The rain clouds parted and the sun shone down when more than 30 burly blokes ran up Papamoa Hills yesterday.
Local rugby stars and Chiefs players Josh Hohneck, Lelia Masaga and Tanerau Latimer joined their teammates on a fun run up the Papamoa Hills.
Latimer, from Te Puke, wanted to prove he was the king of the hill but he finished behind challenge winner and extended squad member Pierz Francis, who had a winning time of 10 minutes, 48 seconds.
The Chiefs briefly visited the Western Bay as part of their week-long, pre-season training camp that took them around the Bay of Plenty.
On Monday the team gathered in Hamilton and were relieved of their wallets and belongings and told to hitch a ride to Opotiki with only $10. Along the way they had to complete a series of challenges, which they documented on video camera.
Throughout the week the team completed various physical activities, from bike riding to kayaking, doing surf lifesaving relays and running through waist-deep mud.
Yesterday, the team drove to the Papamoa Hills and invited the public to join them as they ran.
Strength and conditioning coach Phil Healey said the aim of the training camp was to get the team engaged with the community.
"That's been a very big part of it. I've been involved for years and in all my time we haven't done anything like this," he said.
"We've had a few massive days, physically, and we've pushed them mentally, too, because the boys seem to come together a bit better when it's been tough. We called those the devil days."
When Chief's management organised the training week, Latimer told them about the mighty hill, Healey said.
"We call it Lat's hill and today we've come to race it."
The challenging run took the athletes 10 to 16 minutes.
"The views were outstanding and it's great for the new boys [to the team] because it showed them this is our franchise. You could see all the way down the coastline, from Opotiki where we've been and they were able to see what we're all about," Healey said.
Papamoa dad John Lea and his two sons Brooklyn, 11, and Xavier, 10, turned up to the regional park to see the Chiefs take on the hill.
Rugby-mad Xavier said his excitement levels were about eight out of 10 and he was most looking forward to see Masaga and Richard Kahui.
All Blacks Kahui and Sonny Bill Williams were not involved in the training camp as they were on annual leave after the Rugby World Cup.
The pair is due to return to training in early January.
Tauranga's Mark Power brought his nephew Sean Straud to the regional park to see his mentors. Sean, 14, who was visiting from South Africa, said he loved the All Blacks and the Chiefs "because of the way they play".
Meanwhile local Chiefs players Sam Cane and Phil Burleigh, along with All Black Aaron Cruden and a small group of others, did not take part in the run. Some have injuries and others completed a fitness session earlier in the morning.