#17915 - 04/30/04 11:27 AM
Running In the Tahitian Islands
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Mike Giard
Junior Member
Registered: 04/30/04
Posts: 5
Loc: Rocklin, CA
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My wife and I will be taking our first cruise in Tahiti in about 5 weeks. We are also avid runners/triathletes and would like to do some running when we are in the ports.
Does anyone have any experience/suggestions on running in the various islands? Ease of navigation, trails versus roads, safety, etc?
Thanks
Mike
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#17916 - 05/01/04 04:55 PM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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STM
Expert Advisor
Registered: 10/15/01
Posts: 1616
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Hot and humid, uneven pavement on narrow roads, tupa crab holes when you have to get off the road and onto the shoulder. Not ideal, but lots of people - locals and tourists - do it anyway. Me? I would focus on the swimming part of my training.
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#17917 - 05/01/04 09:11 PM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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Hiti Oumati
Member
Registered: 04/04/04
Posts: 147
Loc: Massachusetts
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I am not a runner. Seems I see a lot of them on the roads of Tahiti--but then one sees everything from chickens to dogs to kids, etc.
The great excersize besides swimming! is hiking. These are volcanic islands--and ALL of them have great hikes, which should keep you in shape. I find them relatively taxing (as a hike) but I would believe you could run them if you wish.
There are maps of all the "hikes". Try either the Tourist "Fare" downtown Papeete--or arm yourself with a copy of Jan Prince's guide book available through Amazon.
Or kayak! to stay in shape.
I do not think you will have a problem in this regard.
Enjoy! Jan
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#17918 - 05/01/04 10:45 PM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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GT
Senior Advisor
Registered: 12/18/01
Posts: 768
Loc: Los Angeles, CA 90045
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Well, there's been a marathon that's run from Haapiti to Temae beach for many years so it must be a good place. Watch for cars and the sun.
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#17919 - 05/03/04 09:53 AM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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JackHarrison
Member
Registered: 04/30/03
Posts: 57
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I do Ironmans. Last summer my bride and I were in FP for 10 days. I gave up on running and cycling while there but found plenty of swimming opportunities. On Tahiti I swam on the oustide of the Intercontinental/Beachcomber, there was about 1/2 mile of a good straight run in waist deep water along the property line.
Didn't run at all on Tahiti as the roads are lousy for running, no sidewalks, crazy drivers, etc.
I was on Moorea for a day but would not want to run on those roads!
Then on Rangiroa I could have run as the main road is nice for it but I wound up riding a rented fat tire bicycle instead. Same swimming arrangement on the lagoon side at Kia Ora Village. Easy to get in long straight swims with no boat traffic to worry about.
Then at the Kia Ora Sauvage, there are no roads, and the islands are too small to run on trails anyway. BUT, THE SWIMMING WAS UNBELIVABLE!
There are lagoons inbetween each islet that are chest high, crystal clear, sandy bottomed, and dead calm. There is a lagoon a short trip away (on foot) frim the Sauvage that was 1/2 mile long and I nicknamed it the WORLD'S BEST LAPLANE.
If I were you I'd look at your trip as a way to improve on your distance swimming. Enjoy!
Added..if you're like me, you've found that when people tell you there's plenty of ways to stay in shape, they're usually quite a bit different than what you have in mind. Hiking won't keep you in triathlon shape, unless its up Mt. Rainier at high altitude. Kayaking is worthless for a triathlete, and "biking" a fat tire bike at 10mph just doesn't cut it either. Beware of places that say they have great running and cycling unless you know the person saying it understands your needs as an athlete.
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#17920 - 05/04/04 03:16 PM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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Mike Giard
Junior Member
Registered: 04/30/04
Posts: 5
Loc: Rocklin, CA
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Thanks Jack! Great to hear the perspective of a fellow Ironman. My wife and are doing the Vineman in August and we hate to stop our training for 10 days in the middle of June. Not the best time to take a week and a half off! We will take your advice and hit the water. It will be good to get in alot of open water swims anyway instead of just playing wall tag everyday.
I will see when I can squeeze in the runs and play that by ear.
Good luck on your next race!
Tahnks again!
Mike
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#17921 - 05/04/04 05:29 PM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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horseman
Member
Registered: 01/03/04
Posts: 79
Loc: Detroit, MI, USA
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How about fitness centers in some of these hotels? Somebody has got to have a treadmill, right? Especially the places that have spas. I am counting on finding something, because there's no way I can give up running or lifting weights for 2 weeks!
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#17922 - 05/05/04 12:49 AM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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Edwin
Member
Registered: 08/26/03
Posts: 47
Loc: The Netherlands
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I 'did' The Belvedere in Moorea, running from Les Tipaniers -I believe it was about 8 or 9 miles. Started at 07.00 AM, for me about the only time of the day to arrive up there alive. The run was very though -at least for me, but I am no Ironman- but the majestic view of both bays arriving at the top made it worth every single drop of sweat. I can therefore certainly recommend doing it - there is hardly any traffic early morning. Have fun.
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#17923 - 05/05/04 04:39 AM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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scottoscotto
Junior Member
Registered: 03/08/04
Posts: 10
Loc: New Market, MD
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What about options near the Le Meridien on BB...I too am an avid runner...about 80 miles a week...I was hoping I could run the strectch of land between the Le Meridien and Eden Beach...
Is this feasible?
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#17924 - 05/05/04 05:02 AM
Re: Running In the Tahitian Islands
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JackHarrison
Member
Registered: 04/30/03
Posts: 57
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Good luck at Vineman!
And ooh..yeah, I agree, bad timing on a vacation where running and cycling will be minimized. Honestly, I'd be freaking out if I was in the same situation, but who knows, it may wind up being a good thing.
I'm not racing long this year but have been to the finish line at Lake Placid and Florida several times.
My swims were most enjoyable there, and in Rangiroa I had my own armed escorts, a platoon of small barracuda kept pace with me every time I swam. Once though, a danged remora was endlessly hassling me, he was actually trying to attach on like they do the sharks! Freaked me out a bit but I noticed that if I went vertical he'd ignore me and swim off, only to return later.
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