The second time I ran the Hillary from Muriwai to Arataki without support. It is a big ask to have support, and a long day and a lot of travelling to get to each stop, so I decided it would be better to run it solo.
You ran 153.5km in 29hr 18min and 5sec, with 7269m of elevation gain - that sounds like an absolute battle. What was the hardest part of the run?
In the end it was trying to run on some nasty blisters that had developed on my toes after 90km from my wet woollen running socks.
How did you overcome the mental demons and not give up?
The only thing that was going to stop me was an injury and it is always in the back of your mind. There was a bit of a dark patch at about 4am going up Karamatura track from Huia, with sleep deprivation kicking in and no one to talk to. So I just said to myself, "I am doing this" and to "toughen up and keep going".
You become the first runner to complete the feat - that must be really satisfying?
Yes, it was good to push the boundaries a bit and just see what I can do. Even though the return trip was slow because of my blisters, it was a nice sense of achievement.
How does this rate in your running career?
As a personal adventure it is the best, but I do prefer to run with friends and race others in events.
For the uninitiated, what is the challenge of running for that many hours like?
Really I just enjoy being out on the trails and taking in all that is around me and under my feet. The terrain is always changing. It keeps my mind stimulated and I just love New Zealand bush and open ridgelines with clear views. That is all I need to keep me going for hours on end.
Were you concerned for your safety before the race and were there any risky moments?
I always run with a first-aid kit, survival bag and strapping tape. Mobile coverage is limited but I did send a text to my wife to let her know where I was in relation to the schedule I had prepared before my adventure.
I have spent a lot of time in the outdoors and I also know the Hillary Trail quite well, so my own safety was not really an issue. The only concern would be rolling an ankle or tearing a muscle. This is something you try not to think about too much. Only 42km in I did kick an old wooden peg that was part of a step on a descent. I clipped my little toe. Thinking that I had broken it, I just kept running or hopping until the pain subsided.
What sort of training did you do?
I did not train specifically for it and I set the date for the end of the year, after all the events I had done during the year. So it was really on the back of a fairly regimented training programme during the year.
After that amount of time on your feet, what was it like hitting the finish line?It was a very satisfying feeling and so nice to have my wife, Jane, and two girls, Aleisha and Emma, there with a few very good running friends. I was a few hours over my estimated time.
How was the body afterwards?
Straight after, the legs were fine but the blisters on my toes were sore. So it was nice to sit on the park bench and have a ginger beer followed by a beer and hot chips. The shoulders were a bit sore a few days later from carrying the pack, even though it only weighed 4.5kg at the start.
What advice do you offer to runners who are looking at taking on an ultra?
It really comes down to the training, and putting in time and building up distance gradually. Nutrition and hydration are also key.
What else do you have planned for 2014?
My first event for 2014 is the Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon in Queenstown in February. I won't be running the 100km at Tarawera in March but I am in a relay team running the 85km.
At the end of March I will be running the 80km inaugural Hillary Trail Ultra; the Cape Brett Challenge in April; and the 50th Rotorua Marathon in May. Winter will be the Total Sport Xterra series. I would still like to run a sub-3hr marathon and run a 100-mile (160km) event.