Smith (23), of Dunedin, won the 44km race at the Mt Difficulty Ascent in Bannockburn on Saturday, the longest in the day’s series, with a time of 5hr 22min 19sec.
Despite trudging through snow for about 10km, Smith called the course "fantastic".
"It’s breathtaking ... You could see all the way down the [Clutha] river; you could see mountains everywhere - the view’s insane."
Smith said he had been running for about six or seven years and competed in the 51km Motatapu Ultra Run in March, where he came about 10th.
But this was the first time he had won a race, and called this race a "whole different game", especially compared with marathons.
"A marathon requires speed if it’s flat ... It’s a lot about having a good rhythm and being able to maintain a consistent pace.
"This is about adaptability and guts ... The course changes so much ... It’s being able to deal with all those conditions while having the mental and physical endurance."
To prepare for the race he ran about 80km-100km a week on average, between shifts as a dairy farm worker.
Now he had won this race, he might compete in a road marathon later this year and would consider competing in the Kepler Challenge or Northburn 100 in Cromwell later on, he said.
But he also sensed his limitations.
"Distance-wise, this might be my limit. I was pretty much stretched as far as I could go."
Race director Terry Davis said runners in the 44km Mt Difficulty Ascent climbed more than 3000m, where they were in snow up to their knees.
The day also included a 25km Mt Difficulty Ascent race and the Rustic Run and Walk, a 5.275km loop track where competitors could run a half-marathon or marathon.
About 280 runners competed in the day’s races, Davis said.
