On Boxing Day, Dec 26th 2010, Simon Oliver took part in the 49th annual Mt Maunganui 'King of the Mountain' running race in New Zealand. Mt Maunganui is an extinct volcano about 650' high on the Bay of Plenty coast on North Island, approx 150 miles from Auckland

The route is short and sharp about 4.5k long with an initial 400m beach run. Thereafter it's straight up the mountain and straight back down again and along the beach to finish.

I finished 60th out of 160 runners. Winning time was 18.46 and I finished in 26 mins. A bit off the pace as I have become rather seedy after too much ice cream, fishing and resting. My legs are still sore 4 days later.

The weather for the race was a roasting 26 degrees bright sunshine. Who but a madman would organise a race in that temperature and starting at 2 o'clock?!!

Simon