Solo run aiming to run around the whole of the lower half of the Hutt Valley via all the good trails.
Started off at 6 am from McEwan Park on Petone Beach, and headed along for foreshore to Korokoro stream rivermouth. Ptich black and quite cool, but clear skies and no wind, perfect winter morning. Heading up to Belmont Trig for sunrise, then north following the Puke Ariki traverse through Belmont Farm to Boulder Hill.
Then descent to the valley below, crossing the motorway via trainbridge walkways, around Manor Park golf course, and across Te Awa Kairangi (Hutt River) on the new pipe bridge.
From there its up Pukeatua Range, that sits between Lower Hutt and Wainuiomata. This track is farily overgrown, with a lot of gorse, but once on the tops the rolling terrain is pretty easy going. It was quite a warm day for middle of winter, with only a gentle northerly breeze.
Follwoing the range all the way to Pt Howard, then down to sea, and following the waters edge back to Te Awa Kairangi, over the Seaview Bridge and back along Petone Beach to the start. I was pretty slow from 30k, and only realised afterwards I was probably underfuelling, but I had no tummy issues, and was able to eat and drink the whole time. Great loop, stoked to finish, but think could take 1-2 hours off that time.