The Family McMahon - New Zealand Branch

 
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Saturday, December 31, 2011

 Ringing out 2011....

Today is 31st December 2011, for most of us a year of hanging on for the ride. We've made it to the end in good physical and financial health. Our children are well launched on their respective careers and both of us are fully engaged with work and business activities.

Normally we are on holiday at this time but have opted to stay in Wellington this year with plans to travel to several different locations in 2012.

31 dec 11 @ 6:01 pm          Comments
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 Ninety years young!

In 2010 our mother celebrated her 90th birthday. We assembled in Perth, Western Australia from all around the world to celebrate the arc of history that she and our father have lived through and played a part in through their lives.

Katherine Elizabeth Mooney was born in Calcutta, India in 1920. Her parents decided to move to Australia just prior to the onset of the great depression. Our parents met after the second world war, married and raised a family on a farm in South Western Australia.

90thbirthdaygathering.jpg

The photo shows our parents and all six children all together for the first time since 1992.

Offroad running

Over the past decade I have found long distance running provides the perfect exercise. You can do it just about anywhere and any time, at your choice of pace and level of exertion. After five marathons (including London and New York) I found road running was becoming a bore. Furthermore it led to increased injuries due to the sameness of surface and repetitive action of feet, ankles, knees and hips.

Enter off roading. From a tentative start I have found off road running a natural transition from road running, with every step different and a whole new level of fitness being required. Initiatially I was less than enthusiastic about running up hills. However, over the past six months I have gained the fitness necessary to take on any hill, mountain or peak without fear.

The past year has been a good one as far as off road events in New Zealand are concerned. I have participated in The Goat (Whakapapa to Turoa); Tussock Traverse (Tokino to Chateau); Abel Tasman Classic from Awaroa to ... and the best one of all, the Kepler Challenge.

This is a 60Km offroader that is held annually in the first week of December, with approximately 400 participants. Whereas the winner generally breezes home in around five hours, I was much more stately, finishing in 10 hours 43. I wan't last but if I did it again I'd want to keep my time under 8 hours 30 minutes.