For this race I was lucky to be in a team with such good and experienced guys. Jim Cotter from Dunedin was team navigator and he has done an excelent job getting the team throught this challenging hilly course set up by Bill Godsall. Bas - team's power engine, from Qeenstown, former Peak to Peak winner, few Southern Traverses finisher... And of course Jess - an excelent runner and mountainbiker from Wanaka.
The race started with a fast run from Cromwell township to Lake Dunsten. Our team managed to keep up with some strong runners and we were second in kayaks on the way to the north side of the lake. One hour long paddle was just the perfect warm up for the next run leg. We exited the kayaks in third place, checked in at TA and started to run in to the hills. I was a steep scroll up Pisa Range. Half way through the climb I started to feel not good. Stamach cramps, dizzy.... you name it. But pulling out was not an option as we were leading the whole field now. But thanks to Bas we managed to keep our lead for the whole run leg - Bas was dragging me behind on a rope while Jess was pumping "go-go-juice" in to me. Thanks again Bas and Jess. The fantastic scenery on top of Pisa Range was rewarding. After 10 hrs of running we were back in the kayaks on the way to Cromwell with a short absailing stop at Bendigo.
TBC
