Last weekend 16 of my Icebreaker buddies from around the world and I, took to the Southern High Country to compete in The Motatapu. The Motatapu is one of New Zealand’s premier sporting events consisting of three events; a 15km Mountain run, an Off-Road Marathon or a 50km High Country Mountain Bike race.
The last race I competed in was a 2km cross-country race at my High School, 6 years ago. Needless to say a 15km Mountain race was slightly more than a natural next step. Not one to step down from a challenge I decided to throw myself right in.
Now that I’ve finished, I can say it was one of the most inspiring events I have completed. Despite reaching the halfway point and being yet to start our descent after 680m of vertical climbing, or the 2kms of ice-cold rivers we crossed before reaching the finish line, I look back on the event with fond memories. Running across Shania Twain’s private land, through Glencoe Station, across snow grass, and looking over the Wakatipu basin to the Remarkables was breath-taking both at the time and looking back!
Notable mentions go to Rob Achten who finished third running under the secret identity and race name of Darren Chin, our newest employee Martin Hurych who rode 30km of his first mountain bike race with one pedal and Mélina Holzer who completed her first ever marathon.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit this part of New Zealand and take on The Motatapu – don’t think as long about it as I did! It has totally inspired me to continue the training and compete in the next race that comes my way. I read in the Air NZ Magazine on the flight home that there is a race down South which involves a café stop at halfway. Sounds perfect.
- Kaylee Donald, Icebreaker Global In-Store Coordinator
