Keeping fit while travelling
A Christchurch remembrance run is the next exercise goal for an English couple in their journey to tackle fitness adventures all over the world.
Anne and David Clarke run in every country they visit. For their next challenge, the pair plan to lace their sneakers for the Run to Remember on March 8.
David Clarke, 62, said they stumbled upon the annual race online. The run will be held a week before the first anniversary of the March 15 mosque terror attack and two weeks after the ninth anniversary of the deadly 2011 earthquake. ‘‘While we love travelling and visiting new places, we are not museum and gallery buffs. Most of our holidays and travel are planned with activity in mind,’’ he said.
The pair completed the Ballycotton event through coastal Ireland, securing a place in the popular run by registering as international entrants. Anne Clarke, 69, was the second woman home in her age category following a run in New Hampshire, US, with annual cycling trips taking them to Japan, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands. ‘‘Our son is a marathon runner and finished [the Ballycotton race] long before we did, but then waited for his
Mum and ran the last uphill mile again with her to the finish,’’ David Clarke said.
‘‘As we get older, the more we do the more we enjoy being able to stay involved with a range of activities.’’
The couple have lived in the village of Wigglesworth, in northern England, for nearly 18 years and moved to the area for easy access to walking tracks. Through their work in health and childcare, they found a passion for the wellbeing benefits of daily exercise, each walking 5 kilometres or more daily.
The pair run at least once weekly, and used to be part of a running club, but anticipate doubling that in preparation for events such as the Run to Remember.
Their running career started with sponsored charity events and they have continued to cross the finish line of at least one charity run every year since.
‘‘We did not start running until we were in our 50s. We are not quick but we enjoy what we do,’’ David Clarke said.
During the trip around New Zealand, they plan to spend two weeks touring the North Island, ziplining on Rangitoto Island, kayaking in the Bay of Islands, taking a day trip to the Queen Charlotte track and biking down the West Coast to Milford Sound.
‘‘We enjoy being outdoors and seeing and staying in places we probably would not get to see otherwise.
‘‘Running at all levels brings people together and there is a sense of community and shared experience at this kind of event; we are pleased we are able to take part this year.’’
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