“I was a competitive rower throughout my schooling and university years, with most of my teenage years consumed by training and regattas. Once I decided to throw the towel in, I struggled to maintain such an intensive exercise regime and reap the benefits I had from rowing – from feeling healthy and fit to that sense of achievement you get when crossing the finish line or winning a race. As such, I started running…
Following a few half marathons I turned to trail running and entered the Luxmore Grunt, then the Kepler Challenge the next year. I was hooked and entered the Routeburn Classic the following year.
Then during a family holiday at our Stewart Island bach, having never even walked the trails, and being at the peak of my training block for the Routeburn, I ventured out for a training run on the Rakiura Track. After a couple of hours of stunning trail and bush (and letting my mind run wild), I met my Mum at the end of the track and insisted she drive me to the DOC office so that I could discuss my new idea of a trail running event on the Rakiura Track. This eventually led to the creation of the Rakiura Challenge.
I now run to challenge myself (both mentally and physically), to keep fit, clear my mind… and so that I can mark out the Rakiura Challenge course in one day come the end of September!”
Morgan @morganshepherd @rakiurachallenge
(Wānaka)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
@RunnersNZ
