Coast to Coast… For years this race has been the pinnacle of multi sport racing world wide. It has a rich history that some 36 years later it continues to write, yet the race still continues with the unchanged, strong principles, just the same as in the beginning.
It’s a race that when you land in NZ custom officers know why you are there! They guy at the service station wishes me good luck because I have a kayak on the car roof heading west, It’s a race that everyone gets excited about and now I know why.
You could simplify it…You fly to NZ and bike, run and paddle on the West Coast to the East Coast. The complex version is more like…Fly to NZ borrow a friend’s car, pick up a hired kayak, get your bike checked, get your run gear checked. And did I mention you need 2 support crew that need to know more about the race than you do.
Then you listen to race legends and those legends in the making at the Kumara Race course, the next thing you know you are standing on the beach at 5.30am in the dark on the West Coast about to race your way across the island.
We took off in the dark for the 2.2km run up a dirt road onto the sealed road that flattens out and into TA. Now I can run Ok but by the time we hit the sealed road the pace was on.(I ran a 7.30 2.2km) and just kept up.
The first ride is draft legal so I wanted to be in a bunch. The pace quickened as we approached TA. I thought to myself this was going to have to be fast and smooth TA. We already had our helmets on, tri shoes clipped-in on the bike.
The next thing I know we are rolling along the highway with about 10 others. It’s about 10km on straight flat road into the 55km ride. The pace wasn’t too fast as the bunch worked out who would work and who wouldn’t. Go too hard on this bike leg and you will hurt in the run so I tried not to do too much work except for a few turns at the front when the camera’s where around. The sky was lighting up and a low cloud sat in the valley, It was spectacular.
Sam Clark and Alex Hunt had toe clip shoes ready for fast TA’s and there was a few road bikes with aero bars but mostly TT bikes with clip in shoes. There is a few small climbs on this leg and TT bikes don’t climb that well but we all road nicely up into the valley. James Pretto had a mechanical and I looked over my shoulder as we climbed away from him still on the side of the road. He managed to ride back on and still have an amazing race.
I made sure I was eating and drinking ready for a long day ahead.
As we approached TA everyone was getting ready for a quick dismount, the speed slowed and the bunch was now just every man for themselves. (Kate later told me that they got updates of ETA times for the first bunch.) It would have been 30 seconds (or less) of chaos as we came in.
As we came off the road still riding someone hit the dirt and bikes went everywhere, I avoided it (I lost a shoe in the process) and racked my bike without stopping. Shoes on pack in my hand and holy shit they have gone already.
The first few km’s is up threw a grassy paddock. I wanted to run with some locals to make it easier. I ran hard up the paddock and across the first creek with 3 others still in sight hoping to bridge the gap and stay on their heels. I remembered sections of the trail from the recon missions in December. I tried to run up to the others and I could see others well ahead at some open section along the river.
After 3 or 4 creek crossing I could feel my legs cramping in the cold water and I was running above my threshold for this length race so I backed it off and lost sight of the others. I was on my own. It was perfect day for racing and I was loving being out there with nothing else on my mind except pushing myself through the run.
Rob Preston caught me (he rode in the second bunch) and managed to work his way up through the run and working with a local. It helped me kick on a bit as I was doing my best to find the quickest way on some sections but I lost them before the top.
A quick gear check at the hut and over the top on the board walk, It looked just a as good as previous runs but hurt a shit load more. Robyn Owen the female winner came past on a descent and past me like I was standing still. The next 5-6km of the run is my favorite bit I was hurting and struggling and found I was fighting the trail.
By the time I could see TA I was happy to be getting on my bike, That TA happened so quickly I didn’t even recover from the run. Kate and Jerry had such a good plan for TA’s for smooth and fast…but what If I needed a rest. We never spoke about that and it never happened.
I rode down to Mt White bridge as best I could, for once I was keen to go paddling.
I found myself in the mix of the super competitive ladies race. I had Sophie, Simone and Elina throughout the paddle leg. It was a tight race for them.
The Waimak is a monster river compared to what we have in Australia. Paddling Multi Sport kayaks in a fast moving river requires skill and knowledge of the river really helps. The river was about 50 cumics (80 is fast, race cut off is 200) so 50 meant easier lines but slower water. Still it is an amazing paddle down through the gorge.
I had a good paddle, no swims and no getting stuck in Eddies or Bluffs. I paddled in my jersey as the conditions were perfect. 4.5 hours later I was over being in the kayak and ready for the bike leg to the finish line. Jerry literally pulled me out of the kayak and we had a smooth and fast TA. Right now I was grateful for my Trek TT and some fancy Bontrager wheels because I needed all the help I could get to get me home.
The head wind on the last bike leg is kind of famous and it didn’t disappoint. You can tell the wind blocks (big hedges) really work as you ride along the flat straightest road in NZ. It was good to see so many people along the roadside supporting the race. It was a seamless ride through the busy intersections as there is no road closures just police and “slip lanes” for us and it works a treat.
It was a great feeling as I turned onto the final straight having raced from Coast to Coast. Everything went to plan and my support crew Jerry and Kate where amazing and did a perfect job.
The finish line brings an end to a long day racing, lot’s of training and preparation and endless conversation about the race. Now it’s just memories and experiences that cannot be replaced with anything.
In the end I finished 22nd from 123 in 13.26.03
Would I do it again … I was disappointed in my run leg as I wanted to run with some locals and keep up toward the front until the paddle. The rest of my race was pretty close to plan.
The event as a whole is worth doing. It brings life into multi sport racing that most other events don’t have. It requires skill, fitness and planning to make it all happen. When you make the finish line it’s all-worthwhile. For me there are a few other things I want to tick of my bucket list.
I used a Flow Super Star from Top Sport Kayaks and they offered great support and advice for the race. A few trips down the river are a must before the event. (and over the run leg)
I rode a Trek Speed Concept thanks to Tony and team at Cycle De Vie. It’s a weapon!
Well done to all the Aussies who raced. Thank you and well done to Liz and James for the training recon and another fun race abroad. We had 4 of us racing with 7 support crew bunked into 1 room before the race…fun times!
Thank you to Jerry and Kate for being a super support crew. You can’t do it on your own and a good support crew makes for a much better race.
Thank you so much to Sandra, Paddy, James and Clair Callanan. You really embraced the whole campaign when we rocked up on your doorstep and your support the entire time was amazing.