“I’ve always had a passion for fitness, starting with rugby and football at a young age, hitting the gym regularly, and occasionally participating in parkruns. However, when I moved to New Zealand from the UK five years ago, I tried joining a local rugby team for pre-season and realised that the sport was predominantly for younger players. So, I asked a friend I knew and was introduced to a Queenstown-based running club called Monday Runday. That’s when I caught the running bug and found like-minded friends to embark on running adventures together.
My motivation for getting into running, which still drives me today, is the desire to challenge myself both physically and mentally. I suffered from mental health problems and depression before I arrived in New Zealand and found that running allows me to escape from the daily grind and immerse myself in the present moment, taking in the breathtaking views, in conversations with fellow runners, and let’s be honest… looking forward to the post-run meal (because who can resist that motivation?).
Over the past five years my initial motivations have evolved. The running friends I’ve made along the way and the diverse places I’ve visited have inspired me to push my limits even further in terms of training, distances, event participation, and my overall abilities.
I absolutely adore every aspect of running – the sense of community, the positivity it brings, the encouragement from strangers, the ability to push yourself to places that you’ve never been before, the friendships forged, and of course, the post-run feasts that make it all worthwhile!”
Dave Pearson @daveydave.p
(Queenstown)
Photo taken at the Great Naseby Water Race
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