Allysia Kraakman with the shoes she ran 100 miles in over the course of 41 hours.
If Nancy Sinatra’s boots were made for walkin’, Allysia Kraakman’s shoes were clearly made for running.
And she’s set her sights on lacing them up again soon, having proven they’re clearly capable of doing so over astronomical distances.
The Cambridge-based 24-7 Youth Work Waikato regional coordinator is home having competed in the 2023 Northburn 10’s 100-mile race in Cromwell, Central Otago in late March.
After 18 months of training, first-time entrant Allysia ran 100 miles – or 161km – which also included a 10,000m ascent – in 41 hours, 23 minutes, 39 seconds.
She finished in the top 10 of the women’s event, and ninth among 25 runners.
A total of 70 competitors raced across a range of distances.
More than a placing, finishing was Allysia’s ultimate goal. In part it was the culmination of an aim Allysia set herself following a chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) diagnosis – and subsequent depression – in 2007.
She was mostly confined to bed during a “pretty bad year”.
“As I began recovering, regaining my health was a gift I wanted to use well.”
So, she started running, “…it seemed easier than cycling or swimming”.
I love encouraging people to push the ‘glass ceiling’
The first step was a duathlon – made up of running and cycling – in 2008.
Allysia got a taste of the Northburn 100 in 2017 when she ran 21km – a half marathon – alongside husband Aaron as he competed.
“That gave me a bit of an idea of what to expect, but as we arrived in Cromwell the day before the race this year and saw the mountains, the magnitude absolutely sank in.”
She was confident though – having run up to 70km a week in preparation, including the 50km Tarawera Ultramarathon in February, and 50km on Mt Te Aroha a week prior.
The best approach to running 100 miles is “slowly but surely”, she said. Aaron ran the last 54km alongside her and his knowledge of the hilly, mountainous course was invaluable.
“He also holds me accountable when I set goals, helping me not to make excuses why I can’t do something.
“If people only take one thing away from this, I hope it’s that they too can achieve whatever goals they have. I love encouraging people to push the ‘glass ceiling’, those self-imposed boundaries we all – myself included – limit ourselves with at times.”
Wanting to help others achieve their goals, Allysia has also become a life coach since recovering from CFS.
“I know I can’t expect something from someone that I haven’t done myself, so that helps me stay accountable to others I have a desire to help.”
Northburn race director Terry Davis, who has “done the distance” said the 2023 event was a great year.
“People come to Northburn to test themselves with the question, “…how much can I suffer and still keep pushing?”
“I get quite emotional seeing people finish. For those who finish, no future physical obstacle is daunting. I hope all the first-time finishers gain confidence which transfers into other areas of their lives.”
Allysia says their three children – Stirling, Layla and Jorja – are setting goals having seen their parents’ passion for running.
“Layla, for example, just told us she wants to run a half marathon. More than the scope of any goal itself though, simply seeing each of our kids setting their sights high in life makes us so proud.”
