The iconic Motatapu Off-Road Sporting Event held every March brings more than 4,000 participants to Wanaka, and this year one 69-year-old competitor is returning for the sixteenth time. 

Starting near Glendhu Bay, the Motatapu race snakes its way through 42km of stunning high country terrain traversing Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe Stations. For Gary Kirkman, the scenery and excitement of the event is just too good to give up.

He has competed in all but one of Motatapu’s marathon categories since the event’s inception in 2005, and the upcoming event - this year being held on March 6 - could mark his fastest time yet.

Gary came second in the over 60s section of the marathon category last year, which demands 42km of off-road running.

A seasoned runner, Gary is no stranger to adventure races. He has completed three Coast-to-Coast events, winning a bronze medal in the veteran team section with his team mate Francis Sullivan, and finishing in 12th place overall in the 1994 event. He also competed in eight Kepler Challenge mountain races.

Gary Kirkman, who will compete in the 17th Motatapu off-road event next month, is certainly not letting age slow him down. PHOTO: Finisherpix

“Gary has always been a fast runner – at age 50 he could go under 60 seconds for the 400m and under 2.20 for the 800m,” Gary’s wife Gail said.

Gary has no plans to quit running and he is not slowing down either.

His results in the Motatapu have been improving consistently over the last few years. He was able to shave almost an hour off his running time, getting down from 5hr 12min in 2015 to 4hr 19min in 2020.

His fitness routine includes early morning runs three times a week, healthy food and regular bike rides. 

As part of the training for the Motatapu race he has enlisted for the Shotover Moonlight Half-Marathon on February 20 and for the Walter Peak 10km run on February 27. 

Gary says that for him “running is not just addictive, it’s wonderfully addictive”.

At the end of February, the Te Anau resident will retire from his job with Ballance Agri-nutrients. He says this will give him more time to pursue his passion for fly fishing - and do even more running.

The Motatapu Off-Road Sporting Event is coming up soon, but there’s still time to enter. Choose from one of the four race categories: The Mountain Bike, Ultra Run, Miner’s Trail or the Off-Road Marathon.

Find all the details here.