Blue Lake - A Beautiful Run In Nature

Blue Lake is a stunning lake near Rotorua, New Zealand.

If you're looking for a place worth visiting, don't forget Blue Lake.

About 15 minutes drive from Rotorua, the road descends before opening to the lake.

The lake has a spiritual stillness about it, with an easy 6km walking trail around the base of the lake, covered in many parts by native trees that overhang the trail providing shade from sun.

Blue Lake 24hr Challenge

Last weekend I joined Blue Lake 24hr Challenge. The website describes it as:

A self-supported 24hr run around the Blue Lake in Rotorua. How many laps can you do?! 

The beauty and difference of this run was that it was not about time or winning.

Instead of me trying to run against time, it was about how many laps of the lake I could do.

My goal was to do 3 laps (18 km). On the day, I did 5 laps (30km).

Running together with friends, trail runners, walkers, ultra marathoners, and people having fun, the run around the lake made a beautiful sight.

It was the funnest run I had done in my life.

Each lap was different and had its challenges.

One of the beauties of the Blue Lake Challenge was the "base camp" where we could stop for water, rest and food (lollies).

There were people running in costumes, the most crazy I saw, was a woman running in a dinosaur costume.

It was a self-supported run - meaning we had to bring our own water and gear.

There was no pressure from anyone, however, at the same time ultra marathoners were running from morning and into the night (100 miles)!

30 km is the furthest I have run in my life and I was getting delusional by the 5th lap. Finishing was an achievement and I felt really good for the next few days - like being on a natural high.

One's mindset plays a huge part in one's performance.

I realized that when it comes to running, so much of it is in the mind.

Running 30 km was detoxing. After the run (and even the next couple of days) it felt like my body released a lot of toxins. Physically tired, I felt happy.

Blue Lake, Rotorua

Google Map of Blue Lake click here.

About 15 minutes from Rotorua, make sure you visit Blue Lake if you're in the area. It will not disappoint.