Our trail running ultra-distance athlete Cheryll, a member of the Auckland Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, just competed last weekend, Feb. 11th, in the 2018 Tarawera Ultramarathon, New Zealand’s most prestigious trail run. Part of the Ultra-Trail World Tour, runners can tackle the 102, 87km or 62km distances or attempt the inaugural 100 Mile Endurance Run. The event is based in Rotorua, with great scenery including seven lakes, native forests, waterfalls and some of the most stunning

landscapes in the world.

The spectacular course runs through places of cultural significance to local Maori people, and around 1400 participants with more than 700 international athletes competed this year, including some of the world’s best elite ultra runners. Cheryll was out there in the 62 km event, an 11 hour run that saw non-stop rain, around 2,000 metres of climbing and lots of muddy trails.

” It was really tough, and I had to keep pushing myself to keep going and not allow the body and mind to get overwhelmed by distance and discomfort. But when you get to the finish line you just get this great joy and satisfaction. Running reminds me so much of life itself, it’s a kind of microcosm of daily living, everything that limits you packed in to a day of challenges. You learn a whole lot about yourself, and that you’re really unlimited if you dare to say ‘yes’, just keep going, bring forward all your resolve and strength. Then you know you have this inside you, that you can do anything.”