“Since I was young, my parents encouraged me to get involved in athletics. We joined the Fiordland Athletic Club where my dad was one of the fastest runners in Southland — and even in New Zealand at the time. I always looked up to him whenever I competed, which made those early years in the sport especially meaningful.
When I went to high school, I gradually lost interest in running. However, I stayed active through tennis and volleyball, which kept me fit and competitive. My passion for running was reignited when parkrun started in Te Anau. I began running it every week, and around that time, I set my sights on completing the Luxmore Grunt. Running parkrun weekly helped me rebuild both my fitness and my enjoyment of the sport, giving me the training I needed to complete the Grunt.
Now, after completing my third Luxmore Grunt, I’ve continued to challenge myself by competing in other races around Southland. Running alongside friends and family makes the experience even more rewarding, and that shared enjoyment is what continues to motivate me to keep going.”
Hunter @hunter_the_grieve
(Fiordland)
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Portraits of Runners + their stories
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