Brings out the inner kid

trudging our way through the last 12km or so, I’m sorry about my singing out of tune. And about the made-up lyrics.

But, please, tell me: how could I possibly not sing ‘‘ Ahaha,aha ha, scoria’’ (to the tune of Laura Branigan’s Gloria) as my shoes filled with scoria and grit through the water sections of the course?

And how could I possibly not whoop and holler as if I was the race leader when the three of us headed down the finish chute?

Matt, Seawon and I had worked hard as a team to make it here, fighting the conditions and our own fatigue, and I wasn’t about to let the moment pass.

I did something I’ve never done before, grabbing the hands of my mates as we crossed the line together, smiles blasted across our faces, caring not about the rain.

You’d think that we were Daniel Jones or Ruby Muir, the true Kepler champions of 2019.

Kepler holds a special place in the lore of New Zealand trail running. It started back at a time when runners fuelled themselves on Gingernuts and Raro.

Nowadays, it’s a bit more sophisticated – runners sip electrolyte drinks and consume gels on the go between aid stations.

But the spirit remains.

It’s that spirit which means that when you make it up to the aid station at Luxmore Hut, in that icy, stinging rain, the wind-chill sending the temperature below zero, you won’t find a frown around.

Instead, you’ll find a bunch of enthusiastic volunteers, handing out oranges and jet plane lollies and muesli bars, all wearing steampunk costumes. Yes, steampunk.

And elsewhere you’ll find equally enthusiastic volunteers encouraging you as you press on with this ding-bat caper of running an ultramarathon in wild weather.

It’s no wonder it brings out the kid in me.

Eugene Bingham and Matt Rayment are hosts of the trail running podcast Dirt Church Radio. Learn more at dirtchurch radio.com or get in touch via email dirtchurchradio@gmail. com