Auckland Marathon

Ever since friend Marlene and I did the 5km walk part of a fun run and walk round Epsom last year I have been on the look-out for a similar walk , and lo and behold with the Auckland Marathon's 5km walk segment starting up the hill and down the other side at Pt Erin this was the occasion I was waiting for. This time friends Sue and Pam joined in too and we were part of Len's Team, a Heart Foundation team of walkers from cardiac clubs and similar groups to our YMCA Never 2 Old Programme, that Sue and I belong to. ( Len being, Len Brown, mayor of Auckland) It was a beautiful day and great to walk the 5km under the bridge, round Westhaven to the Wynyard Quarter and across to Victoria Park where the race ended - and the picnic began. We joined some of the others at the Heart Foundation tent for a healthy gourmet lunch of venison stirfry with hummus, salad greens, nuts and parsley served in pita pockets. I have not tasted such deliciously tender meat for a long time and hope to try and replicate it some time myself. For the record Pamela and Susan were placed 236th and 237th in 1:02:03 and Marlene and I, 240th and 241st in 1:02:12. Len got 318th There were 333 entries in this event.