The Last Long Mile

Although our committee, unlike the Hockey Club, has not yet descended to the doubtful policy of providing mixed practices to increase membership, a record turnout of twenty-three runners assembled at Weir House for our first run.

The dizzy heights of Tinakori Hill seemed rather steeper than usual, an impression which was strengthened by the hot sun and the fact that certain people still show an unnatural tendency to run uphill. However, by persuading the energetic ones that it was not advisable to run too fast on our first outing, we were all able to return to the welcome hot showers at Weir without undue fatigue. The excellent afternoon tea which Professor and Mrs. Gould provided was very much appreciated, and fully compensated for the more strenuous part of the afternoon.

Belmont was the scene of the second run, and our generous hosts were Mr. and Mrs. Barker. The field of twenty runners was divided into three packs, slow, intermediate and fast; but there seemed to be a great deal of dissension on the question of how slow the fast pack should run. By using Fascist methods our club captain denied his pack a little rest under the trees on the top of the Belmont hills, and led us down through dense gorse to finish with a run in along the Western Hutt Road. Once again we were rewarded with an extensive afternoon tea, and it was a party of tired, overfed and very contented harriers who returned to Wellington.