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My first time as a Coast to Coast Competitor

Firstly I would like to give you a little background that led to my first attempt at Coast to Coast multi-sport event which is held in the South Island of New Zealand in early February of each year. The race itself was the brain child of Robin Judkins, or (Judy), as he affectionately known.

In 1987, my first marriage ended. I was not in the best spaces as I struggled with the break up of some years. Moreover, in early 1988 damaged my ACL and had to undergo surgery time, I was beginning to settle my life again and the main thing for me was the care of my three kids on my days off from the fire service.

So here I am, sitting through the South Island of New Zealand from Kumara Beach on the West Coast to Sumner Beach on the east coast which covers about 243 km cycling, running and kayaking. Oh and by the way there is a mountain path that you have to run more. Although it's all right, I'll do the run leg as you have the problem with his knee. This means that you (me), will have to learn kayaking, at least in grade two, and get good at cycling and riding group.

All this was way above me at the moment, two grade?, Building Group ", Keith was so impressed with his time as Phil and secondly, his enthusiasm was hard to keep down. The next thing I know, he called me saying that I had to have a check for it next week for my share of the fee for the race. It was almost June and I had forgotten the idea of any race. hence, we put on our doorsteps, they returned some time later, with the names wrong with them. I was Jacques O'Keefe was Malcolm and Keith Jacques. We played them over Someone saw the O'Keefe brothers. "We thought it was funny at the time.

Upon entry saga Keith called me to tell me that he had arranged for me to have a kayak lessons with his friend, Dave. I was stuck with no way out, so what the heck, we can always pull out at a later date. Next week came and certainly I had a call from a stranger, never in a million years I would be able to do it, I cried. Dave was made of stuff and he pressed me for the next weeks. One way or another I was finally getting to say afloat, though not for long, and I graduated to more depth. Bad mistake! The next two months were up over submarine. Dave taught me to go "wet", which was something I did become good, and slowly, very slowly, I triumphed in the art of kayaking.

I maintained this grueling training, I learned a lot of different strokes of rowing and was soon released on the River Avon proper. For those of you who do not know the river Avon in Christchurch, not a bit calmer water anywhere in the world, not even your swimming pool. On my first solo tour, I was delighted with my new capacity found and cruise the river, when, to my right a couple of dogs decided to take a dip. No major event in the general scheme of things, though my attention away from the tank and the next minute I was fighting to keep me, my oars and the boats together and be capable of finding a place where I could swim, to leave the water and drainage the boat. Not a very successful attempt at first.

Although I gradually became better and Keith arranged for me to have my first training downstream had few rapids and some water performance. Graham was a very good rower and a good teacher. With this line further, included with the skills I had learned from Dave, I felt the art of kayaking was beginning to establish itself in me, even though I was not the best students.

While all this was happening, I had to buy a road bike, learning to ride it, sell it to the streets of many a mile, suffering a very sore rear end and learn to walk in groups. never be on a bike, they were very sick and on all very good to me. During the weeks that I learned a lot of valuable lessons and now I feel everything I needed a load of miles under my belt.

But who had time for cycling, when the most difficult race for me would be the paddle leg in November Early December maybe my skills were beginning to improve, so Keith has arranged for me to go with another group of friends for a trip to the Waimakariri River in the stretch of river that exact River more than 20 times, but at this moment was most memorable.

We started about five o'clock and went to Mt. White bridge, and set the boats. There were five us and, of course, the other four types of water. It was a wonderful trip, invigorating, the river ran at about 100 cumecs and I loved every minute of every day. Meanwhile, I was still The big day arrived and we left. There was Keith, myself, our mother and father who was going to be our second, two bikes, a kayak, tent, sleeping bags, clothes, food and equipment several others. We were doing our first two days teams Coast to Coast and you believe that for this weekend there would be about the worst conditions ten years.

We arrived at Kumara on Thursday shortly after noon. We set up our camp at the racecourse site with help from our support team (Mum & Dad) accompanying stickers for the car and kayak enthusiasts. We have everything ready for the next morning, then went to the community Kumara Hall for a fabulous meal, which is placed by the local population as a fundraising event for the whole city, and then Judy gives his infamous speech pre race. Man is a comic was born and is very entertaining introduction to the pros and cons of the event. His fellow conspirator, Steve Gurney, has a say in another way to break the rules of racing that is discarded by Judy. The big night out is had by all. Now back to the tent and sleeping.

Race day is here in past. I have to walk my bike to his station and from there walk to the beach Kumara to the beginning of the race. My teammate and support staff are off the first phase of transition in the river Deception. It is raining steadily, and now it is still dark and uncomfortable. We lined up in numerical order in it can be counted out, then with the aid of an air horn Judy begins to race.

All competitors in individual events and two days teams take to run to the bikes. Once on the bicycle assembly is high and far. The emergence of mass of bodies and bikes struggling to get a position so to be the first bunch that makes the race more easily. I'm a little behind the main race and get in a small group of about a dozen riders. We started and is a walk, mostly uneventful for the first transition Deception. The rain keeps falling and I was happy to leave the bike. My brother Keith took off Mountain Goats hit Pass, totally unaware of the problems ahead. I changed into some dry cloths and with the support team headed off Klondyke Corner to the point of transition that comes and the place of camp for the night, after one more day.

All this time the weather was getting worse. On the track, which is a mountain run, the rivers and streams were beginning to fill up quickly. At some point during the afternoon, we decided to stop new competitors from entering the run since it was getting dangerous. For people already in race, things only got worse. Competitors soon managed to pass before conditions became too bad, but the middle group, one of which was Keith, things were quite.

The rain was getting worse and the river was building up. Later that night when we were in the tent, you could here the river rocks and trees bearing for your way down and the noise was thunderous. Also managed to park our tent at the landing site for helicopters, big mistake, and was almost blown away. Although we managed to do it through a most uncomfortable night. The next morning Judy convened a meeting with the contestants and explained the river was already running at 600 cumecs and leg Rowing has now been officially canceled. This now made the one-day event now had to cycle Klondyke Corner to Sheffield, where he set up a temporary transition. As I do not I put in two batches of a thermal beanie hat under my helmet thing and something I could ask, beg or steal. I lost count of how many great mountain range that was day, but I'm sure most of them walked. At the top of Porters Pass, the highest point of the journey, I had a picture taken of me and a towel and went back to the car that was parked the temporary car park about a mile in an open field. I changed my clothes, which helped a lot and we put the bike on the rack. Jumped into the car, and yes, would not turn. A walk back to Sheffield and the garage site, we found a little help. After a time the diagnosis was a dead battery. We bought a new one, had it to the finish line of the time to see it through and be handed a beer by Judy, who is trying to welcome everyone to the end of each section, each year, a great effort by him, a real winner. We packed up and took Keith bike back to the car and a change of clothes. We gave each other a big hug and said I was happy it was over. After going home to change and a warm up we all went back to Sumner and found a local restaurant with our partners and support staff to have a meal wonderful celebration.

Believe it or not, I went to the coast to coast next two days as an individual competitor. Thus, I happily get to the finishing lines on both days, and would appreciate the beer! … But that's another story.

Now visit http://www.daysoff.ws if you want it.

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