First Mt Tauhara, next Mt Tongariro.
A training walk up Mt Tauhara gave four students from Taupō Alternative Education the confidence to commit to the 2020 Tough Guy & Gal challenge at the end of October.
Students Trujuan Cameron, 14, Cruz Graham, 15, Maison Fontana, 13, and Aquanee Privitera, 15, took on the extreme off-road running event, along with teachers Catherine Hawkins and Mish Wi.
Billed as a unique event held at Lakes Ranch, Rotorua, the Tough Guy & Girl Challenge course includes swamp crossings, a spider's web net climb, a crawl under barbed wire, beautiful native bush trails, tunnels, hurdles, a climbing frame, and plenty of mud.