A COMEBACK LIKE NO OTHER

Life of no Regrets iT’S NOW A

MAIN IMAGE: Malcolm Winnie with best mate and running partner Richard Barman on the right during the 2021 Tarawera Ultramarathon 102km. Image: FinisherPix. INSET: Recovery was a long process for Malcolm Winnie, standing with friend Aly Learmonth. Image: Supplied.

It can take weeks, even months, to come back from an injury that impedes on our running, be it a rolled ankle, a long haul battle with plantar fasciitis, or knee impediments. We know what it’s like. But almost two decades ago, Malcolm Winnie endured a freak accident that left him to combat the biggest fight of his life. Kate Dzienis talks to him about the disaster that almost crippled him permanently, and how he returned with a vengeance to the trails of the Tarawera Ultramarathon

SIXTEEN years ago, Malcolm Winnie’s life changed in an instant. Always drawn to nature and and the great outdoors, forging a career as a professional adventure guide, Malcolm’s job enabled him to travel the world, and he had all the opportunities to see and partake in the world’s best adventure spots – from guiding through canyons to kayaking down pristine rivers and rock climbing.

In 2005 though, on November 5 at about 1pm, his world turned upside down – literally. Having just returned to New Zealand from an international job, he was working on a DIY renovation project when a concrete wall collapsed.

And it collapsed onto him.

“It’s hard to explain, but the best way to put it is it was absolutely terrifying,” he says, taking in a deep breath to recollect his thoughts.

“For me, on that day, it was the nature of how I was going to die that petrified me, a very slow and incredibly painful death of being crushed to death. But I went through a range of emotions at the time, and I can remember the order they came in; first I went through shock, and then it was anger.

“I hadn’t expected to die that day, I was only 35 years old, so I then went through overwhelming sadness about not saying the things I wanted to say to certain people in my life; the last emotion I experienced was regret, and that became a real driving force for me when I survived the accident.

“I remember thinking that there were many things I was going to do one day or someday, and I’d realised that one day or someday were never going to come. I was deeply regretful for that, so when I came out of the other side of it and lived through, it was a massive motivating force for me to never feel that way ever again.”

All this went through his head in what seemed like the longest 3-4 minutes of his life, when suddenly the wall partially rolled off him and he knew he would live, despite not knowing the extent of his injuries.

With no one there to help, Malcolm found the strength and fortitude to crawl to a safe spot and text his brother with one word – ‘accident’.

It wasn’t until that evening in hospital, following numerous scans and even an MRI, that he was told he had a

significant spinal injury – breaking his back in four places and one in his neck. The news was overwhelming, and it took him weeks to process what had actually happened to his body.

With uncertainty in front of him, the only options at that point in a bid to start walking again were surgery – and not just one, but a multitude of surgeries which included ‘bolting’ him back together, in his words.

“It was very much about getting me mobile again, and that includes titanium rods and screws to pin the spine back together and then bone grafting it,” he explains.

One can only imagine the physical therapy that endures following such recovery, but Malcolm’s body responded tremendously well to the efforts, and within 12 months he conquered his first ultra marathon.

“I needed something to focus on, being in and out of hospital was really hard, so I set myself a goal and outcome to help me deal with everything going on,” he says.

“It was my own 55km ultra, just around where I lived, and did it 12 months to the day of my accident.”

Now, 16 years on, and despite living in chronic pain that varies on a scale of mild to extreme still to this day, Malcolm is ready to tackle the Tarawera Ultramarathon in early February this year.

“Three years post operation, I had my titanium rod removed by choice, thinking it might help with the pain,” he reveals.

“Not the case, but the body is what it is for me, and I’m used to living with it now.”

Malcolm’s training for the 102km at Tarawera includes a lot of cross-training and cycling due to the constant loading on his spine, but he also manages a decent 60-100km per week in the lead up.

“I’m doing the distances, plus strength training, yoga and cross-training when needed,” he says.

“In terms of preparing, it’s really about getting time on my legs and building it up, but one of the things I struggle with the most are the pain and Wellington (NZ) weather; I get progressively more sore as the training week progresses, and I have to look after my back and neck through massage and loads of stretching.”

This year’s race will be extra special for Malcolm as he’ll be covering the distance with his brother, who was a part of his support crew for the 2021 event. Yes, Malcolm has already done the TUM102, completing it last year in a time of 16:10:43.

For Malcolm, trail running has been a salvation and has kept him going through the darkest of times.

“It helps me in every way, anything in the great outdoors I call my Vitamin C in life, and so it’s just another way of me connecting with nature, and that’s always been a passion of mine,” he reveals.

“When I’m out running those trails, in those moments it’s my clarity, and time simply stands still. The world drops away and there’s that emotional high. There’s that real connection to things outside of yourself, and I love that.

Malcolm Winnie in 2020, atop Roy’s Peak in Wanaka, NZ. Image: Supplied.