“Some of my earliest memories of running are of sitting on the steps at home tying up some old canvas shoes so I could go for a run around the block with Dad; of an aunty and uncle doing marathons and thinking, ‘Wow, that’s so cool!’ (maybe because they always seemed to be winning incredible spot prizes like spa pools and trips to Australia); of muddy school cross-country races across farm paddocks; and of entering the Papakura Fun Run and having my uncle abandon his marshalling spot to run it in with me (I wonder if he got in trouble?).
So I’m lucky that running has always been there. I’ve gone through many seasons with it – at school I ran everything I could, but never ever won a single race, at best watching in awe as my mate Aaron tore around at speed, or coming second to my mate Anthony who must have beaten me 100 times. When I joined the Papakura Athletic Club, I found my mate Greg and together we’d run on the track, the trails, and the road until we were absolutely spent, a crucible which produced a life-long and special friendship. At 21 I ran my first marathon at Rotorua, forming a bond with that race and the people that lasts to this day. In my 30s I ran fast marathons, finding my wheels thanks to a group of incredible runners who let me try to keep up with them on Sunday long runs that left me fitter and happier; people like Gavin, Kerry, Phil, Guy, Shaun and Gary. And then in my 40s I discovered the trails at Riverhead and my good old mate Matt Rayment, with whom I shared so many conversations on the trails we decided five years ago (five years!) to launch the Dirt Church Running podcast.
I’m lucky to still be running out there, with so many good friends; Matt, Tom, Seawon and others. And then there’s parkrun – wow, I love the whole concept of that, not to mention the catch-ups and coffees afterwards (thanks Pai Parkrunners!).
So yes, running has been about fitness and mental health goodness, but it has mostly been about people. The friendships, the chats you can have when you’re out running that you can’t bring yourself to have anywhere else, and the laughs you share even when you think you’ve got no spare energy.
And along the way, family who have always supported and encouraged me and come along for the ride, even when running is not their thing – it lifted my heart to have my wife Suzanne and our younger son Kieran we with me at Naseby; and there have been plenty of other adventures too (our older boy, Marc, is a gun crew-chief, by the way, and I’ve also been lucky to share a couple of marathons with him, too. And I note that Mum was at the finish line for my marathon PB so I consider her a good-luck charm).
So yeah, it’s people that keep me running, through every season, through every up and down, through the PBs and the DNFs, starting with Dad. He died suddenly 19 years ago, but every now and again I still sometimes hear his footsteps behind me when I’m running alone. I smile, thanking him for taking me on those first runs and introducing me to a world of friendships and joy.
E hoa mā, inā te ora o te tangata.
(My friends, this is the essence of life).”
Eugene @eugene_bingham
(Auckland)
Photo taken at the Great Naseby Water Race
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