MULTI-SPORT KAYAKING The Challenge, the Obsession - of Speight’s Coast to Coast The Speight’s Coast to Coast has been something that I’ve long intended to do “At some stage in the future”. I thought I’d get around to it when I was a bit older, had better finances, more chance to train. Then in November 2004 I completed my vet degree at Massey University. While some members of my former class dived enthusiastically into jobs as new veterinarians, I didn’t feel remotely inclined to follow them - at least not for a while. No, I preferred the thought of a summer of sun and hanging out with friends. Then someone planted the idea of entering the Speight’s Coast to Coast in my mind, and suddenly I was obsessed. The concept terrified me, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I sent off an entry to Christchurch, half believing that by early December there couldn’t possibly be any entry places left. There were, and before I really knew what was happening I was entered in the 2005 Speight’s Coast to Coast Individual Two Day, with less than 2 months to train. The course covers 243km of country between Kumara Beach on the West Coast, and Sumner Beach in Christchurch. 140km is on a road bike, while 36km is on foot, climbing up a rugged river and over a pass, and 67km is in a kayak on the Waimakariri river. I knew, from talking to people who had previously competed, that it was a very good idea to run the mountain run stage prior to racing. Paddling the Waimakariri was also strongly advised. But I’m not always good at taking advice. I have competed in a few mountain running races before - I’ve never been particularly fast, but I’ve done them after looking at a map, and following other competitors. And as a tramper, I wasn’t worried about what this leg would involve. I knew I’d get there eventually. <strong>Kayak</strong>ing is not a strong point of mine, so I used a plastic sea kayak. The wonderful people at Quality <strong>Kayak</strong>s loaned me a red Tui, a buoyancy vest, a spray deck and a paddle - free of charge. I’d never covered anything like 67km in a kayak before, but again I knew that I’d get there - eventually. I didn’t create an opportunity for myself to cover either the run or the kayak before the race swung around, and I knew that I was minimally prepared. With my mother and brother I drove through to Kumara on the Thursday before racing was to begin. A chain of vehicles loaded with bikes and boats wound up and over Arthur’s Pass, making for slow going. Kumara Racecourse was chokka block with a sea of tents and people - lots of fit, bronzed people. The atmosphere around races like this is often buoyant and excited, and this was no exception. 22 ISSUE THIRTYone • 2005 by Annabel Smith With registration, gear checks and pre-race briefing out of the way, I was able to sit my long-suffering mother and brother down, to explain my equipment and what I wanted them to do at the transition. Then, after basting myself in anti-inflammatory cream, I tried to get to sleep. I bounced up at 5 in the morning, extremely excited. I always feel a mix of nervous energy before a race, but this was the Speight’s Coast to Coast! This was huge! Pulling on my bib, I <strong>final</strong>ly felt like a competitor. I walked off with my bike to the start, and had to run back to ask my mum for a photo. The morning was beautifully still, and the sun was just starting to lighten the sky as I cycled down to rack my bike. I walked down to the beach with a pair of fellow competitors, pumping them for any information on the run and
Photo by: Pauls I<strong>mag</strong>e Centre ISSUE THIRTYone • 2005 23