Auckland
Your Guide:
CAM GRAVES
Hi, Cam Graves here đ
Elite Auckland-based distance runner thatâs obsessed with the journey of becoming a better athlete. 29:04 PB on the track for 10,000m and 65:19 (Auckland Half Course Record) over the Half Marathon Distance. Iâm currently training towards the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where Iâm hoping to make the Marathon Team.
Iâm also a professional photographer and videographer by trade so love combing my two passions by creating super gnarly Running Visuals!
The City
Auckland, based around 2 large harbours, is a major city in the north of New Zealandâs North Island. In the centre, the iconic Sky Tower has views of Viaduct Harbour, which is full of super yachts and lined with bars and cafes. Auckland Domain, the cityâs oldest park, is based around an extinct volcano and home to the formal Winter gardens.
Run Routes
Our ambassadors have spent years logging in thousands of miles around their cities. Often routes you will never find anywhere else. We have asked them when they can throw in some more untraditional routes, routes that only the locals know.
Run Group
Great way to meet locals and be lead through a new city. We have picked out a few for each city to cover all speeds.
Workout & Recovery
At Pressio we know all about recovery, our compression tights will cover your recovery for even your toughest workouts, however, if you need a little extra like massage or ice baths, we have our local recommendations.
Studio Red
Studio Red is a world-class hot yoga studio that combines the very best in yoga practice with beautiful design and spa-like comfort, right in the heart of Auckland.
Sports Lab
Sports Lab combines world-class clinicians with advanced technology and leading interventions to provide proactive care, enabling long-term outcomes and improved health and wellbeing for our clients.
THE RECOVERY ROOM
They provide a comprehensive physiotherapy treatment and rehabilitation service with the aim to maximise the overall health of each person.
Eat & Stay
The locals know whatâs good, and we want something that will nourish us but also be substantial to fuel us through our workouts. We asked our runners to pick out places where the locals eat.
Hotels- great gym, maybe a lap pool, and comfortable beds, and of course good runs nearby.
5 Questions with Cameron Graves
WHATâS YOUR FAVORITE RUN IN AUCKLAND?
Cornwall Park, Auckland Domain and Waterfront.
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE?
Running for New Zealand in a black singlet at the Inaugural Commonwealth Games Half Marathon Champs in Wales, 2019. It wasnât my finest or fastest race by any means, but it was a pivotal moment in my running career where I realized I wanted to go pro. Being surrounded by the best runners in the world was daunting and all, but it also dawned on me that these guys arenât superheroes or anything like that. I left the race that day telling myself these guys are all totally beatable if Iâm willing and able to put in the work...and thatâs just what Iâm doing...
WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT RUNNING AROUND AUCKLAND?
The Cafes. No matter where you run, thereâs always a good cafe for your post-workout long black and croissant!
DO YOU HAVE ANY PRE-RUN SNACKS?
Always. I personally prefer to not run on an empty stomach. I usually have something simple like PB on toast and a glass of water 20 minutes before heading out! Itâs not rare to find me eating a chocolate bar on the way to training either.
FAVORITE TRAINING PARTNER?
This is an easy one for me, my talented FiancĂ©, Lana. Iâm very lucky to have a partner that shares a passion for running. We train together a couple of times per week on our easy days and usually warm-up and cool down together during workouts. Itâs always epic to have each other bounce ideas off, plan workouts and rev each other up for big workouts and races.