John Fry, well, not so much.
Mr Fry has lined up every Motatapu Trail Marathon, but is yet to get a winner’s medal.
The Invercargill man is competing in his 19th Motatapu event today — right from the first event in 2005 — and is yet to get first in his grade.
But for Mr Fry it is more about competing and camaraderie than getting first.
"My daughter Ella did the race last year. She went out to beat dad and she ended up winning the women’s open," Mr Fry said.
His wife Leeanne Durry was the first woman to cross the line in the trail marathon when the Motatapu event started off in 2005.
She gave the biking challenge a crack the following year. That was it for her.
Ella is living in Brisbane so she is not a starter this time.
Mr Fry, though, keeps on keeping on.
His aims were not about winning, more about reaching personal challenges and supporting the trails trust charity.
The 59-year-old engineer said it was not simply an individual race.
"It’s one of those runs where people help each other out," he said.
"Twelve years ago I met a guy who got a cramp during the race. I helped him out and today we still meet up and have a yarn about it," he said.
The marathon starts at Motatapu Station near Lake Wānaka and finishes at Arrowtown.
By Nina Tapu
