What we’re about
Welcome, running and walking lovers! We're a club hosting loads of both. We meet weekly at Kilbirnie's ASB Centre on Sunday mornings and traipse across all of Wellington. Check out its event page for vastly more info.
The club is fun, it's social, it's chatty, we cater for all speeds, all distances, all ages, and all temperaments.
Website: http://wellyrunwalk.org.nz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellyrunwalk
Strava: https://www.strava.com/clubs/wellyrunwalk
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Bus Trip: Aotea 22 Sept 2024Akau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington
Hi All
Here are the suggested routes and maps for the Runners and Walkers for our Bus Trip to Aotea on September 22. Should be enjoyable for all.
The routes are scenic and on well-formed tracks.
Runners will get dropped off first on Whitford Brown Avenue in Aotea just past the Supermarket (Bus Stop #2702). Bus will then continue on as Whitford Brown Avenue becomes Warspite Avenue and drop the Walkers and Slower Running Group off on Warspite Avenue at Driver Crescent which is near 118 Warspite Avenue (Bus Stop #2156). The Bus will then head to Aotea Lagoon where the Runners and Walkers will finish up. I suggest the Bus waits at Bus Stop #2596 in front of the Police College or somewhere nearby. There are toilets at Aotea Lagoon.
We would then finish up in Porirua at either the Peppermill Café in Norrie Street or Café Kaizen by the Library or a combination of both as both are relatively close together before returning to the city.Runners
Dales Reserve, Bothamley Park, Cannons Creek Lakes, Thompson Gully, Aotea, Papakowhai Walkways finishing at Aotea Lagoon (Approx. 14 km). Here's the route.- Runners will get dropped off on Whitford Brown Avenue just past the Supermarket (Bus Stop #2702).
- Head down Able Gen, through the Dales Reserve, through Bothamley Park and exit onto Warspite Avenue.
- Take the Waihora Loop track which is steady uphill to the ridge above and Mara Roa Track to the Cannons Creek Lakes.
- Go down Mungavin Avenue and through the Thompson Gully Reserve and re-enter Bothamley Park and take the trail up to Aotea.
- Through Aotea and beside the Supermarket take the trail down to Eskdale Road in Papakowhai, turning left into Glengavel Grove and follow the Papakowhai Walkways through to the Papakowhai Reserve and onto Papakowhai Road.
- Head south along Papakowhai Road until you come to Aotea Lagoon.
- Take the northern entrance to the Lagoon and run around the lagoon enjoying the picturesque venue and exit at the main gate on Papakowhai Road where the Bus will be waiting.
Walkers
Bothamley Park, Dales Reserve including Fairy Walk, Papakowhai finishing at Aotea Lagoon (Approx. 5 km). Here's the route.- Walkers will get dropped off on Warspite Avenue near Driver Crescent (Bus Stop #2156) which is opposite the entrance to Bothamley Park.
- Walkers will cross the road and enter Bothamley Park following the trail, veer left at the first intersection and follow the trail which is gently uphill to the Fairy Walk and Dales Reserve.
- At the end of the trail at Dales Reserve cross the road and walk up Abel Glen, through the alleyway crossing Whitford Brown Avenue at the Countdown Supermarket.
- Turn right and then left by the entrance to the supermarket carpark and take the path to Eskdale Road (do not go up the Conclusion Walkway).
- Go down Eskdale Road in Papakowhai, turning left into Halladale Road and then right into Dornoch Place.
- At the very end of the cul-de-sac on the right (near #16) take the pathway that leads to Tweed Road. Follow the sealed pathway down and take the turnoff on the right down the zigzag boardwalk to Tweed Road.
- On Tweed Road turn right heading north and turn left and go down Romesdale Road to Papakowhai Road.
- Turn left and head south along Papakowhai Road until you come to Aotea Lagoon.
- Take the northern entrance to the Lagoon and walk around the lagoon enjoying the picturesque venue and exit at the main gate on Papakowhai Road where the Bus will be waiting.
The Fairy Walk in Dales Reserve is an extensive display of themed rocks which is highly recommended. I suggest not rushing through this area.
Slower Running Group
- (if required) Can follow the Walkers route and perhaps upon reaching the Aotea Lagoon,
- continue on through to Gear Homestead and run the loop there before returning to the Aotea Lagoon.
- To get to Gear Homestead, cross Whitford Brown Avenue, turn right into Okowai Road and the Gear Homestead is nearby.
This will be another new area to enjoy for most of the group. Runners and Walkers would cover trails in Aotea, Cannons Creek, Papakowhai and Bothamley Park culminating in everyone finishing up at the Aotea Lagoon.
The Cafe could perhaps be Peppermill or Cafe Kaizen by the Library or a combination of both.Cheers,
Mark Growcott - Weekly Sunday pack run/walk/schmooze/chat/mosey/catchup/get-even-fitterAkau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington
TL;DR: Sundays 8am; a variety of running and walking groups from Kilbirnie's ASB Centre, from 30min walks to 2hr+ runs. Take your pick.
Context: Each Sunday we meet at the ASB Centre at 8am: saunter in through the front entrance; up the huge set of stairs right in front of you; then it's the first meeting room on the left.
Once arrived: unsure who to say hi to? Look out for me :) I'm the tall ginger dude.
We rent the meeting room between 8am and 11:30am every week, so you can bring and securely deposit your bags, packs, other personal effects, even the occasional gorilla if you charm the Centre's staff well enough.
We've got several walking and running packs: the exact number jumps all over the place depending on numbers: attendance is all over the place, depending on each person's mood, season, the tranquility and/or horridness of the weather, rain, heat, chocolate levels, all kinds of things. In practice, we typically have 1-3 walking packs and 1-3 running packs, segregated by fitness and/or enthusiasm and/or sadism.
Exercise routes, distances and times? Random each week! From week to week, we might bounce across Miramar Peninsula; next, squiggle down past Houghton Bay, Island Bay, Owhiro Bay; the week after, jump over Mt. Vic, past Parliament and into Karori; anywhere and everywhere. The fastest running pack often trains for full-length marathons (42km), and occasionally jogs all the way to Petone and back.
Here's a sampling of recent routes:
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7256140343
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7218837073
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7181540429
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7143600395
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6778869759
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6743130855
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6708491327
Speaking of Strava, we've created a corresponding weekly Strava weekly event page: https://www.strava.com/clubs/576244/group_events/1188552?new=true Do join that too if you use Strava.
Concerned you might not yet have the fitness to keep pace? It's all good, don't be put off by all this talk of marathons, that kind of training is strictly opt-in. Most members simply pop along for fun and enjoyment. For walkers: if you can walk around the block, us walkers would love to have you along. For runners: if you can jog 3km without asphyxiating, us runners would love to have you along.
Additionally, each pack also houses ginormous variations in fitness. It's completely typical for individual members to announce that, today, they can only jog for half an hour before branching off solo and back to your place. All good. If that's you, do chat to your pack leader first, and they'll happily adapt today's route to pass closer to your house or other exit.
Our walking and running packs typically pinball about greater Wellington for anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours, before returning to the ASB Centre. We have bikkies and drinks prepared and ready for returning members zonked and triumphant after once again dealing the morning merry hell. The Centre itself has a gazillion top-notch showers and changing rooms, free for Runners-and-Walkers use.
Finally, once showered and resplendent and glistening, some of us love to pop along to a nearby cafe for a late breakfast/brunch/whatever-the-cool-kids-call-it-these-days. This is not, strictly speaking, an official part of the Runners-and-Walkers morning's itinerary ... but what the hell, we'd still love to have you along. Our traditional port of call has been Kilbirnie's Skipping Stone, but its proprietress has throttled back its opening hours and workload due to pregnancy. Sundays closed. Fair play to her, so a gang of us instead traipse to Centennial Cafe, over in Rongotai. Fab place. Fat has been burned and muscles now strain and tummies now rumble, so order up a feast and get stuck in, yumyumyum. Same time next week!
- Weekly Sunday pack run/walk/schmooze/chat/mosey/catchup/get-even-fitterAkau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington
TL;DR: Sundays 8am; a variety of running and walking groups from Kilbirnie's ASB Centre, from 30min walks to 2hr+ runs. Take your pick.
Context: Each Sunday we meet at the ASB Centre at 8am: saunter in through the front entrance; up the huge set of stairs right in front of you; then it's the first meeting room on the left.
Once arrived: unsure who to say hi to? Look out for me :) I'm the tall ginger dude.
We rent the meeting room between 8am and 11:30am every week, so you can bring and securely deposit your bags, packs, other personal effects, even the occasional gorilla if you charm the Centre's staff well enough.
We've got several walking and running packs: the exact number jumps all over the place depending on numbers: attendance is all over the place, depending on each person's mood, season, the tranquility and/or horridness of the weather, rain, heat, chocolate levels, all kinds of things. In practice, we typically have 1-3 walking packs and 1-3 running packs, segregated by fitness and/or enthusiasm and/or sadism.
Exercise routes, distances and times? Random each week! From week to week, we might bounce across Miramar Peninsula; next, squiggle down past Houghton Bay, Island Bay, Owhiro Bay; the week after, jump over Mt. Vic, past Parliament and into Karori; anywhere and everywhere. The fastest running pack often trains for full-length marathons (42km), and occasionally jogs all the way to Petone and back.
Here's a sampling of recent routes:
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7256140343
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7218837073
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7181540429
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7143600395
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6778869759
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6743130855
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6708491327
Speaking of Strava, we've created a corresponding weekly Strava weekly event page: https://www.strava.com/clubs/576244/group_events/1188552?new=true Do join that too if you use Strava.
Concerned you might not yet have the fitness to keep pace? It's all good, don't be put off by all this talk of marathons, that kind of training is strictly opt-in. Most members simply pop along for fun and enjoyment. For walkers: if you can walk around the block, us walkers would love to have you along. For runners: if you can jog 3km without asphyxiating, us runners would love to have you along.
Additionally, each pack also houses ginormous variations in fitness. It's completely typical for individual members to announce that, today, they can only jog for half an hour before branching off solo and back to your place. All good. If that's you, do chat to your pack leader first, and they'll happily adapt today's route to pass closer to your house or other exit.
Our walking and running packs typically pinball about greater Wellington for anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours, before returning to the ASB Centre. We have bikkies and drinks prepared and ready for returning members zonked and triumphant after once again dealing the morning merry hell. The Centre itself has a gazillion top-notch showers and changing rooms, free for Runners-and-Walkers use.
Finally, once showered and resplendent and glistening, some of us love to pop along to a nearby cafe for a late breakfast/brunch/whatever-the-cool-kids-call-it-these-days. This is not, strictly speaking, an official part of the Runners-and-Walkers morning's itinerary ... but what the hell, we'd still love to have you along. Our traditional port of call has been Kilbirnie's Skipping Stone, but its proprietress has throttled back its opening hours and workload due to pregnancy. Sundays closed. Fair play to her, so a gang of us instead traipse to Centennial Cafe, over in Rongotai. Fab place. Fat has been burned and muscles now strain and tummies now rumble, so order up a feast and get stuck in, yumyumyum. Same time next week!
- Weekly Sunday pack run/walk/schmooze/chat/mosey/catchup/get-even-fitterAkau Tangi Sports Centre, Wellington
TL;DR: Sundays 8am; a variety of running and walking groups from Kilbirnie's ASB Centre, from 30min walks to 2hr+ runs. Take your pick.
Context: Each Sunday we meet at the ASB Centre at 8am: saunter in through the front entrance; up the huge set of stairs right in front of you; then it's the first meeting room on the left.
Once arrived: unsure who to say hi to? Look out for me :) I'm the tall ginger dude.
We rent the meeting room between 8am and 11:30am every week, so you can bring and securely deposit your bags, packs, other personal effects, even the occasional gorilla if you charm the Centre's staff well enough.
We've got several walking and running packs: the exact number jumps all over the place depending on numbers: attendance is all over the place, depending on each person's mood, season, the tranquility and/or horridness of the weather, rain, heat, chocolate levels, all kinds of things. In practice, we typically have 1-3 walking packs and 1-3 running packs, segregated by fitness and/or enthusiasm and/or sadism.
Exercise routes, distances and times? Random each week! From week to week, we might bounce across Miramar Peninsula; next, squiggle down past Houghton Bay, Island Bay, Owhiro Bay; the week after, jump over Mt. Vic, past Parliament and into Karori; anywhere and everywhere. The fastest running pack often trains for full-length marathons (42km), and occasionally jogs all the way to Petone and back.
Here's a sampling of recent routes:
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7256140343
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7218837073
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7181540429
- https://www.strava.com/activities/7143600395
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6778869759
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6743130855
- https://www.strava.com/activities/6708491327
Speaking of Strava, we've created a corresponding weekly Strava weekly event page: https://www.strava.com/clubs/576244/group_events/1188552?new=true Do join that too if you use Strava.
Concerned you might not yet have the fitness to keep pace? It's all good, don't be put off by all this talk of marathons, that kind of training is strictly opt-in. Most members simply pop along for fun and enjoyment. For walkers: if you can walk around the block, us walkers would love to have you along. For runners: if you can jog 3km without asphyxiating, us runners would love to have you along.
Additionally, each pack also houses ginormous variations in fitness. It's completely typical for individual members to announce that, today, they can only jog for half an hour before branching off solo and back to your place. All good. If that's you, do chat to your pack leader first, and they'll happily adapt today's route to pass closer to your house or other exit.
Our walking and running packs typically pinball about greater Wellington for anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours, before returning to the ASB Centre. We have bikkies and drinks prepared and ready for returning members zonked and triumphant after once again dealing the morning merry hell. The Centre itself has a gazillion top-notch showers and changing rooms, free for Runners-and-Walkers use.
Finally, once showered and resplendent and glistening, some of us love to pop along to a nearby cafe for a late breakfast/brunch/whatever-the-cool-kids-call-it-these-days. This is not, strictly speaking, an official part of the Runners-and-Walkers morning's itinerary ... but what the hell, we'd still love to have you along. Our traditional port of call has been Kilbirnie's Skipping Stone, but its proprietress has throttled back its opening hours and workload due to pregnancy. Sundays closed. Fair play to her, so a gang of us instead traipse to Centennial Cafe, over in Rongotai. Fab place. Fat has been burned and muscles now strain and tummies now rumble, so order up a feast and get stuck in, yumyumyum. Same time next week!
