Tom Walsh wanted to ''catch up with a few boys'' and have a break from training, so he came to Dunedin to compete in the South Island championships at the weekend.
Walsh (22), a Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the shot put earlier this year, swapped his favoured event for the discus.
The burly South Cantabrian finished second behind good friend and national champion Marshall Hall (26), with a best throw of 49.7m at the Caledonian Ground.
The shot put ace has been back in the country for three months after a busy year competing in Australia, Europe and the United States, and will not increase his shot put training until the new year.
''I'm in no shape at the moment to throw the proper weight,'' Walsh said.
'' [On Friday] I threw in the mid-19m with a lighter weight. But I just thought I would come down and have a throw and have a bit of fun.''
Hall, who is now based in Auckland but studied at the University of Otago for six years, convinced Walsh to enter the discus to give ''me some competition''.
Walsh did not threaten to upset Hall but it was the first time he had thrown a discus since February.
That was at the international track meet in Christchurch, where he threw a 53.58m personal best and beat Hall by 13cm to win the event.
He was hoping to throw 50m at the weekend but ''was not too worried'' he fell short.
Walsh, an apprentice builder in Christchurch, is now looking forward to spending Christmas with his family near Timaru, before ''heading north'' with Hall to celebrate the new year.
''I will still be training right through, but just sitting back and relaxing and not having to work for a bit will be good,'' he said.
As seriously as he takes athletics, Walsh is determined to finish the last half year of his apprenticeship.
''Building is good for me. It takes my mind off track and field, which can get boring at times.
''I've got six months to go, so I'm almost done. I want to get that out of the road and then if something does change, I've got something behind me if I get an injury.''
Walsh will increase his training in January in a bid to hit his straps for the national championships in Wellington in March.
After the New Zealand and Australian season, which finishes in late March, he will compete overseas until August, culminating with the world championships in Beijing.
Walsh, who has a 21.26m personal best, has two goals for next year.
''I would like to medal at the world champs and obviously throw a PB. Hopefully, it's in the final at the world champs. That would be the perfect time to do it.''
By Robert van Royen.
