Training in the Urewera Range well equipped a Wairoa man who was fourth in this year's Coast to Coast.
Sam Manson, 23, completed the arduous race in a time of 12hr 06min 04sec in the one-day (longest day) category.
The slightly built man, at just 169cm and about 70kg, now works and lives in Whenuapai, Auckland, as an aircraft mechanic, and said on his blog he had progressively developed into a competent and competitive athlete within multisport racing since 2011.
He said the Coast to Coast interested him after suggesting to a friend in 2008 that he could train hard from then until the next race and win it.
"Surely all I have to do is train harder than everyone else."