High Achiever: Life fits around passion for running | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Event management is far from glamorous - ask the Event Promotions team who have just spent three days cleaning up after the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge.

And managing director Murray Fleming was there in the mud with the rest of the crew, after all, it was all his idea.

"I have always had a passion for running - cross country and road. We wanted to develop an event with uniqueness, so combining cross country with an army obstacle was an obvious addition to the stable of events the company operates."

It has been a popular addition to the Event Promotions stable. When Tough Guy & Gal first ran at Off Road NZ in 2003, it attracted 420 competitors. The event grew to the point where additional events in Auckland and Palmerston North were introduced to cater for the numbers wanting to take part. This year saw a total of 7500 competitors take on the challenge, but Murray has even bigger plans for the event.

"Our goal for the 2011 series is to have 10,000 competitors taking part across the three venues."

This is only one of eight events run by Event Promotions. Starting with Taupo's Great Lake Relay in February, the team is also responsible for the Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon in March, the Avanti Rotorua to Taupo 100k Flyer in April, The 24-hour Cat Eye Moonride in Rotorua in May and the City to Surf 12km fun run from Tauranga to the Mount and the Pukekohe Express cycle event in September.

Organising is nothing new for Murray. After graduating from Otago University in 1984, he moved to Tokoroa to work as the programme director at the YMCA. This involved setting up and running a variety of community programmes, with everything from indoor cricket and soccer to holiday programmes. Two years later, he bought his first business - an indoor cricket facility in Tauranga - before moving to Taupo in 1988 to manage an employment scheme based on sport and recreation. Murray held this role for eight years. Event Promotions became his focus in 1996 when he took on the first Taupo Great Lake Relay - a running and walking event with 1400 competitors.

"The company now organises a variety of running, cycling and mountain bike events throughout the North Island."

In all, the eight events involve about 25,000 competitors each year. But Murray isn't about to rest on his laurels and already has targets and plans set for 2011.

"At this stage, we are looking at expanding our existing events by 15 per cent in the 2011 calendar year. To keep each event fresh, we are always looking at small changes to ensure that the competitor has a positive experience."

 

• LET US KNOW: Do you know a high achiever who might be suitable for a Post business profile? We are looking for people who:
  
  Are leaders in their industry or the local business community
  
  Have recently received an award or qualification
  
  Have been promoted within the company or taken on a new post at national or regional level
  
  Are celebrating a significant milestone
  
  Have made a particular contribution to their industry or wider business community
  
  Contact business editor Julie Taylor on (07) 348 6199 ext 57015 or at business@dailypost.co.nz