I Tried To Run Really Far: The physical and emotional battle of running New Zealand’s 3000-kilometre Te Araroa Trail.

by Lewis Matthews

Lewis Matthews is an adventurer and personal trainer from Somerset, in the United Kingdom. In 2018 he had the crazy idea of running a 3000km trail the length of New Zealand. The stunning Te Araroa trail encompasses beautiful beaches, pristine rainforest, vertiginous mountains and active volcanoes. It is a challenge to hike, let alone run. Nevertheless, this is what Lewis – with his support team of Jill, Phil, and their trusty Toyota van, Gerty – found themselves doing in January 2020. ‘ I Tried to Run Really Far’ , tells the story of this epic adventure as Lewis, setting out to break the trail record of 53 days, battles extreme physical and mental challenges – and some extra ones thrown in by Nature for good measure. It is an openly emotional account, sparing no detail of the gruelling difficulties – the failures as well as triumphs – involved in such an undertaking. Lewis set out to push his personal boundaries, raise money for a charity dear to his heart, and inspire others to find progress in their lives. Did he succeed? Read on to find out.

278 pages, Paperback

Published January 10, 2022

Reviews

[Elke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok most will probably not understand a one star for such an epic run
I am however not rating the run, i am rating the book
I love reading ultra running stories, but they need to be well written
This book was neither a full-on information on food, trails, weather, shoes, equipment story.. which i would not have preferred, that is not the kind of book i am after
But neither was this a well written, moving tale
Its was actuall Quite boring
Way too many quotes- to-live-by too
Did not even bother to read the epilogue
I so much prefer anna mcnuff's book on the trail!!!
She had way more fun too i think...

[Danice H · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiringish read

I love the idea this adventure was chosen for charity. But I don't get why running it would be more beneficial than hiking it. Te Araroa is an exciting NZ treasure and I think I'm a bit put out(!?) that because of the running/time pressure, the author wasn't able to appreciate it fully because of the mentality needed to get through each day. Massive achievement though and I like the friendships strengthened.

[Gosia · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. Although I gave it a good over-50-percent! I understand that was quite a journey fir the author. But as a book - the thoughts were repetitive, the words tedious, the adventure (that I like, meeting people and learning new things) almost non-existent. I read another book of someone who run in the other direction and I read it with a smile, laughter even. This one was more of a technical account, step by step description with some new reflections. By half I just couldn’t go further. And this is no a review towards the journey and the run, I’m sure it was spectacular. But the book if it was not.