Coast to Coast race 2012

Hello everyone!

A few 4.1 shakes later, many really cold days raising question as to whether it is really summer here in NZ and we still find ourselves in Christchurch.  Okay so what is really keeping us busy is the ongoing rental property and job search... in between more road trips!

This time to the west coast of NZ from a town called Kumara to the east coast town Sumner in Christchurch for Dave's much anticipated Speights Coast to Coast race!!  This was the initial reason we decided to take off for NZ back in October.  Dave has been wanting to race this 254km race (literally coast to coast) for a number of years. Alas, it has come and gone.  Let us share this first time experience with you... and surely this will not be the last Coast to Coast race you'll ever hear about!!

Some pre-race pics of the venues/transition areas from the 2 day race.  Dave competed in the 1 day... same route but longer day!

Checking out the start line the evening before since it is a 6 am start time.

The run took place through Arthurs pass.... beautiful area!
Cathy was a little sad she wasn't running the 33km section.

Friendly little Kea bird

Transition area- Icebreaker is the main sponsor... they were in full force with 2 for 1 deals!

Of course Speights beer garden... free beer and mug, bummer I was driving ;)

Beer garden with a beautiful backdrop!

A section of the run river crossing...how i would 'knee'd' them later.

Although before getting to the start line of the race let me tell you a little bit about the night before the race.  I (Cathy) have to admit I was actually rather impressed, Dave seemed quite organized.  Transition area (TA) bags were separated and well packed with appropriate clothes and food, clear instructions regarding drink and fuel top ups needed along the way and stickers all placed on seemingly appropriate locations (helmet, cars, bike etc).  Although it would not be in true Dave form without having something go wrong and that was when Dave frantically came up to me asking where his LIFE VEST/PFD was!!  At 7 pm the night before the race he realized he lost his PFD.  He called home and his sister turned the house upside down, nowhere to be found.  No racer carries an extra PFD and how are we going to get a hold of any race director/volunteer to inquire about lost and found??  And so it was, Dave started the race not knowing if I would be able to hunt down an extra PFD for him or if before even getting half way through the race, it was going to be over at the start of the paddle section. Sigh. For those who know Dave, you can probably guess my frustration... all smiles right!  :)  Dave- not many smiles or much understanding for me and still no sign of the PFD.

Race morning 4:30 am dropping off the bike.  It was a beach start followed by 3 km run to road bike TA.

My amazing race crew and partner. Thanks CJ, you rock.

Darryl helped me crew...Dave's sisters boyfriend.
Thank goodness he was around to help me since it is a 2 person job!

We met Dave at the mountain run transition following the 3 km road run and 55 km road ride.  At 6 am all crew members were gathered at this transition. This was when I realized if Dave had any chance of paddling I had to find him a PDF and it had to be here since everyone was here waiting.  Embarassingly, I walked up to director with the megaphone and ask if he could inquire over the megaphone whether anyone had an extra PFD.  The race has started and I am looking for gear, frig!

To my surprise someone had an extra one!  Thank goodness... the race can go on!

Nice morning for a race!

Comin' in looking strong.

C'mon girl get this bottle open, I'm thirsty.
This is not one of Dave's funky new do's, it' s helmet hair!

.... and like that he was off!

Onto a 33 km mountain run up and over the well know Mingha pass.  This was when I start questioning whether Dave has ever run 33 km... LOL. I think he ran a 1/2 marathon at 15 y.o.

During this time Darryl and I took off for the next 2 transitions.  Dropped off his bike gear for the short 15km road ride and his paddle gear off for the 67 km paddle.  Although keeping with the excitement of the race after a 45 min wait at the paddle section the guy who was loaning us the PFD strolled in after the mandatory check-in time all casual with a beer in hand, aka "on the piss". I had no complaints since he did have an extra PFD in the other hand!  So we rushed the boat in for the mandatory gear scrutineering and then realized Dave didn't put the stickers on his kayak appropriately, actually completely forgot to put one on the back of his boat.  He was not allowed in the water without these stickers front and back!  So I raced 800m back up the freakin' hill in flip flops, (Dave- JANDALS down here beautiful) tore apart the car and found one extra small sticker but not the extra large stickers as indicated!  They allowed the smaller sticker, but not without a "well you know this really isn't the right one ....". Anyways, more importantly he was allowed in the water.

Back over to the end of the mountain run section.... we waited, and waited, and waited.  I was concerned,  1.5-2 hrs late.  He finally strolls in... stumbles in.  Bad right knee pain...he flared up his IT band!! ouch! He was cutting it close to the cut off time to get into the water.  He had an hour to get on his bike ride 15 km (+hills) and be in the boat on the water, not just at the beach.

All smiles part way through the run.

He forced a smile for the camera but he was in pain
... and no doubt pissed off!

I am doing his make-up... hahaha  joking just sunscreen!
Dave- Don't touch my face dam it. Stop fussing over me.

After turning around to pick up a dropped tail light he rolled in just making the transition cut off time.

And this is where my camera battery died, sorry no pictures of the paddle. He is on his way to start the 67 km paddle with 4 minutes to spare before the very strict cut off, phew!

I will allow Dave to continue the race report of what happened on the water...

After struggling over the rest of the run and just scraping in after the bike leg I was feeling good about getting into the river and sticking in a sweet paddle leg. Normally a strong point for me in a race. After hobbling down the 800m dirt road to the river and getting some help putting my gear on and into the kayak (thanks Cathy for finding a PFD) I started out. Although no more than 10 meters down river was I called in by the marshall as my hydration pack was covering my race bib number..... ARRRGGGHHHHH! C'mon now!

I did well over the next wee bit picking my way through the correct channels and slowly caught up to a bunch of other paddlers but not without a serious head wind picking up.  I was stoked since my ability to  read a river was really to my benefit at the point. This was now when the paddle problems began. At the 1st set of rapids a guy flip in front of me so I quickly grabbed his paddle and tossed it on to the bank for him. The rest of us battled on with the nasty winds that had us at times stalled on the river not getting anywhere.  I was currently only 1 hr into the 5hrs. Without loosing hope I was focused and determined to make the cut off but a few corners later after coming out from behind a high bank I was hit by a strong gust that blew me over!  Didn't get my roll up and ended up swimming.  Luckily I had some help getting my kayak back as I could not walk anymore, knee was done for the day.

A little further along trying to pick up the pace fighting with the wind and now my cold hands, I was flipped and swam yet again.  Nearly 4 hrs in and I am not just fighting with the wind but also fighting my dropping body temperature, balance, the clock and my head. Coming up to a 90 deg bend in the river another paddler was stuck in a bad situation against the pushing current and a wall. I had no choice but to park the boat, go up stream a little and swim across to help him out.  Part of the adventure with racing is that you're not just looking out for yourself but other peoples safety as well, and peoples safety takes precedence over any race time or cut off.

So back on track and thinking for just a few seconds that nothing can stop me now the nasty winds, slow water, lack of core balance and now shivering body all caught up to me again.  Time was getting away from me and head games were even more destructive......then rudder cable broke forcing a sharp left turn. I found myself back on the bank fixing that sucker up (kiwi ingenuity) and no #8 wire. CHUR CUZZIES.

Kayaks I had passed way back were now flying by me on jet boats and I'm thinking I must be close to the cut-off.  Myself and another paddler approached a check point to inquired about the cut off time. They informed us normally we were about 15 minutes away but with these river conditions 45 minutes or so. Asking if they would let us 'giver', the jet boat safety guy took one look at me and said I was turning blue and told us we were done. NOT what we wanted to hear especially after such a good push/struggle to get down river.  I was devastated since this was now the first race for me without a finish line.

Helping me from my kayak and onto a chair they hand me my dry bag so I could get my dry (safety) clothes on knowing it was now officially over. Done. No more can go wrong. Hehehehe.... you guys are so funny. Buddy that helped me into my kayak at the start didn't seal my dry bag properly.  All my dry clothes are soaked.  Volunteers at the check points scrambled, wrapping me in blankets and loaning me some of their clothes.  Although I suppose the real highlight of this paddle section was now the jet boat ride down river- especially since they were rushing me down!! They scurried me out of the boat and into the ambulance since I was shivering, nearly convulsing.  I waited for Cathy and Darryl to show up while the jet boats continued hauling kayakers in also getting pulled from the race. Sitting in the meat wagon I had time to reflect on all the things that went wrong but all I was able to do was shrug my shoulders and laugh. Thats racing and this is why I LOVE these races. It is never easy for anyone.

Cathy arrived and joined me in the ambulance.  I had recovered well enough to make my way over to the car.  This was good timing since anther guy came in cold and wet to change his clothes and apologized for the smell. Yes, he had crapped his pants during the kayak section.  I guess my day was not that shitty after all... sorry couldn't resist.

Niece and nephew patiently waiting for him to finish the paddle.

Even helped crew at the end of the paddle section.

Pulled from the water section by jet boat. I actually found Dave in the ambulance.  He was hunched over covered in blankets with white prune-like 80 y.o. hands sadly shaking as if he had the tremor of a parkinson patient.
This photo was a re-inactment but not far off!

Figured as we had been out for out for over 16 hrs we might as well at least see the finish line. We also enjoyed the best tasting hot dogs ever! Dave will have to recover his race beer and race finisher photo next year!

What could have been

I have this spot engrained in my head now!

I realize this is Dave's race report and should have been written by him but I had too much to say regarding this race and he was probably only going to recount what went wrong from HIS end!  So I gave you guys the whole behind the scenes perspective of the race.... he wouldn't have shared all the details!!

Will I crew next year, sure.  It can only get better!  love ya babe!

A big thanks to Cathy and Darryl who raced around all over the west coast, Arthurs Pass and then near Christchurch. 4am start to the day and still going until Midnight... you guys rocked. See you same time and place next year lol.

Stay tuned folks for the next adventure....I am sure you won't be disappointed!

Cathy and Dave