As he hobbled to the finish line of the 160km race on Sunday night, more than 41 hours after he started, having torn a groin muscle 18km from the end, adrenaline was all that kept the Makarewa man moving.
"My No 1 goal was to finish and my second goal was to survive it ... I achieved both, although in those last few kilometres it was probably 99-100% mental strength that kept me going."
"That last stretch took me four times longer than it would normally take but I was determined to finish. I'd come that far, so I had to keep going."
His wife, Verity, walked with him for the last four or five kilometres and supporters, race organisers and the medical team were waiting for him at the end.
Race director Terry Davis admired Kennard's determination to finish the race, even though it had clearly taken a toll.
"It was quite inspirational to see; you could see he was in pain with every step, but he got there."
Kennard said once the adrenaline wore off, he realised how bad his injury was.
"I'd slipped on a rock but didn't think any more of it at the time - just as well it happened near the end of the race and not at the start. When I finished, I got some pain relief and landed up in Dunstan Hospital, for observation."
"There's no lasting damage, though, and I asked to be discharged the next day in time for the race prizegiving."
The course on Northburn Station, near Cromwell, mostly follows high-country 4WD tracks and competitors climb a total of 8000m.
Kennard said it was hard to explain how tough the race was.
"I knew it was going to be hilly but the downhill sections were just as tough as the uphill parts. The height that you travel is like going from sea level to the top of Everest and back again"
The 31-year-old has completed 100km races and the Kepler Challenge several times but said the Northburn was "in a completely different league; it's probably one of the toughest races in the world".
"It might sound strange, but I enjoyed it, rough weather and all; if you go in these things, you expect the worst and we certainly had four different seasons within the one event. The wind was so strong [on Saturday] you were leaning over at 45deg and barely moving and I struck two snowstorms. It all adds to it, I reckon.
"I guess I'm a sucker for punishment, but I'm always of the opinion you've got to give things a go and I like pushing the mental side of things to see if you can achieve it."
Kennard works at the Tiwai aluminium smelter and was having a few days off to recover.
He said sleep deprivation during the race was not a big issue.
"I managed to get 15 minutes sleep on Sunday morning at about 4am, at the base and woke up refreshed."
Eating little and often during the race was another key to lasting the distance.
"Would I do it all again? I said I probably won't, but I'd like to come back next time and help out with the race, up on the tops [with the marshalls and officials] to give a bit back.
"It was an unreal experience, and there's no greater way to test yourself."
