(Photos supplied by Kate)
“How I came to run….. I guess running was always in my blood – my Grandfather was a runner and ran for a living at one stage. His favourite race was the quarter mile and he ran against Jack Lovelock. Despite developing TB while working at SeaCliff Asylum (there was a TB sanitarium there), multiple surgeries and being told he would never walk again Grandad was one of the fittest men I knew and lived to the grand old age of 102. He exercised right up until his death and I’m sure his longevity is owed to his commitment to being fit.
My Dad was a big inspiration for my running (and still is). I used to love hearing the story of how he discovered my running ability – I had not long started at Tarras School so would have been five years old and it was our school cross country. Dad was trying to figure out who the wee girl with navy socks was in third place – that girl was me! Not long after that Dad would get me out running early in the morning so I was fit for any athletic events. I became very good at running at primary school, becoming very competitive against my peers, often winning the cross country and being placed in the zone events.
I went to boarding school at age 12 and despite still being interested in running, Dad wasn’t there to get me out running on a regular basis plus I had lots of other new sports and interests to occupy my days.
University and doing my Nursing Degree at Otago saw me having more time to focus on running and I realised how good it was to run and let off steam/unwind. One of my Hall and then flatmates became my running buddy and she was a great motivator for me to get out and get running.
In my last year of study I decided to do the Arrowtown Half Marathon. This started at Millbrook corner and we did a lap around Lake Hayes before cutting across into Dalefield and running into Arrowtown. This was the start of my half marathon passion and I have lost count of how many I have done since then.
My Dad died in 2017 and I miss him everyday. Running always makes me feel closer to him though – sometimes I hear his voice in my head pushing me on when I’m getting tired. He was always my biggest cheerleader and I’m grateful for the breathing technique he taught me at a very young age when running – it is a game changer and I have taught other fellow runners along the way.
Mental health is one of the main reasons I run now. Working as a nurse with a young family is a juggle but I always like to find time for a few runs a week as I know how beneficial it is for my well being. We live on Forest Hill so we are very lucky. I run there a lot with my friend Claire who works in a challenging job. We always say that running and chatting on our runs is the best therapy. Claire and I book runs around the country which motivates us to train and get fit in advance. This year I ran my first off road marathon in Gisborne; the First Light Marathon. Claire ran the half. We had the best weekend away. It was a great sense of achievement.
Trail running is my jam now as my knees and hips don’t love tarseal anymore. I have been running the 25k distance of the Ultra Marathon Series but next year my aim is to push myself for some bigger distances. Claire and I may even venture overseas….”
Kate @kateanderson16
(Forest Hill)
Photo taken in Te Anau at the Kepler Challenge
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