I had my taste of my first trail run just over a year ago in Adelaide on our first RMA social trail run. No trail shoes and a complete newbie. Everyone had said to me once you start trails you won’t look back. Well look at that, they were right. You could say I now have a lot more trail running gear. So over a couple of glasses of wine one night and after watching a video of some of the most amazing scenery of the Shot Over Moonlight Marathon we had ever seen we decided with a group of friends “that looks like fun, lets do it!” You only live once right?! We found out quickly this just wasn’t any trail run. We stayed at the Ben Lomond lodge on the private property of the directors of the race who own this amazing area of New Zealand with approximately 30 other crazy runners including Lucy Bartholomew (seriously she is one of the nicest people and an amazing athlete). The 4WD journey to this location was an adventure all on its own. Pretty much in the middle of nowhere but absolutely stunning.

We decided on a team name “The Moonlight Merinos” and it was a bit of a highlight when we checked in for registration and at the mandatory gear check they asked “are you guys the Merinos?”! Well yes we are! The #moonlightmerinos comprised of 4 gals and one guy (my hubby who did the 42km), and we took on this challenge and trained and prepared over about 6 months prior to the race. Hills, Hills and more Hills!

At check in the nerves started to kick in and I thought wow we are actually doing this tomorrow. Yikes! At dinner the night before the run we met all the other crazy runners, exchanged stories and running adventures and all the kiwis mentioned that this was the most difficult marathon in NZ..well no, we didn’t know that but hey we do now! Packs prepped, race gear ready, matching outfits, flatlay done, we were a team that was hitting this head on together.

So onto race day..

We were up early ready to rock and roll. A coffee and some toast and about three stops for that nervous wee. We were waiting for the helicopters to pick us up from the lodge, and I have to say that it is pretty darn exciting arriving to a race by a helicopter! Just wow…the rain had set in, so a quick rainy foggy flight and the wet weather gear was on. We watched the marathoners leave waiting from the swing bridge and then we went down the hill for our start as well. I was undecided on wearing the jacket, so I took it off and then ended up putting it back on due to the rain being a little too soggy for such a long day ahead of us.

The first 10km were wet, muddy, steep on the ups and the downs. There were sections that I thought how on earth am I going to get down there without falling down the side of the mountain? due to how slippery everything was. One foot in front of the other, and climbing up one side of a mountain with my hands and feet grabbing onto grass clumps. How crazy does that sound! It was a little hairy but with two of my merino girls we supported each other through the tough bits, and I can’t imagine doing this without them. The course changed vegetation into forest and waterfalls that were so beautiful I felt like I was in a movie, Robin Hood land so to speak. We felt confident to move a little faster and those sections I will remember as some of my favourite. The sun then came out and the jacket came off. My sunburn on the back of my legs is proof that the NZ sun is pretty powerful.

 

Finally we reached the aid station at 15km – we had made half way! Inhaled some potatoes with salt, coke and a few pieces of fruit. Onwards we go! And then I saw the Razorback Ridge, holy smokes! This is when I put my big girl pants on and climbed across a mountain that was quite narrow and quite high!! I have never had my legs shake so much, and of course there had to be a photographer at the end waiting for me. I crawled a little with my heart racing thinking get me off this damn thing. The next 10km included another forest section, water crossings, mud spludge and then we moved to more wide open farm tracks which were easier to stay away from the edge. The hills seemed to go up and up and up and then when we thought one was finished, around the corner another started. With 8km to go we came to another aid station with freezing cold water and watermelon (best thing ever) as it was now really warm (four seasons in one day!). The hill up to that station broke me a little, it was mentally draining and it wasn’t over yet. I kept on moving along, jogging on the downs and wading through the 25 river crossings we went through, some shallow some up to our knees due to the rain. Beautiful clear cool water which ended up being a little bit of a relief to the feet (my lost toenail doesn’t think so though). About 3km to go I had a bit of mini meltdown, this run was bloody hard work, physically and mentally. I was ready to see the finish line now.

I can’t explain the enormity of the mountains, the different terrain, the challenges, the moments I did think what am I doing here?, the beauty and the support from other runners. But there were moments I looked up and thought ‘Wow!’ the views were out of this world. Photos can’t show the feelings you go through with this sort of event. It was quite an amazing experience and one I will never forget.

I saw my hubby who actually finished the marathon before us and the tears that had already fallen a little earlier flowed when I saw him. Now how was I supposed to run to that finish line. My merino girls and I held hands crossing that finish line and we threw them into the air. I was handed my medal and a beer and we had a moment. We hugged and said “We did it”.

 

What an amazing adventure!

We were proof that anything is possible and you can push your body and mind beyond what you think is possible. This is a go to NZ trail race and you should all put it on your bucket list. For info head to www.shotovermoonlight.co.nz