High Five-O Challenge Approaches Half Way

High Five-O Challenge / 04.03.2015

Mal Law is attempting to climb 50 peaks in 50 days around New Zealand and the following is taken from his blog - he's about to hit the half way mark on his audacious challenge.

This morning was the same as all others but different too. The usual routine was being closely inspected by the Seven Sharp team, with a camera following Mal's movements as he prepared for another day in the life of the High Five-0.

Once the morning rituals were completed (breakfast, packing the bag, meeting the runners, taking the start photo, discussing the route, and all the other usual stuff), it was time to head for the mountain.

"We started straight into a 12km solid uphill," describes Mal. They marched up at steady pace since the intention was never to run the big hills anyway. "We made good time and reached the Old Man Range, a new place for me. I love being out there exploring new places and really liked this one – spectacular views of Central Otago from up there."

At one point, during the walk up, Mal realised he had actually spent a weekend with one of the day's support runners, Stephen Farrell, about 15 years ago. "He's a well known triathlete and, when he signed up, I remember thinking the name looked familiar and wondered if it was the same Steve. I didn't recognise him straight away this morning but then remembered it halfway up the hill. It was one of those 'small world' moments." For a few minutes, the walk up hill was more of a stroll up memory lane.

The higher they climbed, the windier it got. The rain jackets came out halfway up the hill and, once at the top, it was time to add more layers.

"The Obelisk is really fascinating. It's just a high point on a flat ridge so not that spectacular as a peak but that rock, which is maybe 20 to 25 metres high, is spectacular. Part of the rock looks like the face of an old man."

The landscape was dry and inhospitable. "It's amazing that anything grows up there," he adds.

Following a quick celebration at the top, battling the elements, and still wearing everything they'd packed for the day, the team started making their way down.

"We came down constantly fighting the headwind in our faces. It was bracing! It wasn't super cold nor wet but you still felt like you were out in the elements. I felt really good."

A long 20km+ downhill would have been a nightmare just a few days ago but turned out to be a pleasant run for Mal today. He started feeling a little tired once they'd reached the flat area but only probably because Mal isn't a fan of running on flat anyway. "Flat stuff really isn't my thing. Mentally, I find 3km long straights when you can see the end even harder because I don't run that much faster along them anyway."

Still, Mal was in high spirits. The day finished with a lovely stretch of running along the Clutha River and, with a mysterious pain in his ankle, he was glad to reach the finish line near Cromwell.

The run that was planned to last 8 to 9 hours ended up taking 6h46 to complete. "I finished ahead of schedule again which is a good boost of confidence. Even went to a café afterwards... that was a nice treat!"

What followed was a night of camping under the stars in the Northburn station and the nervous excitement of the man who is one sleep away from the halfway mark of his biggest challenge.

Progress so far:
714kms run
37,542 metres climbed
190h02 total time on feet

Mal is attempting the most audacious feat of endurance ever attempted on New Zealand soil - running 50 mountain marathons & climbing 50 peaks in just 50 days!
He and his support runners are aiming to raise at least $400,000 for the Mental Health Foundation NZ.
To follow his epic journey & see more photos visit https://www.facebook.com/high50challenge
To donate online go to Mal's fundraising page http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/MalcolmLaw/
Or you can text GOMAL to 2446 to donate $3 to the Mental Health Foundation
Made possible by the generous support of Partners Life, without whom none of this would be happening.

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