Musician Rachel Dawick loves the freedom that running gives her. The 46-year-old from Auckland, who recently released a book and album called The Boundary Riders, which retells stories written by women in the 1800s, has signed up for the Speight's West Coaster Marathon next weekend - one of the toughest marathons in New Zealand. Dawick is no stranger to taking on big challenges. The former aerobics instructor cycled solo from Cape Reinga to Bluff two years ago, and has done a number of treks including two significant tramps during her two years in Nepal. She is looking forward to ticking the West Coaster off her bucket list.
You released The Boundary Riders in September - what is the inspiration behind it?
I wanted to find the songs written by women in New Zealand in the 1800s but soon came to a dead end, with just a few songs compared with the men, who had a significant catalogue of material dating from that time. I decided I would find the stories and turn them into songs but that in itself was a really hard journey. The stories are so difficult to find because women in history were regarded as what they call "the mute appendages" - the wives, mothers and daughters - but not as individual citizens whose contribution to history was significant to the development of society today. Their part in history is a significant missing part of our story that needs to be brought out into the open and acknowledged.
Do many musicians get into fitness and running or are you unique in that regard?
No, I wouldn't say a lot at all, but there are a few and I know one marathon runner. He is way ahead of anything I have done, considering this will be my first marathon.
You have signed up for the one of the toughest marathons in the country - how has your training gone?
My training has mostly been walks in the Fiordland National Park, which works really well with this type of run with the hills and in nature. The training is not as extensive as I had hoped for by any means. I snapped my Achilles tendon a couple of years back so this one is going to be more of a run-and-walk affair. The main thing will be to get to the end and to work up for further marathons. I know it's going to be really tough so I am prepared for that.
What do you enjoy about running?
I love the fact it creates a space in your head where things that often take over are left behind. For me it's a form of relaxation and being outside and back to nature. It gives great clarity and my body always feels so grateful after it - I never understand why I don't do more of it but hopefully this will lead on to a greater commitment as I miss my fitness from aerobics instructing and would love to get this body back into shape.
