Wow, 4 people per lane? I'm starting to see the benefits of living in a smaller place. I basically never have to share a lane, and often have my choice of 4 or 5 lanes. I agree though, there was an upsurge in October, but now it's dropping off again, I guess people are getting busy? Or maybe decided that the slight burst of exercise in an attempt to "look good for summer" is a waste of time? I definitely prefer what's referred to locally as the "shoulder season" when there are fewer transient workers, fewer tourists and less congestion everywhere. My last 3 trail runs I saw not one other person. Admittedly I choose to run and swim at times or on trails when fewer people will be there (there's a bit of a rush at 6am at the pool but most people are gone by the time I get there at 7am) but I definitely prefer exercising with fewer people around.

I predict a massive decline in roadies on the road however commuting riders will perhaps increase a little as the weather gets better.

Taupo has been and gone so that's most riders for the year. I noticed the same around the Auckland Marathon, roads were teeming with runners beforehand and now its only the hardy.

Doesn't stop for me though, although no racing until late Jan that I know of.

To be honest I reckon the best time for training if you're still in the city is the period between Christmas and New Years because its so quiet, also I quite like later summer. The dead of winter though is the worst.

Autumn, every year. The relief from sweating buckets, kicking your way through leaf falls, and most importantly of all: Cross Country Season. Mind you I see things have changed since my day of running half marathons in Auckland in the afternoon. They youngest ran the ADRA Charity half in Auckland last Sunday and it started at 7 am. I remember running up the hill towards the finish in a FreshUp half in the early '80s in the heat with tunnel vision from the heatstroke, then I got spots in front of the bits I could see . . .

As for why numbers drop of now, university has finished and all the students are off somewhere else, including working full time which leaves less time for such pursuits.

I find it easier to train in winter because of the cooler temperatures but the increased light at this time of year is definitely a bonus. Attendance at our dance classes tends to fluctuate with no particular rhyme or reason and is not related to the season. The studio gets flipping hot when there's a bit of sun though, which makes working on equipment a little slippery!

There were fewer people at my squad this morning but that still meant 8 people to a lane - we were one lane short due to a technique session for club members.

Our squad tends to fluctuate but there's a core of about 6 in the medium lane, sometimes up to 10.

As for running, I run in the Redwoods either before and after work and the last few weeks I've seen hardly anyone. My morning run on Wednesday I saw two people and was flabbergasted. One Sunday a couple of weeks ago I ran for two hours in the morning (and not silly hours either) and I saw no one until I was an hour in. He was the only person I saw until I was exiting the forest. I used to see heaps of people in the winter so can't explain it.

Even when my race is done and dusted (two weeks on Saturday) I will still be getting up at 5am for swim squad, still go running (have decided to do the Rotorua Marathon) and I will still cycle. Must be mad.

Muscleguy #3 - I did the ADRA 10km last sunday which started at 8am. By the time I crossed the finish line it was 88% humidity and I felt like I was running in a sauna. I almost vomited once I stopped and it wasn't the distance that caused my distress. A couple of weeks ago I ran at Cornwall Park at about 2pm and vowed it was my last afternoon run until autumn. Am also thinking of doing the Waiheke Island 12km in January but that starts at 10am! About 3 hours too late to beat the heat. How the hell do people run in Auckland's mid-summer humidity? Wasn't a problem for me last summer cos I wasn't a runner then!

It was great to be out riding last sunday, the day after the round Taupo ride. I saw about 10 people out riding instead of a 100 or so the week before. I have also noticed less people at the pool which is also good. I like summer training in general. Although I did my first long(ish) run in the heat on tuesday afternoon. It was about 24 degrees and I certainly noticed the difference.

To my fellow squadders, I LOOK much less committed, but it's actually because training is ramping up and I'm far more in my coach's hands than earlier... I'll be taking a break to travel in Europe after the Rotorua Half Ironman, but will be back into the swing of it when I get back. I can't imagine being one of those "one-event" people who only does (say) Auckland Marathon or Taupo!

PS- I am a complete pansy Wellingtonian, and I hate the humidity, but it's not THAT bad. You just have to accept that you'll be slower, drink plenty, maybe even run shorter distances, and roll with it!

[sulks]

Sigh. Recovery sucks. I might walk the 10k Korokoro event on Sunday, though at the moment the forecast's for rain. Every time I see a runner or cyclist I suffer huge pangs of envy.