“Running has in some sense come back to me in a full circle. It’s the places it takes me and the people I’ve met along the way. I’ve been inspired by many and am so grateful to still have the ability and drive to still run.
I enjoy many forms of running, I like to mix it up. Run with the kids, dog, team relays, speed work, chase vert, trails, mountain runs and more recently embrace the wonderful wacky world of ultra running. That sense of adventure, community and connection is what keeps me motivated.
Earlier memories of running through my schooling years include x-country and duathlons/triathlons. Outdoor Ed during my 5th form year (year 11?) was where I learnt to paddle. Applying this new skill, set in conjunction with running and biking, I entered the Geraldine Mountathalon, which consisted in a run up and over my favourite biggest little mountain, Little Mt Peel. This experience sparked my passion for adventure and competition.
Kayaking led me into the white water rafting and canyoning scene and for the next 20 years I dove into the Adventure Tourism industry. With back to back summers guiding internationally on rivers in Australia, Turkey, Italy, USA, Mexico, China, Japan and Africa. Back in 2021 I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to compete as a member of the New Zealand men’s whitewater rafting team in Japan, also on the Zambezi River, Zambia.
Whilst in these countries a lot of my commuting and exploring when not on the rivers was on foot, hiking and running. Living this active, transient lifestyle everyday was an experience – immersing myself into different cultures, exploring rivers, day trips/multi-day expeditions; working in adverse conditions and on occasion having to deal with situations of duress. As I reflect on this lifestyle, I was at the time, living my best life. I found myself connected and surrounded by like minded people, working with people at their best, clients were there to have a good time, making my job easier. To share, entertain, educate to share an experience whilst getting clients down rivers safely; building bonds with strangers turns into friendships quickly. Often we found ourselves in situations outside of comfort zones and often in remote places. Making for some very memorable adventures.
At the end of this era, along with my family, we chose to return from Japan to New Zealand full time, to open up more opportunities for our boys as we’d rather spoil the boys with experiences as opposed to stuff! Our backyard here has so much to offer and family connection to us is very important. We often find ourselves out and about on Team Adventures… hiking, rogaining, camping, hunting, fishing and supporting each other in our chosen interests. – Rio rugby, Zac basketball, Hachi hiking, myself running. By immersing the boys into the outdoors and sports they can explore, develop, learn values, manage emotions and grow, setting themselves up for whichever paths they choose to pursue.
At first, becoming settled in one place, a “Real Job”, “Normal life”, contributing to society, being a part of “the system” blablabla… I was missing something!
With knowledge of my previous background I was approached about paddling in a 3 person team in the Coast to Coast 2day event. I joined our team runner for training runs up and over goats pass too and it was here I rediscovered my spark for running.
After the C2C, having built up a level of fitness, I had a choice… either to maintain the fitness or stop. At the time, to focus on more than one discipline whilst maintaining that work family balance seemed impossible. My kayaks and bikes soon became somewhat neglected, yet my running shoe collection became quite extensive.
I started out participating in 3/5km series, played around with speed work, 10-21kms then onto ‘runventures’, studying maps dreaming up routes along ridgelines, peak bagging, trail and mountain runs. Then after a few years of making excuses I set myself the goal to attempt a 100 miler before I turn 40. I’m coming up 42 and am currently eyeing up my 5th miler. It isn’t the distance, it’s the journey that intrigues me, whether it be a Road, Trail, Mountain or an Ultra run, I’ve found that something.
Running rivers and running trails to me the processes are very similar… being above a drop, rapid, gorge/canyon. That moment. That feeling of intense focus, nerves, committing to must make moves, fear of the unforeseen, decision making on the go, constant risk assessing, accountability and problem solving, being adaptive and staying present. I love it! Very similar to standing on that start line or the start of a runventure into the hills. Self doubt, self belief, am I ready!? What lies ahead!? How will things unfold!? I’ll never know unless I try… commit, act and react, be adaptive; learning about nutrition, patience, resilience, recovery, putting ya best stroke/foot forward, go with the flow, keep pushing forward and chase that sense of adventure.
Happy Trails. Jog on!”
Steve @kiwistevesadventures
(Geraldine)
Photo taken at the Great Naseby Water Race
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