News & Updates

In the latest in our series of life under lockdown we find out more about how the West Coaster and 2019 World Trail Running silver medallist is adapting to life under lockdown.

How are you coping with the challenge of being in lockdown?

A lot of people have been effected heavily through the lockdown with loss of jobs, businesses, home schooling children while trying to work from home etc I am fortunate that this is not the case for me, so I don’t see it as a challenge as such compared to what other people are dealing with. It really feels like life has slowed down and I am appreciating having this time.

Also, when I hear  what “lockdown” entails in other countries, where you aren’t allowed to leave your house, or you’re allowed outside for one hour and have to stay within a 1km radius of your house, I just think how fortunate I am to be in New Zealand during this time. We have open spaces and can still go outside to exercise locally.

How has this impacted on your training?

I’m not able to get on the trails that I normally would or complete the longer mountain runs, and I also don’t have access to a gym. We have just adjusted my training to what I can do locally and we are working with that.

Have you put in place any innovative methods to maintain fitness?

Using a bag of potting mix as weights!

What advice would you give to any other athletes currently in lockdown?

Just to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. New Zealand is definitely one of the best countries to be to see this through. Also be grateful you’re involved in the sport of athletics and you are not a sailor, or a swimmer….which could be a lot harder!

What is your current daily routine?

What I think has helped during this time is keeping a routine. I wake at 6:30am, meditate, train, breakfast, study, lunch, study, train, prepare dinner etc.

Do you have any fitness videos you would recommend for working out at home?

If you are lacking some stoke to exercise this video will definitely help you out…

What is the best thing about being in lockdown?

I’m definitely not spending as much money!

What is the most challenging element to living in lockdown?

Probably the fact that I don’t know when I will see my partner (Martin Gaffuri) again who is living in Switzerland.

What is the most uplifting/inspiring social media post you have read during your time in lockdown?

Lockdown Family Boogie.

How often are you in contact with your coach – six-time World Mountain Running champion Jonathan Wyatt – and how do you communicate?

Weekly through WhatsApp.

What has been the best piece of advice he has passed on to you?

Jono’s advice was that we should be more conservative in our approach to training, and that there was no need to push the envelope too much since, I won’t be going to Europe to race anytime soon.

When the lockdown is over what is the first thing you will do?

Run the Paparoa track (on New Zealand’s West Coast).

What has been your favourite downtime activity in lockdown?

Baking and flourless cakes, since there is a nationwide shortage of flour!

If you could recommend one book to read in lockdown what would it be and why?

Recently I just finished reading Acid for the Children by Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers. It’s an awesome book about his upbringing until the point when the Red Hot Chilli Peppers were formed.

If you could recommend one movie to watch in lockdown what would it be and why?

I recently watched Captain Phillips with Tom Hanks. You can never watch too many Tom Hanks travel gone wrong movies!

If you could recommend one TV series to watching in lockdown what would it be and why?

I just got addicted to Money Heist, which was way too consuming.

What is the kindest thing you’ve done during lockdown?

Baked a cake for a friend who is a nurse.