Silver Fern Irene van Dyk knows a thing or two about keeping fit – and staying positive. After years pushing her body to its limits, Irene has now learned the joy of slowing down, to really fill her cup.
Welcome to our column, A Letter To… Some of our most well-known Kiwis and everyday heroes pen letters about a topic close to their hearts. Some of their names you will know very well, while other’s are kept anonymous to protect the privacy of the subjects. Whether it is a letter to a specific someone, or a group of people, or simply an open letter to broach a difficult subject, each letter is very different, but all will share one common thread; they will all be written from the heart. You can read our other letters here.
This month Irene van Dyk is sharing her thoughts about slowing down the pace – and staying safe. Irene is the ambassador of the Kiwi Walk & Run Trail Series, which kicks off this weekend in Auckland. Now in it’s fifth year, it spans nine events across the country – combining a trail experience (yes, walking is totally fine!) with food, wine and local attractions (a…dream?!). This event is a fully supported way to experience our outdoors, with marked trails, marshalls, pitstops and first-aid on hand to create a safe environment. With 70% of participants being women though, the same conversation comes up often: ‘As a woman, I’m afraid to walk alone’. Here’s what Irene has to say:
They say running is freedom, and they’re right. But what they don’t always talk about is how fear can sometimes hold you back from even lacing up your shoes.
Since moving to Hawke’s Bay six years ago, I’ve fallen in love with the trails here. The settled weather, the rolling hills, the endless stretches of vineyard paths and coastal tracks, it’s like an invitation to move. Back in Wellington, the wind and rain often kept me indoors, but here I discovered something new.
For me, it’s not about running, speed or performance, it’s about slowing it down, walking the tracks and taking it all in. After years on the netball court, pushing my body to its limits, I’ve found freedom in reducing the pace. On the trails, you set the standards. You can stop to breathe, to snack, to drink, to notice how the same path shows you something different each time. It’s exercise, yes, but it’s also exploration. It’s medicine.
Every time I head out, I feel refreshed. My mind clears, my body loosens, and I come home lighter. Movement is powerful like that. It’s not just about staying fit after my career, it’s about protecting my mental health, keeping my body strong, and reminding myself that the best things in life are often free, like fresh air and open sky. But I know it’s not this simple for everyone.
I’m lucky, I have four close friends who are always up for joining me on a walk or run. It’s social and of course there’s safety in numbers. I also know not everyone has a running or walking buddy they can call on, and coming from South Africa, where feeling unsafe was an everyday reality, I understand how fear can stop you from stepping out the door when you’re alone. Even here in New Zealand, where we’re fortunate to live in a much safer environment, sadly we’re still not immune.
That’s why I believe so strongly in community. If you don’t have a friend to call, look around: a neighbour, a co-worker, a local group, event or gathering. Aside from my four friends I’ve also found that community in the Hawke’s Bay leg of the Kiwi Walk & Run Series. We start at the Church Road Vineyard before winding through the Taipo Stream Trail – soaking up some of the best bits of the region. Like me, its founders want to see the very best of NZ made accessible to everyone, to give people, especially women, a safe, supportive space to laugh, walk, run and explore together without fear holding them back.
The last thing we want is for women to deny themselves access to the most beautiful parts of our country because they feel uneasy. The bush paths that make you feel small and alive at once. The coastal trails where the salt air fills your lungs. The joy of putting one foot in front of the other and realising you’re stronger than you thought.
To every woman who’s ever hesitated at the trailhead, shoes tied but courage faltering, I want to say this: you belong out there. You deserve the clarity, the connection, and the calm that nature gives you. Don’t let fear be louder than your love of life.
Walk with us. Run with us. Bring your whole self to the trails – not just your body, but your mind, your laughter, your courage.
You don’t have to do it alone.
I’ll see you out there.
Irene
Join Irene on the Hawke’s Bay leg of the Kiwi Walk & Run Series on 11th October or check out the other 8 events nationwide at https://kiwiwalkrun.co.nz/