Wanaka man Brook Van Reenen has set an ambitious goal: to run the Te Araroa, a 3000km trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

Brook said he imagines it will take around 130 days, covering 20-30km each active day, but he hasn’t set a time limit to finish.

While his Te Araroa run will begin in September next year, Brook (a long-time Wanaka local) has set what he describes as a small challenge for the end of the month: He plans to climb seven peaks in seven days to kickstart his training.

“It’s a wee challenge I’ve set for myself,” he said. “Malcolm and Sally [Law] are going to run the first two days with me, then I’m doing Isthmus Peak, Breast Hill, Grandview, Little Criffel, and going to Queenstown to do Ben Lomond, where I’ll be joined by friends.”

Despite his description of seven peaks in seven days as a little challenge, Brook hasn’t always been a long-distance runner. He decided he wanted to do a marathon before he turned thirty (Brook is now 32), and got hooked.

“I just found I really liked it and caught the bug,” Brook said.

Before that, it had been a different story.

But the Te Araroa trail is still a big challenge for Brook, and he hopes to raise $5,000 for mental health for the run.

“This it will be a big mental challenge, and a good mental battle to overcome,” Brook said. “Some of my closest friends have been affected by [mental health issues] too so it is a good cause to do it for.”

Brook is taking part in numerous marathons over the next year which will form part of his training, and said support from other runners like Malcolm Law helps keep him motivated.

“This idea’s been in my head for a while, but I’ve always been that person thinking I can’t do this I can’t do that and coming up with excuses. I thought it was just time to do it.”

Visit Brook’s fundraising page, and to keep up-to-date with his training journey, subscribe to ‘Running Te Araroa’ on Facebook.

PHOTO: Adam Keen