My Story

Age: 21      Height: 6″0      Eye Colour: Brown      Pre-race food: Burger & chips       

I’m a 21-year-old runner who specialises in ultra-long distance events. I caught the running bug as a 10-year-old, heading out on weekend runs with my dad. By 14, I had finished a marathon, an ultra at 16 and my first 100-mile race at eighteen years of age.

Based in Canterbury, New Zealand, I have spent the last five years training on both the roads and trails with my dad. We’ve run a few ultras together and highlights have been the Old Ghost Ultra and Taupo Ultra in 2020. 

In 2019, I took a gap year and traveled through the UK and Europe. While on my travels I had the opportunity to race in France, Italy and the United Kingdom. I was also lucky enough to be a spectator at the 2019 edition of UTMB and race at the Junior Skyrunning World Cup. 

Upon returning to New Zealand, I started working for Cactus Outdoor, a New Zealand clothing and apparal company and living in flat of athletic engineering students. Balancing my time with work, running, firefighting and a few other bits and bobs has it’s challenges, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

I dream of one day racing the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) and the Western States 100, as well as representing New Zealand on the international stage. You can follow my training and racing on Facebook, Instagram and Strava and are most welcome to get in touch if you’d ever like to head out on a run! 

Episode 137 – Ben and Yonni Kepes – Dirt Church Radio Trail Running

Kia Ora Whānau. This week on the podcast we have our first Father-Son double header! Eugene speaks to Ben and Yonni Kepes. Ben and Yonni are an ultra trail running father and son from Canterbury. They are both volunteer firefighters, both involved in the family business which Ben co-founded, Cactus Outdoors, and both involved with the organisation Speed Freaks. Ben has also been recognised for his leadership by the Sir Peter Blake Trust, he’s a technology expert, a business advisor and entrepreneur. Yonni celebrated his 21st by running the Northburn 50 km recently, and then crewed home his dad and others. He was the youngest person known to have run a 100 km and a 100 mile race. This is an inspiring and emotional chat about family, commitment, and love of our sport. We also have a Goggins-inspired Greatest Run Ever, we run down the ways Matt hates Hot Cross Buns (lame, gross) Matt offends Scotland (we take it week about) and Eugene preps to pace the Rotorua Marathon. Enjoy