A Mountain Running Adventure in New Zealand that will Change your Mind About Race Training

“I am going Mountain Running in New Zealand”

People interpreted that to mean I was going to New Zealand to participate in a mountain running event/race.

Many people don’t run for any other reason than they talked to their friend who did a *crazy* thing and entered a race. They sign up too because their friend was uber persuasive. They spend the next three months punishing their body and their mind.

The race. They have to run because of the race.

But they hate running. They tell themselves they need the event to motivate the running.

LET ME TELL YOU: You don’t have to keep up with the Jones’ of the running world

I really love self-powered adventures.  Standing on a start line thought up by someone else’s vision doesn’t excite me like dreaming of the places I want to run and see for myself. I spend hours looking at maps, cross-checking routes and planning off-beat adventures.

Maybe it’s because I am a middle-of-the-pack runner with no hope of getting on a podium and I’m not really motivated by beating my own personal best.  Making my own mountain running objectives is far more compelling. 

And honestly. I’m cheap.  I don’t want to pay the $175 entry fee!

I train for a running season just like I’m training for an ultra. I still experience all the highs and lows of training.  Days where my legs feel like lead. Or I’m on a 4-hour run when it’s -30 with too-small shoes because of too-thick socks (yes, my big toenails did go black!) And those (not very often) days where you feel so fit and agile that it seems you are running on clouds.

Before you get to thinking that I’m a mountain running machine, let me assure you I’m not

I’m ordinary. I have no remarkable running prowess.

I never won races when I was young. I wasn’t a superstar college athlete.

I have 5 kids.

I struggle to eat right.

I struggle to get out of bed in the morning when I don’t feel like it.

I struggle to make some of my goals happen just like you.

I don’t have youth on my side. I am 45 years old.

I don’t have a lot of time.

Most of the time I don’t even have a lot of energy.

I just have a strong sense of inspiration. I know it is amazing out there. I know that running these mountain trails with beautiful scenery fills my cup.

I love to day-run just like I’d day-hike. I can stop and walk whenever I feel like it. I can snap pictures for 1 minute or 15 minutes or 5 hours if I want. I can leap (errrr, wade gingerly) into that pristine-looking (numbingly cold) mountain lake on a hot day.

I’m talking about mountain running for the pure adventure of it. For fun. For the exhilaration of few people, being with friends, the wind in your hair, the sweat on your brow and the photos of the awesomeness.

Going back to New Zealand to run in the mountains has been a dream I’ve held for years. I had very firm goals in my mind: To run and photograph as many trails as my fitness would allow.

Are you interested in Mountain or Trail Running rather than planned races/events?

Here is how I went about making my New Zealand mountain running plan happen.

1. Decide on a training plan

Where to even start in all the overwhelm of potential resources!

A few years ago I joined a group coaching program led by Jen Segger to prepare for my first ultra.

Following that, I read The Uphill Athlete which expanded on the principles I learned through Jen. 

As a result of that book, I purchased the 3 Day tour training plan, made an excel spreadsheet and meshed together Jenn’s beginner ultra training plan and the 3-day tour plan.  The mixture prepared me well for New Zealand.

If you are new to run training a good plan consists of running (a mix of cruise, speed, hills and long runs), runner-specific strength training, Prehab exercises (to help prevent injury) and cross-training.

2. Come up with a schedule of events

I put all of my ideas in writing. I made a project in Asana, titled ‘Mountain running in New Zealand’ and made two columns. Fastpacking & day runs.  I then added relevant links and information. I grouped my trails around 4 different areas. Central North Island, Glenorchy/Te Anau, Wanaka and Mt Cook.

I knew I was going to have to be flexible because of New Zealand’s fickle weather and the lists served as my contingency plans if the weather beat on me and I needed an alternative.

3. Put the support in place

I was very fortunate on this trip to have a wee support crew with my mum and dad. I communicated my hopes with them. The places I wanted to go, the routes I wanted to run. We travelled in their motorhome for 2 1/2 weeks with a combo of freedom camping and campgrounds.  It was amazing to have them drop me off at a trailhead and then pick me up again at the end of the day.  Bonus: they fed me and found all the laundromats and showers 🙂

Of course, my husband and kids were a crucial part of my support.  Their enthusiasm to support my dream and let me jetset halfway around the world during a pandemic for something as frivolous as running was so generous 🙂

The weather was amazing and I came close to achieving the top objectives on my list.

I ran 327km (which also involves a lot of walking when you are in the mountains!)

13,523m elevation gain

In the future I will write articles about some of the routes but here is a list of the trails I tackled; some shorter distances, some long.

Central North Island

• Waitawheta
• Tongariro Crossing
• Makakahi
• Old Coach Road

Queenstown/Glenorchy/Te Anau

• Arrowtown
• Earnslaw Burn
• Routeburn Track (Fast Pack)
• Kepler Track
• Pakituhi Hut & Breast Hill  (Fast Pack)

 Mt Cook National Park

• Mt Ollivier (Fast Pack)
• Mt Sebastapol
• Hooker Valley
• Ball Ridge

You can go mountain running in New Zealand (or anywhere else!) by participating in a race.

That would be a great experience too.  But there is a whole other world of adventure out there by figuring it out yourself 🙂 Don’t forget it!!

If you need further convincing to ditch the race and head for your own mountain run, check out these articles:

START TRAIL RUNNING: 8 MOTIVATING TIPS FOR BUSY MOMS

WHY EVERY MUM SHOULD RUN