“Living in Rotorua and having access to the forest right outside my office door helped me decide to make running my exercise hobby of choice in 2007. My dad had a major health scare at that time and I decided to take up running to improve my own health.
The routine of training, the exhilaration of racing, and meeting an entirely new community of people have all been incredible benefits. Since starting I’ve run distances from 5k through to 100k on both road and trail. And in February 2021 I will be lining up for the 102k distance at Tarawera Ultra Marathon.
Volunteering and helping others is what I get most enjoyment from and is something I’ll keep doing at running events. Guiding blind athletes, helping at aid stations, cheering on athletes and raising money for charities all give me the most enjoyment of all.
If you’re at event and see a guy dressed as chicken, Alice in Wonderland, or a minion, then stop and ask their name. It might just be me.”
Jonathon @awahouanei
(Rotorua)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
