Race Report:Tararua Mountain Race

“Flat on my back, looking at the sky. My quads cramping more than that time I had my work mates genuine home made vindaloo."

When I heard that the Tararua Mountain Race was returning, I think I peed a little. I had always wanted to run TMR, but it had been taken away by the time I felt ready to take it on.

So when it was announced Andy Carruthers was resurrecting the race, I knew it was time to get back in the saddle. It was time to do something hard, just cause.

Leading into the race, I trained the house down. Unfortunately it was a house made of sticks, three piggies style.

Race morning arrived, and I was reacquainted with my old friend, self-doubt. WTF have I gotten myself into?

I got a ride from Petone with Ian Tulloch, Fabiano Petroni and Chris Martin. Now, if you’ve ever gone on a mission with Chris, you know his personality doesn’t wake up till 7 am. However, listening to his monotone, as short as possible sentences, had a strange, calming effect on me. I was grateful to be riding in to war with Chris, after all it was Chris who got me in to this whole big mission shenanigans in the first place.

When we arrived at Rego, there were already plenty of people at the barn. The place was buzzing. Bumping into some old friends and meeting some new ones was a great start to the day. As we drove down to the Car Park of Glory, the nerves started to ramp up. I wonder if I still remember how to run.

The 6.30 AM wave. Let’s get the party started

Well, I didn’t need to worry. My legs still worked. 10 seconds in, I had already ripped up the game plan. I had lined up on the inside line closest to the trailhead. Fail.

Diego took off, and I followed him into the fence line chute. The pressure of having 50 or so people behind me forced me along at an unsustainable pace. Knowing I had no business riding his coattails, I said goodbye to Diego and got to work at my own pace.