If you’re born on the 13th every now and again you’ll have a birthday on Friday 13th – infamous because of the Pope’s order to kill the Knights Templar (nothing to do with black cats actually!). I am sure Mum was happy to have me on the 13th – probably happy just to have me out!  I don’t remember the start now, but I’ve learned to be happy, including when it’s 13.

I headed off yesterday afternoon on a run from Titirangi shops through Exhibition Drive, Pipeline track to the Arataki Visitors Centre. Cruising through Exhibition Drive (flat!) my GPS watch told me I was sitting on 5.25 min/km.  Okay I thought, not bad, could improve but let’s see how we go.  The Waitakere forest is beautiful. Summer, Winter, sunny, rainy, misty it’s perfect I reckon.

But today was sunny and hot.  As I rounded the 7k mark deep into the forest, the GPS reports suddenly deteriorated and the average approached 6. My legs pumping I began the climb to the visitors centre through the new section of the Hillary Trail. It’s steep, windy and an ideal blowout for me prior to our Authentic Leadership Course today. But when you’re happy the hills are fine – and the run feels all the better for it.

Passing back into Titirangi, the GPS told me I’d done a little over 13km – 5.51 average.  Needs to improve but the legs have had a workout.

13.  We’ll start off cruising and happy today with our new cohort and we’ll do some uphill. It will be happy and rich with life like the forest. Welcome everyone, it’s going to be a great week. We’re ready. Let our reflection begin.