Ultra runner Lisa Tamati is gearing up to run in the historical footsteps of endurance legends for her upcoming television series Run the Planet.
Along with Australian Chris Ord, Tamati plans to travel the globe and experience some of the extreme endurance measures taken by different cultures over ancient and modern times.
On February 24, Tamati will begin filming the series pilot episode, which will see her follow a 127 kilometre journey taken through Australia's scorching Red Centre by indigenous stockman Hezekial Malbunka.
Malbunka took the journey from Hermannsburg, a Lutheran mission in the desert, to Alice Springs in order to save the life of dying missionary administrator Carl Strehlow in 1922.
A road connecting the locations has since been built, but Tamati plans to ditch the modernisation and head via desert, through 40 degree temperatures, on a route that follows Malbunka's as much as possible.
Tamati will speak to local experts to find out details of the story, including relatives of Malbunka and directors of the Carl Strehlow Research Centre, which holds key artefacts, including an audio recording of Malbunka recounting his legendary run in Arrernte language.
"As a Maori woman, the indigenous element of this story appeals to me strongly.
"The stories we are unearthing show that indigenous people were born to run - they have an innate instinct and ability, it just needs to be tapped into," Tamati said.
Ord will be her protege for the 10-part series as she attempts to prove that an ordinary "fun runner" has the ability to achieve extraordinary running feats. "The show will prove that humans are made to be active across huge distances, it's part of their DNA," Tamati said.
"I don't think I'm crazy at all. Anyone can do what I do, anyone is capable of it, it just requires training and the correct mindset - a will to overcome."
Tamati said she hoped the show would inspire more people to give up their sedentary lifestyles and use running to improve their health, whether they run marathons, half marathons or 10 kilometres.
"If more people would get into it that would completely reverse the trend that is killing us," she said.
Throughout the series, Tamati and Ord will experience the endurance feats undertaken by different tribes and religions through Nepal, Africa, Bolivia, Mexico, America, Japan, Greece and New Zealand.
The New Plymouth-based runner has been planning the show for about two years and was grateful to Taranaki business owners Michael and Rachel Perrett who have funded the project.
Tamati was not sure what channel the show would air on when completed, however they have targeted National Geographic, Discovery and BBC as options.
"Throughout the show I want to inspire, entertain and show just what the human spirit can endure," she said.
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