Some 12 months on from 2014's Nugget women's multisport race, last year's winner has made a major life change, giving up competitive sport and a blooming career to work, run and live on the family farm in Raetihi.

But physiotherapist and athlete Nic Leary isn't quite done with this race just yet, and will return to compete in the Nugget half marathon event.

Physiotherapist and athlete Nic Leary is returning to take part in the Nugget Multisport Festival this weekend. Photo: Supplied.

With no time for the intense training regime she managed whilst working in Rotorua, Leary manages to find a little time for running while working the farm.

And that's sufficient for her to take on the half marathon, which is among the range of events included in Waihi Beach's Nugget multisport festival.

Scheduled for Saturday, May 9, the festival caters for everyone, with options including the full 85km multisport race, a duathlon and three running distances.

Leary reckons she will do alright in the running-only event.

'Though I haven't been training recently, all those years of effort must count for something,” she smiles.

You can bet she will do more than alright; Leary has an impressive CV, having enjoyed a particularly good year in 2010 when she won the New Zealand Mountain Bike Cross Country Champs, topped the podium at the Oceania Cross country Champs, and triumphed at the Xterra Off-road New Zealand Triathlon Championships.

More recently, she has dabbled in adventure racing, securing some decent prize money with the Australian Peak Adventure Team in China.

Leary's zest for life and adventure shines through in all her endeavours and she has the look of someone who doesn't do anything by half measures.

Her enthusiasm rubs off on anyone who talks to her - including sports writers. But the real question is, what prompted the life change on which she has embarked?

After some intrepid travel in Nepal and India, Leary thought long and hard about what she wanted from the rest of her life.

The call of the family farm was too much, so she packed up the boutique Physical Therapy Clinic she had operated for three years out of a bike store in Rotorua.

Strapping tape was swapped for cow tags, the car for a quad bike, and bike shoes for gumboots.

And it's a change she is enjoying thoroughly Leary says - though the competitive streak clearly remains as she prepares to line up for the Nugget half marathon.

'My job is reasonably active and, if I get a few runs in, I should be fine,” she says.

'I really wanted to do this run as it is over such beautiful and challenging terrain. The event is cool and supports a great cause.”

At the age of 31, Leary still has aspirations of getting back into some serious sport, but not until her new career is firmly on track.

Keeping the running going satisfies her athletic desire for now and after the Nugget, she hopes to do the Queenstown marathon in November.

Watch this space, though, as this talented sportswoman is likely to pop up on the top of a podium again before too much time passes.

The Nugget Multisport event takes place in Waihi and Waihi Beach on Saturday, May 9. For event times and venues, visit: www.thenugget.co.nz