Recordbreaker AMID bushfire crisis
Bushfires encroaching on her hometown weren’t far from Lucy Clark’s thoughts as she ran the length of New Zealand in record-breaking time.
The 34-year-old completed the 3000-kilometre Te Araroa Trail on Thursday, crossing the finish line in 66 days, seven hours and eight minutes.
The feat makes Clark the fastest woman to run the trail, beating the previous record of 77 days.
But revelling in New Zealand’s scenery was bittersweet, as Australia’s bushfire crisis threatened her beloved alpine hometown of Bright.
In the
South Island, Clark was shocked by the thick orangey smoke haze from the Australian fires, which hurt her throat as she ran.
‘‘It was quite confronting.’’
But the town was doing OK and Clark was encouraged by avid supporters back home, saying her feat had been uplifting during such a dark time for the town.
‘‘I spent a lot time thinking about them.’’
Clark had always planned to finish the track in less than 70 days, but didn’t expect to shave so much time off the record.
It meant averaging more than a marathon each day, through often mountainous terrain.
On her first day post-trail, a morning shower and brushing her hair felt like a novelty, Clark said. She’d been able to lie in bed with a cup of tea, before getting dressed into non-running clothes. Her body has held up ‘‘pretty amazingly’’, although she has a slightly sore foot, a few scratches on her legs and a badly sunburnt and wind burnt bottom lip. ‘‘And I’m just a bit tired.’’
Her husband, Tommy Wright, has been driving – and sometimes running – alongside her, stopping at planned places for Clark to cram down food and drink. She had people with her for about half of the trail, but was shocked at how isolated she felt in other moments.
She’d stop to admire a stunning view, then feel bereft when there was no-one to share it with.
‘‘Then I’d go ‘oh all right, I’ll keep running’ . . . It’s actually quite lonely at times.’’
The 34-year-old is no stranger to running, having completed a number of marathon, trail running races and a few ultra marathons. But running 3000 kilometres was entirely new territory, and something that ‘‘hasn’t sunk in yet’’.
Upon crossing the finish line, Clark – who ran the last day with her husband – was met with cheering from friends, supporters and a group of girl scouts.
‘‘It was such a great experience. I got a bit emotional.’’
She and a group of friends went on to celebrate with champagne and a pub dinner.
Clark felt proud to have undertaken such a ‘‘crazy’’ goal, and exceeded it. It was something she couldn’t have done without number one supporter and husband Wright, she said.
Runners who joined her for a day or so – after tracking her through her Adventurous Lucy blog – gave her a welcome break from podcasts and music.
And during the tough and lonely times, the many messages of support kept her getting up and putting one foot in front of the other.
She also wanted to thank her sporty collection of sponsors – Clif Bar, Hoka One One, Nathan Sports, Soek Sunglasses, Bright Brewery and Bright Physiotherapy – for making her outlandish dream doable.
She and Wright are planning a break to relax and recoup, before they start planning their next adventure.
‘‘This is the stuff that we love. Some of it is ridiculous, but it’s the stuff that makes us happy.’’