“How I found running? A good friend of mine who was living in New York suggested we run the New York marathon! I was still in NZ just about to leave for London and the only sport I partook in at the time was skateboarding home from the pub. I’m not even sure I knew what a marathon was. But sure, sounded good. I put my beer down, got off the couch and started running.
I still clearly remember the day 12km was the longest I’d ever run! I used to drive the route first to clock the distance, loooonng before my first gps watch. I also used to log things like distance, time and route in a little book, handwritten. I guess I always liked the idea of Strava, it just didn’t exist yet.
The New York friend ended up moving to China before we ever entered the marathon, but by then I was half a year into training and travelling, running all over the world and running any event I could… often the more absurd the better!
Running for me felt like a bird that had learnt to fly.
I was well and truly ‘a runner’.
Why I keep it up? Running makes everything else in life stable. I sleep better, eat better, be better! And there is no greater thing than the feeling of self sufficiency and strength, hopping through the wilderness or throwing down at races. I love being out there slogging, with something like a hundred miles the weather, terrain, distance and pain all become peripheral, and coming home from that brings an immense sense of self respect, and wonder!
Now I’m getting ‘older’ and ‘slowing down’ I just see the range shifting, less racing more adventuring.
What I love about running? It’s versatility, but also its community and inclusivity and I think most of all… its sense of humour!”
Chloe @alma_vincenti
(Wānaka)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
