Triple Peaks: Napier newcomer tames Te Mata three times over in rain

2017 Triple Peaks Challenge men's solo run champion, Josh Garrett, relaxes in the official marquee with wife Sacha in Havelock North Domain. Photo/Warren Buckland

As he sat at the rear end of his station wagon vehicle in the carpark, a drenched and spent Josh Garrett yearned for the simpler things in life.

"I think I want to go have a rest and maybe lie down on the couch with a cup of tea and just relax in the afternoon," Garrett said as wife Sacha attempted to tug the thermal leggings of him after refuelling him with bottles of electrolyte in Havelock North.

The 28-year-old's desire was understandable after he conquered the annual Triple Peaks Challenge today in sporadic rain to stop the clock at 3h 29m 04s.

"It's not too bad. I've done 100ks before with three times around the same loop so this was a bit of a treat," said Garrett who got out of his wet gear to occupy a corner in the official marquee at the domain village green soon after to watch others cross the finish line.

Regan Bones, of Tauranga, came 19m 44s behind Garrett (3:48:48) while third-placed Peter Pickle-Pants (3:53:39), a late entry believed to be from Hawke's Bay, was 24m 35s behind the leader.

Garrett, a Waihi-born runner who set a scorching pace, moved to Napier in November to work for Pan Pac as a mechanical engineer.

He had some idea of what Te Mata Peak had in store for him after about four training runs there.

But the persistent drizzle from the 7.51am start saw him clock 3h 29m 04s in a three-time loop of the Te Mata Peak circuit, after concerns over flooding rivers prompted organisers Kiwi Adventure Trust to abort the Mt Erin and Mt Kahuranaki legs of what constitutes the three peaks challenge.

"There were plenty of ups and downs so it's a trying course regardless of whether it's wet or dry," Garret said, indicating his desire to return to conquer the other two peaks.

"Unfortunately race directors had to make a choice and I believe they made the right one on the day," he said, unable to see if the river crossings were swollen but accepted it was imperative to cater for everyone.

"You know, there's no point in going to pull out people who are cold and wet so it was definitely the right decision."

The rear end of Te Mata Peak, the "switch side", had competitors on their hands and knees.

"By the end of it, third lap, I was just crawling up there just to find anywhere where I could find a grip."

A grinning Garrett relished the rain and cooler climes compared to a sweltering Perth, where he worked for five years before arriving here.

In the past six years he has entered a few major events, including 100km ultra-marathons.

"It's the first one on home soil coming back here."

Garrett said today's win was "up there" and challenging but certainly not the most gruelling one of his career.

His flirtation with running began in his late teens when he took up multi-sports but when he went to Perth the code wasn't big so took up ultra running.

He is gravitating towards multisport again.

"Just pushing yourself to see how far the body can go before it stops," he said when asked what the thrill was.

Garrett is heading back home to Waihi for there Nugget Multisport event in May.

While running has to be his first preference he said he would have been mountainbiking today had he not been running.

While Bones saw Garrett's red shoes disappear into the mist like Beep Beep the Roadrunner about 1km after the start, he was delighted to improve his position from 18th two years ago.

"He took off so quick. I never take off so fast in a long race because it's just too risky," said the athlete who has a track-running background from high school days.

"I'm not studying or anything like that so I've got a bit more time and can put in more effort," said the 24-year-old land surveyor who spent 10 minutes in the massage tent after the race.

With the feet sliding everywhere, Bones said it was difficult to find traction which strained muscles and probably cost him 10 minutes in the last lap.

He said no runner could follow the original track because of the boggy underfoot.

"Everyone went on the fence line, which went straight up," he said, thanking his support crew, including girlfriend Courtney Buckland.

Bones intends to return to the Air New Zealand-sponsored Hawke's Bay International Marathon on May 13.