To Gurney, life is for living outdoors and making the most of every day.
Gurney, the nine-time Coast to Coast champion, and veteran adventure racer, was in Dunedin over the weekend, spreading the gospel about the Coast to Coast.
Gurney (52) admits things have changed since he first started adventure racing more than 30 years ago.
"It is all about the health and safety now. People are being bubble-wrapped and are scared of organising races for fear of liability,'' he said.
"It is getting harder and harder in terms of school camps, in terms of activities to try and do things. Kids, young people and adults, they are a bit too scared to try stuff. They're worried about getting hurt and there is some fearmongering about.
"But I think it is really important to get out and try stuff. Get active and do stuff. Don't get me started about that Pokemon rubbish. Sure there is some uses for technology but it shouldn't take over our lives.''
Gurney said he had spoken to a farmer who had some young horse riders arrive at his doorstep one day. They wanted to use a spare paddock for riding and he let them.
But one of the riders hurt her leg and went to get physio treatment. The next thing the farmer knew he was faced with an inquiry into what happened on his farm and what had caused the accident.
Gurney realised health and safety had a place but wondered if it had gone too far
"New Zealand is a place of rivers, lakes and mountains. We need to get back to living in reality. Answer the call for adventure which is coded into our DNA.''
Gurney was a Coast to Coast ambassador and said it was still a major race for many people and a lot of fun.
"To reach the finish line, having finished not just the journey of the race, not just the mountain biking, not just crossing the southern divide but the whole trip. It is incredibly satisfying to have completed that journey, managed your own race, managed to get across all the barriers, made some decisions, just to get to that finish line.''
Gurney taught some aspects of adventure racing these days, saying items in cities such as lampposts and footpaths can become the equivalent of running up the mountain passes.
Gurney himself will not be in the Coast to Coast any time soon.
Injured ankle cartilage makes running near impossible although he still limps around.
"I did the Pioneer mountain bike race and am doing the Peak to Peak. I can still limp along. I do not believe I'm too old to compete.''
