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CurraNZ helps propel Anthony Kerr-Taylor to New Zealand backyard ultra record at Kings
on June 17, 2024
Anthony Kerr-Taylor ran to an emotional victory in the inaugural Kings Backyard Ultra in Whangarei last month, winning his first-ever race in the format and setting a national record for most laps run on New Zealand soil (52), beating the previous record (50 laps). The previous record was held by Jeremy Pelvin, set in Arrowtown last year.
It was only the runner’s fifth-ever Backyard Ultra, having finished eighth in the ‘Miler’ at Tarawera in February and qualifies him for the World Satellite Champs in October.
The new event attracted 78 runners, with several CurraNZ fans in the line-up, including Brooke Thomas, who finished fourth female behind Ketina Chivasa (26 laps - 174.46KM). Brook, who is aiming for UTMB in September, didn’t think a 40-lap annihilation of her body would be a sensible call and made the strategic decision to call it a day on loop 21.
Anthony, who clocked 37 loops at Riverhead ten weeks before Kings, said after the race: “With high expectations to go deep into the second and third day, I spent the first 12 hours really enjoying the event and trying to connect with as many other runners as possible.
“I got through the first night relatively stress free and with the sun coming up and the 24 hour (160km) milestone under my belt, it was time to go to work and push forward through the next 12 hours.
“Only Brandon Purdue, Simon McLean and myself were still going as we looped into the second night. Brandon called it quits after 44 hours shortly before sunrise and the 322km mark.
“With the dangling carrot of the national Backyard Record of 50 Hours/Loops, the motivation was there to crack on together.
“After completing 51 Loops together, Simon turned back at the start of Loop 52, leaving me to have to complete one last time, with 348.92kms under my belt.
“It was a bittersweet, lonely and super emotional last lap because I found myself in the position of winning a Backyard event for the first time, becoming the NZ Record Holder and gaining a spot for the NZ Backyard team to compete at the World Satellite Champs later in October.
“It was a truly amazing weekend which I’ve worked extremely hard for over the last two years, so to get a result like that was super satisfying.”
Anthony has used CurraNZ for almost three years and praises the product for its impact – particularly after the latest event, which saw him join his running club for their session, just 24 hours later.
“It sets me up for a busy day with training, or it aids recovery from the day before. On race day, it’s always one of the first things I pack, with a double dose 2 hours prior to race start.
“The recovery from running 52 hours and 350kms at Kings Backyard has been swift - the Purple Pills were popped consistently throughout the race at the prescribed rate, so it was no surprises I was literally back up and running 10km the next night on Tuesday at my beloved Helensville Run Club!”EDITOR'S NOTE: The headline to this article mistakenly reads 'Purple-powered ultra-runner, Anthony Kerr-Taylor, pulled a new PB out of the bag at Kings Backyard Ultra, Whangarei last month, breaking the previous record, held by Sam Harvey.' This is incorrect - the previous record was held by Jeremy Pelvin, set in Arrowtown in 2023. Our apologies for this mistake.
