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The 45th Parallel Traverse - An Adventure Empowerment Film

  • Made it!!

      28 February 2022
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    And then it was done. 25 days, over 600km. Hiking, paddling, cycling 🏃🏻‍♀️🚵🏻‍♀️🚣‍♀️

    I have so much to share, but I'm feeling pretty flat right now, and don't quite know where to start!

    I haven't stopped dreaming that I'm still moving yet, a form of dreaming that started on the trip, that I hope will finish soon, though I can't seem to 'get to the end' in my dreams! 😅

    There are so many stories to tell from an adventure that was so much more than I could have ever imagined.

    Surreal is a good word to sum up how it all feels right now.

    Exceptionally high highs, being challenged physically in ways I had never been challenged before, all while feeling so incredibly grateful to have the chance to visit places that not too many people get (choose?! 😜) to go.

    So here's a photo that was taken as we arrived at George Sound. My arms are all scraped up from the bush bashing, I'm filthy, exhausted and in awe of what we have achieved, seen and the places we have been. I am also very hungry as we had been on food rations for a few days at this point! 😋

    I want to thank again our amazing support crew and friends who got us through, and the sponsors that helped make it happen 🙏

    More stories and photos to come over on IG and FB @runliketanya and online at runliketanya.com

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  • T Minus 2

      27 January 2022
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    It's T-minus 2 days until we head off!! The gear and bags are packed. The weather looks like it will slow us down and force a few hut days next week - but we are prepared for that.

    You can follow the journey at: runliketanya.com/athlete/challenges/the-45th-parallel-traverse/

    There you will find the tracking link and links to my socials where we will have daily updates.

    Thanks for all the support from our amazing friends, who, behind the scenes will be managing the logistics and getting gear to us along the way. We couldn't do this without you, so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

    And to all you who have supported us, thank you for helping us make this happen!

    All that's left now to do is start the journey and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

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  • Just under 2 weeks to go!!!

      18 January 2022
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    The food is all packed - over 200,000 calories packaged into our daily meal packs, and then all the rest in added extras in the drop boxes. I was doing some calculations on my run today and there is well over 40kg of food packed away! Thanks Back Country Cuisine for being our main source of fuel with four meals per day to keep us going.

    We have packages coming in every day from our wonderful sponsors, who we are super grateful for in making this trip happen.

    I haven't spoken or shared much about my paddling, but I have been slowly building my confidence on the water (my kryptonite!) with regular paddling.

    Much like learning to swim, I have gone from staying near the edge where I can grab hold if anything goes wrong, to working my way out further into the deeper water, to the point now where I can do widths (cross the lake!) without fear.

    I was cursing the Wanaka wind, but I am grateful for the chance to paddle through varying levels of chop and to have gotten comfortable rolling through the waves.

    So where to from here in the next two weeks? Finish packing all the gear into the drops, and start watching the weather.

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  • Finding our way across the South Island

      11 January 2022
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    3 weeks and counting!

    The logistics on this one have been huge. We are really grateful to all the landowners who have given us permission to pass through their land as we trek from one side of the island to the other.

    Countless hours pouring over maps, seeking beta from climbers, hunters, trampers, landowners and we have finalised our way from West to East.

    This is a guide only as we get into the nitty-gritty of route finding on the ground, where no doubt bluffs and unpassable terrain will force us to retrace our steps and find another way through.

    It's amazing to see it laid out though and imagine the adventures we have to come.

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  • #BTS Fueling the expedition

      28 December 2021
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    So we are now only 5 weeks out from our 45th Parallel Traverse. If I’m honest it was getting a bit stressful trying to plan, train and work full-time, so the Christmas holiday break has been a welcome chance to sort out the boxes that had been piling up in the living room!

    I am so incredibly grateful for the support that I have received from all my sponsors, but this week I wanted to give a massive shout out to Back Country Cuisine who are fueling both Ben and I through our trip.

    One big job in our logistics planning has been cache drops and figuring out just how much we need. Back Country has supplied us with four meals per day and a bunch of their delicious (and high calorie!) shakes. These meals will form the basis of our nutrition plan with some extra snacks added in to make up the calories for big days on the move.

    We are so grateful for the support we have had from everyone to make this happen - there really is a whole team behind an endeavour like this, without whom it just wouldn't happen!

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  • Life in front of the camera!

      14 December 2021
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    A big part of the 45th Parallel Traverse project is the short film we are planning on capturing.

    It's funny because I used to HATE being in front of the camera and on film. I felt self-conscious, awkward and uncomfortable.

    In fact, just a few short years back I had trouble looking people in the eye - hard to imagine now with the confident person you see before you!

    It's all been part of my development. My sport helped, being a Police Officer helped, doing things that required me to step up and fake it until I made it, eventually meant, well, that I made it and I was faking it a little less and feeling it a little more.

    It's also come from knowing and accepting myself for who I am - being comfortable in my own skin.

    What is the 45th film going to look like? Ben aka Cheeky Weka Productions has a plan! I'll just be in front of the camera, prepared to share it all - the highs, lows and everything in between.

    What you can be assured of is that it will be real, genuine, and honest, and hopefully inspiring as well!

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  • It's in the bag!

      7 December 2021
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    How do you train for weeks on your feet with a weighted pack? By completing your training with a weighted pack of course!

    This last week has seen me take my hydration vest and small tramping pack, and pack them out with water and some weights from the home gym to simulate and train for the weight I’ll be carrying on the 45th.

    I have to say I felt pretty #badass doing my speed training with an extra few kilos on my back, and even more so when I hit my hill reps on my bike with a full pack. It definitely helps to have good packs, but I’m also noticing the strength that has come from my training making what once was heavy to me now feel a little lighter.

    I’m feeling strong and excited. I do have to watch where my mind creeps to at bedtime because quite quickly my mind can race and my heart beat faster thinking about the challenge ahead.

    Not long to go, logistics are being sorted, routes finalised, and final bits of gear being ordered. Hopefully, if the weather plays ball, my next update will come from a heli recce of our course!

    We are still short on our goal for funding. I’m offering corporate speaking and empowerment adventure packages post traverse if that is something your business might be interested in.

    Thanks again for all the support x

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  • Dreams Become Reality

      30 November 2021
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    I was worried I might not be ready for the traverse, that I would be too scared. No doubt, when I get into unfamiliar territory I will be tested. It's easy to follow someone else's path and be certain of the outcome. It’s a whole other game when you are making it up as you go and have to trust your own skills and knowledge.

    I’ve been doing A LOT of route planning for the 45th. Searching the internet for information and trip reports for the routes and peaks I will be taking in. I took comfort at the beginning seeing routes and reports, knowing that others have been near where I will go. What I also noticed though was big gaps in the beta, routes and peaks that had no information available. While nervous, I came to see that lack of information as a good thing. The exact thing I was craving was an adventure and to blaze my own trail. The lack of information means that I have to do just that.

    So, I will take my unwavering optimism that it CAN BE DONE and that I CAN DO IT and I will take the plunge. I will sink or swim, and either way, I will learn something. Saying that, I’m going into it with a sense of calm and peace, knowing that I AM ready.

    How amazing is it, that the things I am doing today and the adventures I am taking were once just a dream - a dream I took the necessary steps to make a reality!

    Excited.

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  • Bush bashing in the rain!

      21 November 2021
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    What do you do when you're training for an off-track expedition that will involve weeks of moving through different terrain and weather?

    You set out on a less than ideal weather day to bush bash your way up a spur and scramble across a ridgeline in the wind and rain!

    You learn what gear will work - and what gear won't! You consolidate skills and gain confidence in your abilities.

    10 weeks to go and we are so grateful to have the support of:

    Tracplus

    Skinnies

    2B Natural Insect Repellent

    Radix Nutrition

    Basecamp Adventures

    The Fit Collective

    Southern Approach NZ

    We could still use some help to get there, so if you can share this page to spread the word I'd be super grateful x

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  • Scree Running and Bush Bashing!

      7 November 2021
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    45th parallel training update!

    Coming off a mountaineering traverse I got to practise my scree running, bush bashing and scrambling - all while stacked up with a great big pack and a ton of gear!

    I'll be fine-tuning my gear so I can go as light as possible to make the travel easier on the 45th.

    I'll be refining:

    - Sleep system

    - Food, removing packaging and vac sealing to reduce bulk

    - Clothing, I'm going to go full dirtbag, wearing the same clothing as long as possible (sorry in advance to our support team for the smell!)

    Time is flying by and we will be hitting the trails before we know it! If anyone has any hints or tips for long expeditions I'd love to hear and share them.

    Feel free to share the journey with friends and family you think might be interested.

    Thanks again for your support🙏

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  • Jumping of cliffs!

      30 October 2021
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    Hey there,

    Thanks so much for the support, we really appreciate it!

    We got out last weekend to practise building anchors (basically slinging rope around a rock to launch ourselves off!). I had an 'I don't want to be here moment' - like, legit shouted that out! Ha! :) but I was committed, learnt a lesson, and figured out a different route down for the following rappels.

    I feel like I might have a lot of 'I don't want to be here' moments on the traverse when I get pushed outside my comfort zone. But, I'm sure by the time I get to the other side I'll be asking for more!

    I will keep you updated as the training progresses and more adventures ensue :)

    Thanks again for your support and please feel free to share the journey with friends and family you think might be interested.

    Tanya

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