Hatter returns from 316-kilometre race in one piece

For most people, flying out to a country like New Zealand for a week would be a perfect vacation.

For Hatter Karen Fogen, her trip to New Zealand was focused around running a 316kilometre stage race.

“The race was just amazing,” said Fogen. “It was a really good experience for me. It was hard for sure, especially at times, but overall it was spectacular. We got to go on a helicopter ride over a river, so that was an added bonus. We did a lot of running, and some climbing as well.

“Just overall it was a really amazing experience.”

Fogen and a group of other running enthusiasts were tasked with the 316 kilometres over seven days, with each day having a set amount of distance to cover in a set amount of time. If a runner missed out on a checkpoint, they would be disqualified from the race.

“There’s races I’ve been in where you can’t even be a minute late, but this one, the man running it was very lenient at this race,” said Fogen. “I’m happy to say that I did make it. I was able to make it in the correct amount of time. It was for sure hard at times, but I’m happy to have completed it in the right amount of time.”

It was the first year of this race in New Zealand, and the country offered challenging elements at times.

“The heat was the biggest challenge for me,” she said. “Coming from the cold winter in Medicine Hat, then going to the heat there was really hard, and definitely my biggest challenge.

“We also had multiple river crossings, and those can be really hard with tired legs. On the flip side, there was a day they had us run through a vineyard, and we were all excited to have a glass of wine, even if it was 9 a.m.”

Though Fogen and her 16pound backpack didn’t have much time to be tourists, she says she really enjoyed the country.

“I loved it there,” she said. “It was so beautiful, and so lush-green, and just really amazing. The people I was running with and sharing a tent with were all really amazing people, and it was great to share some fun moments and sightseeing with them.”

Fogen says this race is probably her favourite of all time, and says she will plan another one as soon as she finds the right challenge.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Medicine Hatter Karen Fogen crosses a finish line on the second day of a stage race she took part in this month in New Zealand. Fogen ran 316 kilometres over the seven-day race.