Girl on an Adventure column 1

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Girl on an Adventure column 1 – published in Good Magazine

By Rachel Grunwell

There’s a saying I love: Challenge yourself; Change yourself.

So in essence, by tackling scary adventures outside of your comfort zone, you can boost personal growth.

That’s my excuse for signing up for Le Race – an 100km bike ride from Christchurch to Akaroa on March 25, 2017. I was scared silly about the idea. So, of course I immediately signed myself up.I signed up a training buddy too, TV3 presenter Mike McRoberts. I figured if I trained with Mike then no one would notice how terrible I am at this sport. All eyes would be on him. Oh, and he’s also a great training buddy and top bloke, of course.

After signing up, he pointed out a small detail. “Er, neither of us have bikes Rach”. Small detail though, right?

Thankfully Mt Eden Cycles shop owner, Mark Taylor, (pictured above) came to the rescue with some loan wheels for us two crazy journalists who love scaring ourselves stupid (over things we know nothing about). Mark “fitted” me to a bike recently, which made me laugh. Here was I thinking you only get fitted for things like wedding dresses.

Rachel’s gear: Top and padded bike shorts, shoes courtesy of Specialized and a helmet courtesy of Mt Eden Cycles shop. 

 

It turns out road bikes come in nine sizes. I just told him to find me a midget-sized bike and I’d be right. But there was no getting away with that. He explains why it’s important to get the fit right. “Otherwise it could be a bit sketchy when you’re going fast down hills.” After that comment there was no further arguing from me. I prefer to keep the skin on my elbows and knees. So, he fit my midget frame to the bike frame, adjusted the seat and handlebars and then asked me to choose a colour preference in cycling helmet.

“Why bother,” I asked. “No one looks good with helmet hair anyway”. He agreed, but still asked me to please choose a colour.

“Challenge yourself; Change yourself”

I refrained from choosing the fluorescent pink helmet that caught my eye. I’m such a girlie girl, but I knew if I wore pink lycra too I’d likely resemble moving candy-floss. And remember, I want all eyes on Mike. Perhaps I could get him to choose the pink helmet…

Mark then kindly gave me some quick tips before unleashing me onto the street. He was probably worried about me crashing into someone’s parked Audi. I live in Mt Eden and so there’s a high chance of that. Perhaps I should move to another suburb?

He kindly taught me how to unclip my shoes so I can hopefully avoid “the zero mile an hour fall”. This is when riders usually stop at the lights, forget they are clipped in and then do a spectacular sideways crash – all in slow motion. So, he was kindly trying to save me from that hurt. To my body, but more importantly to the ego.

Wish me luck for my first ride. I hope you get to see a second column…

  • Column by Rachel Grunwell – Good Magazine’s wellness columnist, a keen marathoner, qualified yoga teacher and director of the InspiredHealth website.
  • Follow Rachel via Inspired Health on Facebook and Instagram.

Rach 02

Training tips to get run-ready for Cigna Round the Bays

 Cigna waterfront runners pic

 By Rachel Grunwell

Now is the time to step it up for training for the annual Wellington event – Cigna Round the Bays.

The family-friendly event is 14 weeks away – on 19 February 2017 – so there is plenty of time to train well and make the most of this health journey.

This way, you’ll reach your health goal with ease and be proud of your efforts at the finish line. If you haven’t registered, then do so now so you can get the maximum health benefits from becoming a stronger runner.

There’s a distance for everyone – whether you want to walk with your baby in a buggy, do the fun run, tackle 10km, or go the distance with the mighty challenge of the Cigna Achilles Half Marathon (21km).

To help kick-start your training, I’ve listed some tips below which helped me on my run journey. They are tried and tested and I know they work.

Only a few years ago I’d puff while merely walking and pushing my youngest son in a pram, but I slowly built up my fitness with a gentle walk/run routine to now being able to run longer distances with ease. So if this mum can, you can!

TIPS FOR RUNNERS

Start with an easy walk/run around your neighbourhood for 10-20-minutes in these early weeks. Walk for two power poles, run the next two, then repeat. Over time, you will run more and walk less. Do this two or three times weekly. Keep it fun.

Don’t run too fast to avoid getting injured.

Run with good posture. A trick

is to imagine a string above your head pulling you upright.

Try to keep your arms by your

side. Flapping them wastes energy – and looks a bit uncool!

Look both ways before crossing any roads and don’t have your music up too loud. Safety is

important – and be particularly watchful if you have little ones with you.

Drink water, not sugary drinks.

âťš Column (week 2) published in newspapers throughout Wellington.

Enter by registering HERE & join #stepitupnz.co.nz to be in to win a prize worth $2500. 

Column by Rachel Grunwell, Cigna Health and Wellbeing Ambassador – a magazine wellness columnist, runner, qualified yoga teacher and director of the InspiredHealth website. Follow Rachel via Inspired Health on Facebook and Instagram.

Rach 02

Cigna Wellington Round the Bays – enter the family!

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By Rachel Grunwell

Registrations are now open for a favourite annual Wellington event – Cigna Round the Bays.

But don’t just enter yourself for race day on February 19.

Step it up by entering with friends, work colleagues and family.

Together you can support each other’s training and get fitter and healthier.

Having a specific and achievable health goal on a set date like this event can help with keeping you all motivated on your health journey.

There’s a distance for every age and level: the Mitre 10 Mega buggy walk, the 6.5km fun run or walk, Bluebridge 10km, and the Cigna/Achilles half marathon (21km).

I’m stepping it up by getting my family involved, including husband Damien, and our kids Zach, 11, Lachie, 9, and Finn, 5.

Zach is especially excited about tackling his first 10km distance alongside me.

Actually, his speedy, young legs may leave me in his dust! The rest of my whanau will do the fun run.
Damien will likely be piggy-

backing little Finn near the end. The focus for our family,

training-wise, is to keep fitness fun and at the kids’ pace.

I’ll sneak in building a base fitness with my younger kids by doing things like scooter or bike rides, family walks, light jog at the weekend and walking to school sometimes.

Zach and I are doing run training, which we will build up slowly.

Meanwhile, tell your kids they are helping you to train for the event too.

Give your kids the title of chief coach. Remember to foster a can- do mind-set, with fitness and health in general around kids and be a positive role-model on this journey.

Inspiring your kids to be fit, healthy and happy is the ultimate gift, I reckon.
Lastly, visualise the red-faced, smiling, excited faces of your loved-ones at the finish-line and a shared feeling of success.

âťš Enter by registering HERE

âťš Column published in newspapers throughout Wellington.

Column by Rachel Grunwell, Cigna Health and Wellbeing Ambassador – a runner, qualified yoga teacher and director of the InspiredHealth website. Follow more of her personal journey to get her family ready for the event on Facebook and Instagram.

Rach 02

TV3’s Mike McRoberts laces up for Christchurch Marathon

Mike McRoberts

TV presenter Mike McRoberts is running the Christchurch Marathon this year. He is pictured here while running the Queenstown Marathon in November, 2015. That’s  Newstalk ZB’s talkshow queen Kerre McIvor to his left.

By Rachel Grunwell

Every weekend lots of fitness events take place nationwide and it’s amazing who turns up.

Elite athletes, every day Kiwis wishing to keep fit and celebrities too.

TV3 presenter Mike McRoberts is as known for reporting on danger zones and bringing us the night-time news as he is for running these days.

To keep fit, Mike loves training for, and running, marathons. He has already conquered the 42km distance at New York, Taupo and Queenstown. His next marathon challenge will be the Christchurch Airport Marathon on June 5

For Mike, running this event is dear to his heart. He explains why:

“Having grown up in Christchurch and still a staunch Cantab I’ve always had a desire to run the Christchurch Marathon. All of my family still live in Christchurch so I’m hoping I’ll have a fair amount of support out on the course”.

Mike says the fact the course now takes in the Christchurch CBD is a major attraction too.

“I’ll never forget reporting on the earthquakes six years ago and the crushing loss I felt for my hometown. I think being able to run through there for an iconic event like this is just another step in Christchurch’s recovery ….well quite a few steps actually!

“This will be my fourth marathon and my first as a 50 year old, so I can’t wait”.

Meanwhile, I’ll be joining Mike too to run this event – my 14th marathon. Running is also a way I love to keep fit, healthy – and happy.

The Christchurch course will be flat, cool, there are several distance options to enter and it’s a great way to support this earthquake-ravaged city.

 

  • This article was published in The Christchurch Star,  the Northern Advocate, the Bay of Plenty Times, Rotorua Daily PostHawkes Bay Today, Wanganui Chronicle and the Wairarapa Times Age.

Further reading: Read the article about Mike McRoberts facing his fears over the Taupo Marathon by clicking here. He also did a bungy-jump, jet-boat ride and skydive during that mad mission! This piece was also penned by Rachel Grunwell.

About the author: Rachel Grunwell is a wellbeing columnist and healthy recipe creator for Good Magazine and Juno Investing Magazine. She writes regularly for newspaper titles nationwide.

Rachel is the director of inspiredhealth.co.nz/ , a yoga teacher, marathoner and an award-winning writer. Follow Inspired Health on Facebook Instagram 

Rach 02

 

 

The Tussock Traverse – one of NZ’s most scenic courses

Tussock Traverse

By Rachel Grunwell

It’s a New Year and so it’s time for new adventures. Training for an “adventure” is a top way to keep fit.

It can also scare you out of bed in the morning to train!

A unique event (for walkers and runners) is the Tussock Traverse, one of the most scenic courses in New Zealand (on January 30). 

It’s an off-road adventure like no other.

The event showcases the eastern area of the World Heritage Tongariro National Park encompassing Tukino and the Round the Mountain and Waihohonu tracks before finishing at the majestic Chateau Tongariro in Whakapapa. 

Victory Events director Jason Cameron says most Kiwis can take part in the event. “Unlike its near neighbour the Goat, the Tussock Traverse is not highly-technical and is very achievable with its range of distance options”.

He says there’s an event option for most ages and abilities (6.5km, 13km and 26km). “It’s not highly-technical; it’s achievable”.

In the 26k expect some rock hopping through a lava field before negotiating the rolling lunar like landscape with volcanic sands through native vegetation before reaching formed tracks in the last 10km.

He says at one point in the race, entrants are “dwarfed by Mt Ngauruhoe on the right whilst capturing stunning views of Mt Ruapehu out to the left”.

Project Tongariro (formerly known as Tongariro Natural History Society) is the event’s charity partner and so entrants help give back, and conserve, the area too.

craig kirkwood

Pictured: Craig Kirkwood running in the 2015 Ironman NZ event.

One participant this year will be Craig Kirkwood, 41, an elite runner and coach from Tauranga. He “runs” Craig Kirkwood Coaching. He says this event will be “a training run” for the Tarawera Ultra 100km event on February 6.

His tips for doing the Tussock Traverse (which he came second in last year): Expect the course to feel 10% longer than running on-road, take a good quality raincoat in case the weather turns and “smile” and “enjoy it!”

* For more info check out: www.tussocktraverse.co.nz

Rach 02

Rachel is the director of inspiredhealth.co.nz/ 

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ecostore Christmas party with a difference

 

Christmas Party           20151123_195856

 

By Rachel Grunwell

Wellbeing columnist

This Christmas party was a tad different!

No focus on guests getting blind-drunk, but rather “blind”. But just for several minutes – and for an inspired reason.

And yes, I am blind-folded in the picture beside Malcolm Rands – the legendary Kiwi entrepreneur, who along with wife Melanie, created the pioneering global brand ecostore – an award-winning company that makes household and beauty products containing “no nasties”.

The pic was taken at the ecostore Christmas party at which yoga teacher Nikki Ralston guided a roomful of guests, under blindfold, on a mindfulness exercise. She asked us to tap into our “heightened senses”.

Taking away one sense (sight), heightened our hearing to listen to Ralston’s message: to have more gratitude and notice more in life. She wanted us to notice more, and “be more” to others.

It was a time to be mindful for that moment right then, but importantly for “all” the moments going forwards. It’s important for our wellbeing to be mindful of how we live and how we are to others.

I guess being mindful was an apt theme too. Rands is extremely mindful in business and cares about the wellbeing of New Zealanders. All ecostore products are plant and mineral based and are safe to use.

Meanwhile, the event did end with a lovely dinner with wine (or fresh organic beetroot/or green juice).

Ultimately, instead of guests getting a hangover for this “do”. We instead left with our eyes wide open on being more mindful on how we live and how we are to others. It’s a great Christmas message…

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