Taupo Family Holiday and a Marathon
April 2012, by Tom
A number of firsts. First road trip with Olive. First holiday with Olive. First marathon for Tom. First time sleeping in a big baby cot for Olive. First time changing an explosive poo nappy in the boot of someone else's car for Gini!
Many months ago, Andy and I decided it was high time we did a marathon. We set our sights on the Rotorua Marathon, hoping to give us enough training time, and also hopefully give Gini and I enough time to come to grips with being parents!
With the easy part sussed - being parents (hah!) - it was the training that was a little neglected. Due to reoccurring shin splints, I took it easy in the month or so leading up to Rotorua to make sure my shins were in tip top condition for the starting line. Gini and I did lots of walking, mind you, as Lyon needs the exercise and a buggy ride is a sure-fire-way of getting Olive to have a snooze (at least it used to be).
We decided to make a holiday out of the trip to Rotorua and stay at the Peck Taupo house for the week leading up to the big day.
The first challenge - packing everything into the Pitz! With the buggy in the boot, there was no room for Lyon, so he had to ride shotgun, with bags of stuff at his feet. The girls were in the back and the boot was jam packed - only just squeezing closed. About time we bought some new wheels we've decided.
We managed it, however, and hit the road, hoping to make as many K's as possible before the hungry baby forced a pit stop. We made pretty good time, but had to stop and feed twice on the way to Taupo, increasing the journey time by 2 hours. Still, we were there, the sun was shining, and we could finally relax. We all slept well the first night after a relaxing dip in the spa bath.
The following day, the sun was still shining, so we walked along the waterfront and into town for a juice and a wander through the rose garden. Lovely weather. Unfortunately Olive decided she didn't want to sleep on the return journey, and cried and cried until we decided to carry her, sitting upright, for the rest of the walk home - she then fell asleep. We still can't work out her odd sleeping patterns, but one thing is for sure, she never complains when she's sitting upright.
Andy, Nicky and their little fellah Ben joined us on the Wednesday. Andy and I forced a carbo loaded pasta on the girls before we broke out a new board game "7 Wonders". After trying our best to understand the rules to the game, we watched a 30 minute YouTube how-to-play video which was brilliant. With the rules now sussed, we managed a couple of games before bed.
Nige, Lana and little Anthony joined us on Thursday for more pasta carbs and more 7 Wonders players! Olive got to join Anthony in the spa bath for a swim before everyone retired to their rooms. It was a full house, with three in each bedroom and Lyon in the lounge.
Friday was Lyons big day. 1 year old today!! We celebrated with a tasty cupcake treat and a few games of fetch on the lawn. Such a lucky boy. For dinner we had - guess what - pasta! This time it was a tasty lasagne made by Nige. With Saturday being the big running day, we all took to our beds pretty early to try and grab some very nervous Z's.
By 6am, both Andy and I were up and getting ready for the final feed before the drive to Rotorua - porridge with honey. With full bellies, nervous bodies, and enough powerade to drown in, we took to the road, Rotorua bound. We found the race start without a hitch and prepared for the impending pain ... We didn't realise, however, that it would be so substantial! What we failed to realise was that the Rotorua marathon had a number of nasty hills. This made it pretty much impossible to keep going at the pace we had set out at and hoped to finish with. At the 21k mark, the 3hrs 30min balloon sailed passed us, shortly after, Andy drooped a little and tried to encourage me to keep it up without him. The final 7k was a mixture of walking and shuffling while being overtaken by the 3hrs 45min balloon bearer. I managed to finish the race in 3hrs 51mins. Andy came in 10 minutes later at 4hrs 1min.
All in all, a pretty good effort, but one we hope to beat next year when we do the trip all over again!!
While I was running the marathon, the girls, babies and Nige came a little later, and stopped in at a cafe for some brunch while watching our progress on the iPhone to make sure they didn't miss our finish. As per usual, Olive decided it was the time to release the poo she'd been saving up for the past day or so. It went everywhere, and a full change of clothes was needed. Unfortunately it was at this moment that the rain had started, and so Gini had to change her clothes in the boot of Andy and Nicky's car while a worried Ben sat and wondered what all the crying was about!
That evening Dan and Kat joined us in celebrating our efforts with a fiery hot curry feast and a beer or two for tea before slumping into an exhaustion fuelled coma.
Sunday morning saw the departure of Nige, Lana and Anthony, followed shortly after by Andy, Nicky and Ben. We were on our own again for one final night before we packed up, and squeezed into Pitz for a near perfect, one stop drive back home.
Although holidays are no longer what they used to be, we had a great time, and hope to do it again soon!
T
Many months ago, Andy and I decided it was high time we did a marathon. We set our sights on the Rotorua Marathon, hoping to give us enough training time, and also hopefully give Gini and I enough time to come to grips with being parents!
With the easy part sussed - being parents (hah!) - it was the training that was a little neglected. Due to reoccurring shin splints, I took it easy in the month or so leading up to Rotorua to make sure my shins were in tip top condition for the starting line. Gini and I did lots of walking, mind you, as Lyon needs the exercise and a buggy ride is a sure-fire-way of getting Olive to have a snooze (at least it used to be).
We decided to make a holiday out of the trip to Rotorua and stay at the Peck Taupo house for the week leading up to the big day.
The first challenge - packing everything into the Pitz! With the buggy in the boot, there was no room for Lyon, so he had to ride shotgun, with bags of stuff at his feet. The girls were in the back and the boot was jam packed - only just squeezing closed. About time we bought some new wheels we've decided.
We managed it, however, and hit the road, hoping to make as many K's as possible before the hungry baby forced a pit stop. We made pretty good time, but had to stop and feed twice on the way to Taupo, increasing the journey time by 2 hours. Still, we were there, the sun was shining, and we could finally relax. We all slept well the first night after a relaxing dip in the spa bath.
The following day, the sun was still shining, so we walked along the waterfront and into town for a juice and a wander through the rose garden. Lovely weather. Unfortunately Olive decided she didn't want to sleep on the return journey, and cried and cried until we decided to carry her, sitting upright, for the rest of the walk home - she then fell asleep. We still can't work out her odd sleeping patterns, but one thing is for sure, she never complains when she's sitting upright.
Andy, Nicky and their little fellah Ben joined us on the Wednesday. Andy and I forced a carbo loaded pasta on the girls before we broke out a new board game "7 Wonders". After trying our best to understand the rules to the game, we watched a 30 minute YouTube how-to-play video which was brilliant. With the rules now sussed, we managed a couple of games before bed.
Nige, Lana and little Anthony joined us on Thursday for more pasta carbs and more 7 Wonders players! Olive got to join Anthony in the spa bath for a swim before everyone retired to their rooms. It was a full house, with three in each bedroom and Lyon in the lounge.
Friday was Lyons big day. 1 year old today!! We celebrated with a tasty cupcake treat and a few games of fetch on the lawn. Such a lucky boy. For dinner we had - guess what - pasta! This time it was a tasty lasagne made by Nige. With Saturday being the big running day, we all took to our beds pretty early to try and grab some very nervous Z's.
By 6am, both Andy and I were up and getting ready for the final feed before the drive to Rotorua - porridge with honey. With full bellies, nervous bodies, and enough powerade to drown in, we took to the road, Rotorua bound. We found the race start without a hitch and prepared for the impending pain ... We didn't realise, however, that it would be so substantial! What we failed to realise was that the Rotorua marathon had a number of nasty hills. This made it pretty much impossible to keep going at the pace we had set out at and hoped to finish with. At the 21k mark, the 3hrs 30min balloon sailed passed us, shortly after, Andy drooped a little and tried to encourage me to keep it up without him. The final 7k was a mixture of walking and shuffling while being overtaken by the 3hrs 45min balloon bearer. I managed to finish the race in 3hrs 51mins. Andy came in 10 minutes later at 4hrs 1min.
All in all, a pretty good effort, but one we hope to beat next year when we do the trip all over again!!
While I was running the marathon, the girls, babies and Nige came a little later, and stopped in at a cafe for some brunch while watching our progress on the iPhone to make sure they didn't miss our finish. As per usual, Olive decided it was the time to release the poo she'd been saving up for the past day or so. It went everywhere, and a full change of clothes was needed. Unfortunately it was at this moment that the rain had started, and so Gini had to change her clothes in the boot of Andy and Nicky's car while a worried Ben sat and wondered what all the crying was about!
That evening Dan and Kat joined us in celebrating our efforts with a fiery hot curry feast and a beer or two for tea before slumping into an exhaustion fuelled coma.
Sunday morning saw the departure of Nige, Lana and Anthony, followed shortly after by Andy, Nicky and Ben. We were on our own again for one final night before we packed up, and squeezed into Pitz for a near perfect, one stop drive back home.
Although holidays are no longer what they used to be, we had a great time, and hope to do it again soon!
T
Lyon checks that the girls are doing ok.
Don't leave me!
Even Olive joined us for the fun
and with Andy and Nicky
Olive's first bath with a boy! Don't get boy germs!
Olive a little unsure about her head scarf
