Altitude run target met with attitude
WHAT have you done this month?
Steve Tripp has run 31km, uphill.
The University of Otago Medical School teacher set himself a target to run 1000m uphill every day of January, to raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation.
No stranger to hills, the 54yearold regularly runs upwards, and is an organiser of the Three Peaks Mountain Race.
He completed the 1000ma day challenge yesterday after 15 ascents of Baldwin St, until recently considered the world’s steepest street, in Dunedin.
Although he took some rest days, he passed his goal of 31,000m for the month, by
400m.
‘‘I have had the occasional rest day because I’ve had some very big days.’’
It had been a challenge.
‘‘I’ve been tired, I’ve been hungry, I’ve been a bit grumpy occasionally, but that’s OK.’’
A trip through Otago and Canterbury with friends helped Dr Tripp find a different hill to run each time.
Finding different hills to ascend was a necessity because he became bored repeatedly doing the same challenges, he said.
He chose mental health as a charity because so many people were affected by it.
‘‘Half of us will face mental health problems and the other half will have to know someone who does.
‘‘It affects everyone.’’ Inspiration came from friend and ultra runner Malcolm Law who ran and walked about 300km in hills last year, while fundraising for mental health.
Dr Tripp was still a few dollars off his goal of $5000, but was generally pleased with his efforts.