Sports Event Organiser, Aaron Carter

5:00AM Wednesday May 07, 2008

Photo / Greg Bowker

I watch quite a bit of sport on TV but generally prefer to watch "real" people performing on their particular sports stage, as opposed to watching the professionals on television - watching people complete their first 10km run, half marathon or ironman triathlon can be pretty compelling viewing.

I gave up on the idea of being a professional sportsman a decade or so ago. I was a reasonable cricketer during my teens and 20s and probably could have achieved more with that sport.

The events we create mean a multitude of different things to a massive variety of people.

They are an outlet - to some people, our events are an opportunity to launch their outdoor active lifestyle, for others they are a stepping stone to completing events at the "super serious" level.

I love seeing people complete our iconic North Shore City Coastal Challenge (adventure run and walk event along the North Shore coastline), and other equally awesome events - seeing people getting to the finish line with their legs bleeding from getting a little roughed up by the rocks or taking a wee fall somewhere, yet still being totally high on adrenalin, and complete with that very distinctive look of pride and accomplishment in completing their own personal challenge.

My body has definitely undergone some changes since I have become firmly entrenched in my 30s. My 90kg+ frame is not ideal for running in particular, but I love it so I just have to learn to manage the training - running off the roads and footpaths is a very good start to managing the impact that running can put on the body.

People may be surprised to know that I was an aspiring ballet dancer at the age of about 4.

I would go to watch my sister at her ballet class then sneak off and try the moves around the corner - I didn't then, and still do not have the body or skills required to be a dancer, so I moved on.

I can't stand mean people. I'd really hate if someone caught me sneaking away from a group dinner and not paying my share - this would never happen.

I wish more people would relax a little, and make more of an effort to get on with others.

While I love Auckland and what it has to offer, there is a percentage of people in this city who need to get themselves out for a decent bush or forest run and put things in perspective.

After doing lots of work in other places around the country recently, I realised how accommodating and friendly people can be in some of the smaller centres in New Zealand. I missed hitting a par round by one shot at Muriwai golf course a few years ago - close but no doughnut.

One of the most amazing periods of my life was living with my mother for around a year in 2003 and 2004 as she quite quickly deteriorated with cancer.

I spent some quality time with her during that time before she died, and felt like I was able to give her back some of the parenting that she'd given me for nearly 30 years.

These were also the days when the business was barely staying afloat - I would love it if she could see how much progress it's made over the last three to four years because I think she'd be proud.
* Aaron Carter established Total Sport, an event management company which specialises in sport and recreation events, in 2000. Some of the biggest events it's responsible for are the North Shore City Coastal Challenge, held in March, and the Xterra Auckland trail run series which starts later this month and runs until October.

- NZ HERALD

More Articles:

Next Life & Style Story: Tomato tarte tatins

Life & Style Homepage