Uncover your inner athlete!

Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be eaten.. Each morning in Africa a lion awakes - it knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve.


No matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up you had better be running!



Saturday, December 18, 2010

Running Away

A few of you have emailed in to say that I have been neglecting this site and I can only concur with these sentiments. When I started Ultrasams as a means of sharing the beauty, joy, love, health and healing that is running, my goal was to write at least one piece per day. What then you may ask has taken me away from this task over the last week? I have been travelling in the south island of New Zealand.


For those of you unfamiliar with the paradise that is New Zealand, this country is home to some great history as far as distance running is concerned. Anyone in our sport is well familiar with the methods of training advocated by the great Arthur Lydiard. This needs no dwelling on. What I will say however is that it is truly a joy to run in any part of New Zealand. The country has a unique mix of hills and flats and some world class marathon courses.

Although I have run the Auckland Marathon many times in the past, I would love to get out and do the Christchurch Marathon (having run many parts of it this last week). The local running community are just so passionate and knowledgeable about distance running with the owner of the local running store spending time with me to talk running and reminding me that there have been some pretty quick times run in New Zealand in the marathon. He mentioned that in the early 80s there were some sub 2.10 times run over the Christchurch course – amazing really for what is a small country which is situated well away from the rest of the running world.

There was also a 100km and 50km run being held last weekend in the park. It took in a 2.5km loop and might sound a little laborious for some, but I was again surprised at the turnout (there were even some competitors from overseas).

If you don’t already then please consider supporting a local marathon or race when next you are on holiday. Spread the message and watch how easily you are welcomed as a friend by another group of runners, even if you don’t really understand the language.

Running together (and helping to bring together cultures) – Stride for stride on a life changing ride! – Sean Muller

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