“I was fairly sporty and ran a bit in school, then had several careers across the years that involved staying fit. Running was always a component of this, but also an overall fitness that included a lot of strength training, weighted walks and swimming. As family, study and working hours added strain this became harder to maintain (cue lots of excuses for getting fat and lazy!)
Several years ago my personal circumstances changed and I found it increasingly more difficult to find a healthy headspace. One day I decided ‘well I like running, and I like getting into the bush, so maybe I should try a jog on a forest track’. It started with a short run then I built up to 12 whole ks in the bush. Getting out and pausing to listen to the birds and rivers was good for my wairua (also I aren’t that fit so I need to stop). I pushed myself a little more and got into some good backcountry spots.
I met Kat and she encouraged me to push the distances out. The body complained (sometimes the internal monologue fails as well) but 2023 has seen me plod over the finish line of two ultras (Tekapo and Tarawera…I need to branch out to other letters I know), plus some other events such as Island Station Skedaddle, WUU2K and the 40th Three Peaks Mountain Run. I aren’t fit and fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I have a bit of stubborn resilience to me and it gets me through.
I still like to head out for a ‘just for the sake of it trail run’ where time doesn’t count, there are no cut offs, and it just becomes a moment in itself. I’ve been lucky to have met some pretty cool people along the way as well.
I don’t know what next year will bring, but it will involve a couple of adventures, supporting Kat in her first miler (I aim to be the bestest crew member ever), and maybe pushing the distance out a little more.”
Phil @trails1977
(Tauranga)
Photo taken at Tekapo
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