Matt Ogden is a passionate orienteer and mountain runner based in the beautiful Nelson Tasman region. Originally from West Auckland, he discovered the outdoors early in life through orienteering and weekend adventures in Woodhill Forest and the Waitakere Ranges. Trail running followed soon after, and the natural world quickly became his training ground and source of inspiration.
Those Special Moments
One of Matt’s proudest achievements came in 2012 when he won the Junior World Orienteering Championships. Since then, his journey has taken him through many wild places, including a memorable training run in Livigno, Italy, where he found himself following an ibex along a remote alpine ridge.
With years of experience behind him, Matt now focuses on training that prioritises enjoyment and balance, trusting his foundation and commitment to staying healthy and active.
“Kílian Jornet recently said performance is the maximum expression of health - which I totally agree with.”
And for those who struggle with motivation, Matt’s advice would be not to takes things too seriously, as motivation becomes secondary if you have built good habits and can make a reasonable plan.
Gear Without Compromise
As a La Sportiva athlete, Matt values gear that performs without compromise. For the longer trail races such as Crater Rim, he relies on his favourite Prodigio Pro shoes, choosing comfort, grip, and reliability above all else. And when not training or racing, Matt enjoys good food and often brings his Weber barbecue on adventures.
