“I had moved to Auckland and started running to get fit – 5k around the waterfront in Mission Bay. I continued to run (slowly) after I had my three children and running helped me get out of the house. My third son was born with a Cleft lip and Palate, which meant lots of medical appointments and operations, and running was a time where I got to have a break or gather my thoughts about what was next.
In 2017 I set myself a challenge to run the Saint Clair half marathon with a couple of friends from Christchurch. I thought running around a vineyard sounded challenging and also fun. I remember before we started we were discussing our ‘goals’ and I said I wanted to do it in an hour and 45. My mates laughed and said, “It’ll take longer than that – it’s on grass so it’s a little bit harder”. Well, I’d been training hard and I did it in 1:46! I was so proud of myself. I couldn’t walk afterwards, but I was so happy that straight after the race I booked the Christchurch half marathon, which was just three weeks later. That was hard (and cold)!
That same year, my bestie, who is an elite ultra marathon runner, ran the Tarawera 100k and we went and supported her. I thought she was crazy (still do). She ran across the finish line with my eldest son which was super cute. I remember thinking I’d never be able to do something like that.
I then moved to Bali in 2019. It’s a different vibe running in the heat, so I’d get up at 5am and run the length of the beach. If I didn’t get up, I’d go run on the treadmill to be in the air conditioning, which built up my mental strength for sure. I did a 14k race while I was over there and it was one of the hardest things that I’ve done… it was at 3pm and it was so hot at that time of day! The beer afterwards was good though.
Then I was on holiday in Christchurch and a friend of mine asked if I wanted to come run up the hills, and I thought why not? That’s when I met ‘Captain Ash’. He was into trail running and outdoor adventures and he introduced me to another couple of friends, Kiki and Cal, and now the four of us run together as ‘The Potato Pack’ (PP – we all like eating potatoes when running). Yes, we have merch haha!
Two years ago my ultra-running bestie (now my coach) was back in New Zealand and suggested we go and fastpack the Old Ghost Road. At that stage I hadn’t run more than 30km in one go. I thought, what’s the worst that can happen? Well turns out falling over on one ankle one day and the other one the next isn’t great, but I still did it and what an amazing time we had. Since then I say yes whenever I can. The PP have just done a year of running a marathon a month (little adventures that we came up with, a fast pack and a couple of races), some rogaines, and I fast packed the Trail Mont Blanc with my coach and her husband in July this year.
What keeps me running is my bestie, and doing stuff with the PP. Just being fit enough to keep on doing adventures; maintaining a level of fitness to be able to just go and do these things.
What’s next? I’m waitlisted for Kepler, if that doesn’t happen, the Valley Ultra and then the Tarawera 100km in Feb. Funny how things come full circle. My eldest son is a national level mid-distance runner now too. I used to do easy runs with him, but he’s far surpassed me now. Somehow he’s roped me into a 800m this week… wish me luck!”
Amy @dr.amy.psychologist
(Christchurch)
Photo taken on the Kepler Track
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