“I started running with a couple of friends as a way to have a break from the madness of being a Mum to three preschoolers and enjoy uninterrupted conversation. We started off walking, which got longer and longer, so we thought it would be fun to enter the Wellington Round the Bays Half as walkers (thinking that only superhuman athletes would run it).
We realised that you don’t need to be superhuman and there was no reason for us not to be running. So the next year we ran the Half and I loved it. Completely hooked it was the Rotorua Marathon after that.
After my Marathon I wanted a break from road running so started exploring the trails around my ‘backyard’. Here I found my happy place.
A few years ago, work took our family to Australia for a bit. I was pretty devastated about leaving my beautiful trails, but luckily we found ourselves in Canberra, the Bush Capital. I (very nervously) started venturing out, exploring my new ‘backyard’ full of amazingly beautiful birds with kangaroos everywhere, and trying really hard not to think of the snakes and spiders!
In Canberra I connected with an incredibly supportive running group, Running Mums Australia. Through this group I found my people – the crazies that got up before the sun and ran in -10 degrees. They took me on the most amazing adventures and introduced me to snake bandages (thankfully never needed).
Now back in New Zealand, I’ve reconnected with my running gang and have met new running buddies; who also love getting up before the sun and going on big adventures in the trails.
Running has brought me friendships and experiences that I will never forget. Trail running for me is about connecting with nature. It grounds me. My family say I like to go out at stupid o’clock for some ‘forrest breathing’. I love the positive effect it has on my mental and physical health, also on the rest of my family – the kids enjoy exploring the trails and hunt Trigs too, and my husband has recently completed his second half marathon.
I’m proud to say I’m a runner – not superhuman, just a runner.”
Jo @sayhi2jo99
(Wellington)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
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