Kevin Page writes: I had to try and tone up in a hurry because Christmas Day, or as I like to call it Ritual Humiliation Day, was almost upon us.

Kylie Lang is most likely still coming down from the huge high of having this week completed her mammoth walk the length of the North Island, writes Kim Gillespie.

Northern Districts chief executive Peter Roach got that horrible feeling Tuesday. The one where you know something is behind you, but you're not quite sure what, writes Ben Guild.

Kevin Page writes: The guy standing next to me in the nervous mob has obviously done this event before and he's wearing what appears to be a purpose-built Lycra sports outfit.

There would have been a huge sigh of relief in the upper echelons of Bay of Plenty rugby this week, writes editor Kim Gillespie.