Round the Bays – Auckland, “Fire” theme

Another year, another Round the Bays, another year of more fun.

Personally, I think this awesome event is never about being first, it’s about finishing. It’s about people getting together, getting fit and being present on the day 🙂 When I was the only racing wheelchair taking part, I would come first every year (see what I did there), and always laugh about it. One year, it occurred to me, to make it more fun for those encouraging and supporting the event from the sidelines. So, I dressed up in a gorilla suit, then a panda suit, a wetsuit, a knight suit, and so on.

Why, because it’s funny. I manage to say inclusion, fun, fitness and disability without saying a word. Plus it makes everyone laugh and smile that little bit more, and really, don’t we all want to smile and laugh more.

This year, pretty much everything went wrong. I couldn’t pump my tires up more than 65psi (should be 100psi), while putting my water bladder it sprung a leak, getting to the start line I lost a lot of fluid but enough to get me through, nearly at the start line and my strap that holds me in the chair broke. With only a 3sec warning at the start and I didn’t have my gloves on, after a couple of km’s my squirrel head smashed on my glasses, so I lost them. When I finally reached the finish I was so tired I almost fainted several times, tingling fingers, etc… Yet, with all these challenges, I loved it! 😀 It’s such a cool event, and again, I believe it’s not about how you finish, it’s that you do finish.

I’ve been competing in this event for the last 23years and still love it. The smiles, the people and now the theme’s each year just add to this special 8’4km event.

If you’re thinking about a little fitness, and a little fun, this event is for you. It’s a great start into the world of sport, then comes the next challenge, it’ll sneak up on you, trust me, I know. It’s kind of addictive too, being fit and healthy.