After the injury, McArthur never looked back. She retrained as a nutritionist and personal trainer. She began slowly and started walking half marathons with her clients.
"When I couldn't walk half marathons any faster, I started running them, when I couldn't run them any faster I decided to try the Rotorua Full marathon," she said.
McArthur has now completed seven marathons including the New York Marathon. She is looking forward to ticking No 8 off the bucket list when she attempts the annual Colville Connection -- a staple on the multisport calendar on the northern end of the Coromandel Peninsula.
McArthur says her training for the Colville Connection has been "slow and steady".
Before Christmas, she ran the Queenstown Half Marathon, the Speight's West Coaster the following week at Bethells Beach and then the Adra Half Marathon at Mission Bay.
"Because of my previous injuries I can only run every second day. Looking at the elevation and track for this event, I think that it will be the equivalent of about 60km-plus on the road."
Throughout all of her success, McArthur has had more injuries than many have had hot dinners. She has overcome it all with incredible tenacity.
After her second marathon she got a stress fracture in her hip at the neck of her femur from the impact of training on the road.
"I was running about 80km per week and my body wouldn't take it. I was confined to bed rest for four weeks -- which was absolute hell for me -- and then four weeks on crutches and a very slow return to running."
McArthur overcame the injury to run the New York Marathon in 2010, and then suffered another fracture, in the same spot, when she upped her mileage for the Rotorua Marathon the following year. Again, another frustrating few months of no running followed.
The next year she bounced back to run the Mountain to Surf Marathon in New Plymouth and then decided "she had to train" for the Kepler, which is a 60km offroad ultra-marathon. She suffered another stress fracture, this time in her fibular.
A bone scan showed she has oesteopenia (early osteoporosis) and her bones are not remodelling as quickly as they break down. The specialist told her not to run any more, but with a second opinion a compromise was reached.
Now she runs only on the off-road trails where the stress and impact on her body are reduced.
"Trail running is never boring, there are always hazards to watch for, you have to use your core and your brain!"
McArthur has the goal to finish her training and this marathon without injury. Running on the trails has given her running career a new lease of life and she encouraged others with an interest in trail running "to get out and do it".
"Get good quality off-road shoes, and a friend or group to run with. Getting close to nature is good for the soul!"
Colville Connection
When: February 21
Where: Northern end of Coromandel Peninsula
Event Options: Mountain Bike - 72km, 42km, 21km, Run/ Walk: 42km, 21km, 10km and 5km.
For more information, contact: http://www.colvilleconnection.co.nz
Something for all athletes
About 1000 people of all ages and abilities are expected for the Colville Connection on the Coromandel Peninsula in February. It is popular because there is literally something for everyone.
There are three different mountain bike rides and three run/walk events, all starting and finishing from the local Colville School. Brenna Roband, event director from total sport, says the Colville Connection is an event that athletes look forward to for good reason.
What makes this event special?
This is one of New Zealand's oldest mountain biking events and 2015 will mark the 14th anniversary. Each year it brings a unique mix of participants, some of whom have participated every year, for others it may be their first off-road experience, or a local race for Olympic or Commonwealth Games athletes. Hosted in Colville, the area is beautiful, quiet and remote. It's a place you make a special trip to see, the Coromandel Peninsula and Cape Colville, which the original 72km mountain bike circumnavigates, takes the participants through isolated beaches and pohutakawa archways, lining the roads. It's possible to stop off for a swim, one of the locals looks after the bikes at Waikawau Bay.
I understand this is an event that all the locals get behind?
Yeah, it has a strong community presence. The Colville School with a role of 30 students has been a major beneficiary since the event's inception. Marshals, catering and hosting is provided by the Colville School. There are many attractions in the great area for after the event. It's a quintessential Kiwi holiday destination merged with enthusiasm and excitement of an original off-road trail event.
What advice do you have for newcomers to the Colville?
Seek some advice from those you know who've been involved with mountain biking, trail running/walking before or your local bike or sports shop. Getting out on the trails and being comfortable with your equipment is crucial and will help you not only to get physically conditioned but also teach you to pace and manage your energy reserves. It's a great place to ride with others, learn tricks of the trade, make friends and keep safe.
