Land of the Kiwis A runner in New Zealand

Partners in Crime

At this point, allow me to introduce my Flatmates:

Alex "Awall" Wallace (who, luckily, answers to "Wallace" as I can think of no better name) - He's a lithe fellow with striking cheekbones and a regally pointed nose. His gaming face (an emotionless glare that misses nothing and flinches for no-one) gives away the intensity of his competitive spirit. Known for ruthlessly gutting his competitors in conversation, he has been judiciously backing up his trash talking with recent PBs (PRs) of 4:08 in the mile and 8:20 in the 3k.

Josh Van Dalen - Lucky enough to have the second manliest name I've come across (though still far behind "Mack Brickly"), he looks the part with the makings of a promising goatee, rugged legs (shaving is all too common a practice here), and a commanding (heh) voice. Never one to hold back, you'll be lucky to get a word in listening to the banter back and forth with Wallace. Generally, there are lots of references to "smashing" people and "gutting" performances of the past. Coming off a 4:16 mile this weekend, he's about to bust into the sharpening phase of his training. He also suffers as our under-appreciated flat-chef.

Post-XC Race

Stefan "Fano" Smith - Pretty boy XC warrior who found himself not only the winner of FloTrack's weekly photo challenge but top choice for the whole 3 month contest! Unfortunately, you only see him from his left side, which I'm sure is the only reason he didn't land on the cover of SI. Instigator of many a debate, you'll likely find Stefan pouring through LetsRun, FloTrack, NZRun, and Facebook, ruthlessly pillaging any running result he comes across. He's attacking the longer races this year and is hoping to make the NZ world XC team. His gutsy 5th place finish today at the trials puts him in a good spot.

Jesse "Fish Lips" Patel - Loves us so much he's willing to spend $60 a week getting in and out of Wellington (though he is known to cut down on that cost by sharing a bed with Josh on occasion). Sparing no effort or expense, I think he best represents the saying "for love of the game". His performances of late on track and on our gaming systems have been average at best but his attitude is so happy-go-lucky you can't help but get behind him. Quite inspiring.

That's the who's who of the flat. I realized about 24 hours into my stay here I'd found something special. I've told a lot of people I'm having a great time here with a good bunch of people but that would be understating it a bit. Not only do I have an excellent location (living across the street from NZ's parliament (and well-manicured lawn), a block from downtown (Lambton Quay), within 2 miles of a great pool/gym, and 3 miles from the track), but I'm also in an ideal material setup (great showerhead/water-pressure, unlimited cable internet, awesome room/desk, excellent appliances (including valuable dishwasher), and of course big-screen TV with extensive gaming equipment).

However, what really makes this situation special, is that I'm in a runner-centric little niche. We all have the same priorities and enjoy (roughly) the same trivia and conversation topics. We all understand the importance of just resting with the day's focus being the workout. I love that these guys rip on people so freely, with little lasting regard for personal insult (This is a key point). It's all in good fun and when it comes down to it, it's clear that everyone in NZ supports each other's progression in the sport. Just like with brothers, you're gutted if you lose to them but that's quickly overcome by the love of seeing them do well. I also personally enjoy the fact that they don't care if I just get up and hunker down in my room for an hour or two , then come back and blend right back in.

Well, I think I need to write a bit more on this personal column. I'll give a big running/training update soon (Disclaimer: "soon" is a relative word).