The Speigths Coast to Coast
First Time on the Coast to Coast
Maria Leijerstam / 15.02.2010
Ankles firmly strapped by Gemma Wood, one of my marvellous and dedicated support crew, it was time for my final night's sleep before the big day.
Earlier in the day Tori, Gemma and I had whizzed around Christchurch collected all the kit required for the race. Roof racks, kayak, bike, lots of race food, and with seconds to spare managed to get a paddle. I insist it wasn't bad planning, just lots of changes in plan!. I hadn't brought any of my own gear over because even though carrying a kayak and road bike in my panniers would have been hilarious it was somehow just not practical!
I tested out the road bike for 5mins and added some foam knee rests to the kayak and all was good to go.
Robin Judkins, referred to by the Mayor as one of the most colourful characteurs in Christchurch, opened the event after all 800 competitors and support crew had tucked into a fabulous dinner prepared by the locals. Colourful he was. He managed to keep us on the edge of our seats and in hysterics for over 30mins as he swore his way through the greeting, warned of terrible weather and said if anyone rugby tackles him on the finish lime there would be trouble!
The morning came and we were off. It was hard to be left alone as Tori and Gemma were ushered off down the 77 before the road was closed in prep for the race to begin. Bike racked and a 100 visits to the toilet, I made my way down to the beach and the start line. All I had going through my head was 'you must nail the first 3k run to get in one of the lead bunches on the bike. I didn't talk to anyone.
2 mins to go and my bladder once again reminded me I was nervous. The gun went and I ran my first 3k in 12mins to put me in one of the lead bunches. After 55km on the bike, partly resting but also taking my turn to lead the bunch I arrived at the transition well up the field. I was in the top 50 competitors, and was the 10th female. This year, there was fierce female competition.
Transitioning from the bike to the mountain run was smooth. Tori and Gemma fed and watered me and in under a minute I was off. I waddled my way along the railway line trying to get used to the lactic acid build up in my legs. The first river crossing was knee deep, the second, thigh deep and so it went on. There was intermittent sand and grassy banks but mainly boulder hopping going on. I ran the first 7k before having to break into a walk to negotiate the ever growing boulders and faster deeper river crossings. I clambered over some boulders and even put my arm out so that a girl behind me was able to climb up onto the rock, that she was struggling to do. She later sprinted past me- damn!
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