19/01/2026
The GOAT 2026...started in the Whakapapa
sunshine, finished 19 1/2km and almost 4 hours later in the Turoa cloud.
My 4th Goat, my second fastest time...at first I was disappointed not to better last year's time, but the beauty of the Goat is the ever changing conditions, and this year the epic climbs, rock scrambling and river crossings were accompanied by lots of MUD, slightly less running, a lot more slipping and sliding.
I love this event, so good being right out amongst it on one of NZ's most challenging trail running events, with a super cool group of friends who come together every year in Ohakune to share in the pain and eat eclairs 😀 tomorrow I might even be able to walk downstairs again without holding on to rails!
Thanks for the huge amount of work that goes into running this awesome event. See you next year!! (Although somehow my trail running shoes got left behind in the Turoa carpark 😆 )