“Ko tēnei mea te oma, he momo rongoā. He rongoā mō te tinana, he rongoā mō te hinengaro, he rongoā mō te wairua hoki. Mēnā kei te rangirua ahau, kei te kōmarumaru te hinengaro, kei te noho ahau ki raro i te kapua pōuri rānei, ka puta ahau ki te taiao omaoma ai. Nā tēnei ka wātea te hinengaro, ā ka tau te wairua hoki.
(This thing) running is a type of medicine. Medicine for the body, medicine for the mind, and a medicine for the spirit. If I am in doubt/uncertain, if my mind is foggy, or I am under a dark cloud I get out into nature and run. This clears my mind and settles my wairua.
I tīmata au ki te oma i te wā i eke ahau ki te kaupapa Aoraki Bound. Pērā i a Outward Bound i oma mātou i ngā kiromita e toru ia rā. I te mutunga o te haerenga i whakaoti mātou i te rua tekau mā tahi kiromita. I te haerenga i whai hononga ahau ki te taiao ā mai i tērā wā puta ai au ki te oma i ngā wā katoa. Nā tēnei mea te oma i kitea e au ngā tirohanga ātaahua, ngā uranga o te rā, me ngā manu e maha. Ko taku tino wāhi ki te oma, ko te ngahere, i waenganui i ngā rākau me ngā awa. He wāhi mārie. I tēnei ao hurihuri he mea hirahira ki te puta ki te taiao ki te neke i te tīnana. Ahakoa taku pukumahi, puta ai au ia rā. He wāhi ki te kōhuki i ngā mea katoa, he mea hirahira tērā ki te whakawātea i te hinengaro. Whai muri i te oma ka piki te ora.
I started running when I went on the Aoraki Bound course. Just like Outward bound we ran 3 kilometres every day. At the end of the journey we completed a half marathon. When I was on the journey I found connections to nature and from then I get out into nature all the time. Because of running I have seen a lot of beautiful views, sunrises and sunsets, and a lot of birds. My favourite place to run is in the forest, in between the trees and the rivers. It’s a peaceful place. In this changing world it is important to get out into nature and move your body. Despite being busy I get out every day. It’s a place to think everything over, that’s important, to clear your mind. Following a run, my wellbeing is lifted.”
Emily @emily.chirnside
(Queenstown)
Photo taken at Race Tekapo
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