The Winter Course
The Urban List reckoned our winter start line was "a stunning display of Kiwi ingenuity". Anyway... it's the crack in the pavement outside the main entrance of the Northcote Tavern on Queen Street, where we gather for our safety briefing. Head towards the city and loop around the roundabout, back along Queen Street. Turn left onto Clarence Rd, just after the Bridgeway Cinema (there will be a marshal there to guide you), then follow Clarence to the T-Junction with Rodney Road. Turn right, and then right again on to Queen Street. Cross safely on to the left hand side and head back to the Tavern. Lap one complete! Lap two is identical, except you will finish about 200 metres past the Tavern, at the bus stop by Jean Sampson Reserve, just before the roundabout, or whenever your timing device says 5kms is up. Hang around and clap the other runners/walkers home and our group photo then head to the pub to recover.
Summer Course
This one is a bit trickier. If it's your first time, please say hello to someone in an orange MU Crew jacket and we can find someone of roughly the same pace for you to run with or follow around - but if you get lost, look for a yellow MU shirt or singlet and you can't go wrong! After registering in the garden bar of the Northcote Tavern, head to the back lawn of the pub. The start line is chalked on Princes St. Run north on Princes, and turn first left on to Duke St, then left again onto Queen Street. Continue south on Queen Street, through the roundabout and down the hill to the wharf. At the wharf climb the stairs at the bottom of Queen Street and follow the path up and to the left onto Princes Street, underneath the Harbour Bridge foundations. Continue north on Princes Street, past the Tavern (where you started) and turn left onto Duke Street again, but this time, turn RIGHT onto Queen Street. Continue north on Queen (don’t forget to look out for little Beau and give him a high five – he’s typically dressed up as a superhero!). Turn right onto Beach Road, then left onto Alfred Street, down the steep hill, onto the flat then take the first left onto Milton Road. Head up Milton, turn left onto Richmond Avenue, then almost immediately right onto Bartley Street. At the corner by The Engine Room restaurant, turn right onto Queen Street, cross the pedestrian crossing, keep going and then take a left onto Vincent Road, right onto Clarence Road, and then left onto Council Terrace. Head down the hill, and at the bottom, turn left into the Little Shoal Bay access road. Take the path past the children's playground, and go up the steps behind the Sea Scouts Den. At the top of the steps, turn right onto Clarence Road, follow it around the corner, and turn left at Queen Street (Clarence Rd cafe is on your right). Cross at the pedestrian crossing again, and continue on, then right onto Stafford Road. Head down to the bottom of Stafford Road, and right onto Nelson Avenue (opposite Stafford Park). Stay right on Nelson Avenue, then left onto Alfred Street and all the way up the horrible hill before a right onto Beach Road (and a tiny bit more hill sorry, but we promise that’s the last one!). Turn left onto Queen Street (Beau will probably be in bed now but another high five if he’s still there), then continue south on Queen Street to the Tavern, left onto King Street, before a swift left onto Princes Street and FINISH at the same place we started!