Coast to Coast 2008

Well the lead up for this year’s Coast to Coast couldn’t have been more different from a mental perspective. I’d managed to keep a relaxed schedule and my enjoyment of the sport has been at an all time high. I’ve had extra motivation over the last year, and the desire to prove last year’s result was nothing more than a bad day at the office.

There had been a massive front heading towards the West Coast and each day the forecast seemed to change until it finally ended up holding off much to the relief of the competitors, but not before providing plenty of extra work putting together gear options and strategies for a wet day out.

The race start was the usual chaos as competitors left the west coast behind in a mad dash for the bikes. I’d entered relatively late and so my high number made for a longer run with over 220 bikes before mine. With this in mind I set about pushing the pace on the first run and managed to get onto the bike in time to jump into a small group of competitors and we sped away from the chasing pack. Gordon Walker, my main competition was also in the small group as well as the winner of the recent Ironman Wanaka Marc Pschebizin and 3 others. We worked pretty well together and built ourselves a lead of around eight minute after the 55km bike section.

Through transition and it was a relief not to have 200 other competitors and their crews to fight through. Not the quickest transition I’ve ever had but no dramas and I got out on the run within 30 seconds of the quickest competitors and was in 6th. I always seem to warm into my running quicker than most of the runners and within the first kilometre I was out in front and able to focus on my own race. From here it is a strange feeling in some ways knowing that if I was having a good day I could potentially not see any other competitors for the rest of the day. I gradually pulled away from Mark and was feeling great. This year I’d changed my nutrition supplier to High 5 and I kept the fuel going in and the pace relaxed. By the start of the Gorge I’d been running for an hour and a quarter and was right on pace for a planned 3 hour run. The next 3 kilometres are really rough and slow. I moved as quickly as I could without using any extra energy as the climb up through the boulders can wreck the legs if you push too hard. About 30 minutes later Goat Pass came into view and the highest point in the race. I was still feeling good and was able to slowly wind the pace up for the descent and following trails that lead back to the river bed for the final 6-7 kilometres out to Klondyke Corner and the finish of the run. The whole way I managed to keep myself just slightly in check, I knew I was on a good time but I didn’t want to run so fast that I had nothing left later on so I was still feeling pretty fresh when I arrived at the finish to jump on the bike.

After a quick change to bike helmet and a bit of food it was off for the sprint to Mt White and the start of the Kayak. It’s only 15 kilometres but everyone has such different tactics here. Feeling fresh I decided to wind it up on the bike and see if I could do some more damage to the chasers. Gordon was 9 minutes down after the run and by the time he got to the kayak I’d apparently managed to stretch it to around 11 minutes. The run down to the kayak always sees the legs protesting strongly but I was able to get plenty of sustenance on board and also add a vest to keep a bit warmer on the water.

Into the kayak and the support crew did a great job, I was off quickly and I knew this leg would be critical to my chances of winning. The river was very low and confusing with many of the correct channels to take looking impassable until you were right on them. The river level also meant the likely hood of being on the river substantially longer than usual. I was pretty aggressive right from the start of the kayak leg and by the halfway mark I was still feeling good but I could feel the tension building in the muscles from the effort I was putting in. I kept the pressure on and 30 minutes later I was surprised to see the end of the 2 day field coming into view. I nearly had some issues in one short cut where two of the tail end Charlie’s had got stuck in a narrow chute, just as I was coming up to it. Just when I thought I was in for a portage they came free and I just managed to slip by them in the narrow channel. Paddling past Woodstock was a great feeling as yells of encouragement came from many of the supporters who were waiting there to support their athletes. From Woodstock it is 45 minutes to the end at Gorge Bridge and here you really start to feel that you’ve been paddling for 3 ½ hours already. You can see the power lines that cross the river at the finish all the way and they seem to take forever to get any closer so it is a huge relief to turn the final corner and see the bridge and the huge crowds waiting at the finish.

Out of the boat and it takes a bit to get the legs into motion, looking a bit clumsy I imagine I headed through the shoot and up the road to the bike racks for the final ride. More food and a quick change on the run out of the kayak gear as my crew helped me prepare for the final ride. It’s also hard being in the lead as you just don’t get any information on where your competition is. At best guess my crew thought about 10 minutes so I had to give it everything to maintain my lead over Gordon on the final 70 kilometre ride to the finish in Sumner.

The ride started auspiciously when one of my shoes came loose from the cleat as I transitioned onto the bike, a few seconds lost but shortly I was heading up the small rise and onto the Old West Coast ride and the promise of a head wind all the way to the finish. Over the winter I purchased an SRM power meter for my bike and now I wound it up to my target and settled into my rhythm. It’s always hard when you know you’re being chased by someone as good as Gordon and it was a mental battle to not push harder to start in the ride but my weakness has always been dying the final 20 km on the final bike so as I watched the Watts like a hawk I was surprised to see my speed sitting around 44 kilometres an hour. I was thinking that’s great, if I can hold that for another 10-20 kilometres at least that’ll be a good portion of the ride out of the way quickly. I was starting to feel more confident of not being caught when I was still ticking along well over 40 and sometimes over 50 as I hit the outskirts of Christchurch. Going through Christchurch is a magic experience with so many people out giving all the competitors encouragement as they pass. By now I had the luxury of a couple of Police motor Cycles, a squad car and the lead race car as company and they’d shoot ahead and stop any traffic at intersections and generally just made sure I wasn’t going to get taken out – a pretty neat experience as you fly through the city. I kept the nutrition going in, the change to High 5 definitely seeming to provide that extra something at the end of the race and finally onto the causeway and round into Sumner. It is always a great relief to see the finish banner across the beach. As I started a run down the chute I got an unexpected race from one of the two day competitors who thought I must be trying to sneak in front of him at the last minute. The finish was packed with people and the mixture of elation and relief was just as great as the first time I had won the race.

For me this was vindication to return after the disappointment of 2007. I’d had my best ever race here and had surprised even myself with some of my performances. Gordon Walker my main rival and team mate from Adventure racing was 2nd, 20 minutes back and then it was almost another 30 minutes to 3rd.

My day was also tinged with disappointment as I found out Elina had suffered a puncture in the first ride, effectively ending her chance for the top spot in the females race. She fought hard all day but was never able to recover the time or extra energy and ended up a brave 7th in the women’s race. She is understandably disappointed but maybe this year will be the catalyst for her to have her perfect race next year.

Now I’m recovering and getting ready to try my first Ironman event in Taupo on the 1st of March. It seems to have created quite a stir within the media although I think there expectations are somewhat unrealistic.  I’ll be aiming for a solid race, on the conservative side and who knows, if it goes well maybe there will be a few more serious quests in Ironman in the future.

Lastly a huge thanks to all my Supporters and sponsors without whom all of the racing and training would not be possible.

Subway NZ – Nic Paterson

R&R Sport NZ

Nike

Jamis Bikes

Andrew Martin Kayaks

Legend Paddles

High 5 Sports nutrition supplements

Vittoria tyres

Ready set go

2XU Wetsuits

One Flow – swimming coaching Lionel Padial

Wildside Travel

This year’s support crew: Willy, Niall, Adrian, Zac with help also from Elina’s crew; Nic, Dad, Harry and Allun

Cheers Guys