Our Development Team Leader, Andrew Thompson represented NZ at the 2019 Trail Running World Championships in Portugal.How did it go in Portugal Andrew? Wow - what a humbling experience to be standing at a starting line crushed up among the best in the world. And to then have to race them – that was next level.

I had a pretty good day for the most part, it's challenging when you don't know the course and aren't used to the conditions. And the shear magnitude of the event makes it difficult to keep to the exact page you want.

"I was very happy to beat people from countries such as USA, Great Britain and Spain, some real powerhouses of the trail running scene... I was 118th man, 132nd overall out of 250 and 410 respectively."

I nearly achieved a personal goal of running the course in under 4 hours 30 – so pretty happy with getting close to that, and definitely achieved the goal of satisfying the selectors by being 2nd NZ man home, proudly finishing behind Sam McCutcheon who was the first NZ man and was listed in the top 10 in the world a few years ago.

I was 118th man, 132nd overall out of 250 and 410 respectively. 

I was very happy to beat people from countries such as USA, Great Britain and Spain, some real powerhouses of the trail running scene.

Amazing achievement Andrew, we couldn't be more proud. And thanks for the airport duty chocolates you brought back with you to the office, they were great too.