boat ramp at Muriwai Beach to the finish of the mighty Hillary Trail.  77.2km of the hardest trail I have ever run.

I will let the pictures tell the story:

11 of us, all smiles, about to head off at 00.00 Saturday, 30 June.

Here we are heading off up the trial into the night.  Very soon after the start we split into 2 groups - the striders (4  fast trail runners at the front) and the strollers (7 of us) following behind.

First major milestone for the strollers at Whatipu at about 4.30am.  It was freezing (about 2 degrees), and the hills had taken their toll on two of our group (Kate and Gary on the left) and they chose, wisely, to call it a day there.

And that left 5.... From the left, Chris, Felix, Tony, Vicki and me.

The section from Whatipu through to Karekare was tough (and included getting a little bit lost finding our way through the dunes from Parahaha on to Karekare Beach), but we all picked up by Mercer Bay once the sun started to rise, and thoughts of hot coffee at Piha started to dominate the thinking!

A beautiful shot of Piha taken by Jo Van Ekeren at the same time.

Close to Piha we passed the magnificent Kitekite Falls. What a sight.

Chris, Felix, Vicki and Tony just past the falls.

And here we are at the top of Glen Esk Road, 5 minutes away from the Piha Cafe!

Pies and coffee at Piha.

Chris and I about to head off on the next leg, from Piha to Bethells - the point of no return, as there's no turning back from here.  Yes, we are twins.

The start of the dreaded Kuataika Track - now renamed "MFP" Track.  You can guess what that means.  Hills, hills, and just when you've had enough hills, more hills.

MFP Track no match for Vicki.

My favourite shot of the day - Vicki and Simon Clendon hamming it up at the start of Te Henga, Bethells Beach (the sign says Large, Strong, Slippery and Unstable!).

At the start of Te Henga Walkway, looking down to Bethells.

Half way up the ridgeline to the top of Te Henga there is cell phone reception ...  Texting and running.

From the top of Te Henga, looking down to O'Neill's Bay and Bethells in the distance.

Muriwai!

Micheal Rodliffe - machine knocked it off in 10.20 - only 10 minutes off the FKT!

Tony Bus coming up to the finish.

Simon and Chris, looking fresh.

Jo and Felix - Jo brought us cookies at the end of Te Henga, and is forever in my good books.

Vicki and me at the finish.  Buggered, but trying to hide it.