Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Huka XL

Saturday was another early start, I am slowly getting used to them, as it is getting easier to get up. This time it was quarter to five when the alarm went off so not quite as early as the week before. It felt a bit odd to be heading out for a mountain bike race as I hadn't done one for sooo long! It was a good feeling though; I like to mix things up a little as I might get bored otherwise. I also knew it was going to be a good race as I had done it last year and really liked the course. And the other massive plus was that I was going to be riding my awesome new bike, the carbon lt! - Rob reckons the best bike ever ;) I would have to agree :)
It was nice to see some familiar faces on the start line; the atmosphere was very social, as we were chatting away while waiting for the race gun.
It took me a little while to warm up but that was expected and so I was taking my time to get the hang of riding my bike and the different style of trails. The trails in Taupo are really quite different to the ones we have in Rotorua, they are much more tight and windy, with little kickers and not much time for rest.
I had a really fun race, enjoying the endless single trails, which was the bigger part of the 80km course - to be fair, it was mostly single trail ;). Plus it was great to see all the smiley marshals along the course, cheering us on and having a good time, I hope they did!
Time went by rather fast as I, despite having done the race the previous year, wasn’t quite sure what was coming up as they had changed a few bits and so you keep getting surprised about what’s coming up. And on top we got to see some stunning scenery; rode through beautiful old bush, along magnificently coloured streams and obviously the Waikato river.
I won my race for the 2nd year in a row, might have to go back next year ;)

Ps: my bike is so much fun I had to take it out again on Sunday, and I felt surprisingly strong, I blame the bike as it’s so much fun to whip it through the trails; so I guess it took number one on my bike chart

Sorry couldn’t find any pics yet, hope to find some soon and put them on.

The Great Kauri Run

What an absolutely fantastic race! :)
We got to enjoy some absolutely stunning views, a nice challenging course with ever changing surroundings from beach, bush with stream crossings, tight single trail, steep descents and climbs and rough roads. And all this with a good cause in mind, to try re-establish some of the enormous Kauri forest that once covered the Coromandel peninsula some 200 years ago. For every competitor in the great Kauri race (13km and 32km, walking and running options) a Kauri tree gets planted along the race route. over 1200 trees over the distance of 3km have been planted before the race this year and another 360 Kauri trees will be planted after this years race (the 6th ever Great Kauri Run)!

My friends Ann and Bryon were mad enough to offer to take me to the race, the poor buggers had to get up at 4am! How crazy is that!?!
The race started at Waikawau beach; with the first two kms being in rather soft sand we were trying to dodge the incoming waves, it looked rather playful watching Graeme Pearson way in front of me weaving up and down the waters edge. we then left the coastline and the course went along a nice bush trail following a small river upstream and crossing it a few times along the way until it got steeper and steeper up the hill and we lost the river to head to the top of the ridge and from there pretty much followed the ridge line for the rest of the course. At places you could look to the right and left and see beautiful coastlines to both sides, how awesome is that! :)
Running along all by myself for a while I was fully absorbed by the stunning views and just enjoyed a great time out there following the ever changing terrain towards Coromadel. I must have slowed down a little then when I looked back in the very technical single trail about 3/4 of the way through I could see Michelle Hyland, and she was pretty much right behind me. I knew I had to change my pace or she would get me and I might loose my ride back home as Bryon had warned me that he would leave me behind if I didn't win. ;) I knew there was a nice long decent coming up and then we would be pretty close to the finish line. So I wasn't too worried yet about having to walk home to Rotorua. It was a great feeling running down that last long downhill section making use of the gradient to speed up the legs and get a sensation of speed. I wasn't quite sure how much of a gap I had but I was safe. I won by just a minute.

Bryon and Ann were waiting at the finish line with a punnet of strawberries as I had told them about how nice it had been at Toi's to get some strawberries at the finish :) thanks heaps they went down a treat! :)

Ps: we couldn't stay till prize giving as it would have meant we would be home after 9pm (which wouldn't have been very nice for the driver when he already got up at 4am!) so Graeme Pearson was so nice to pick up my goodies and take them to Rotorua for me. man was i surprised when i saw what i got!!!! the best ever prizes i reckon! i got a beautiful rare swamp Kauri bowl, some nice sunnies, a handy backpack, an cool event t-shirt and a free entry to next years event! will i go back?? bet i will :) it was so much fun and then i get spoilt rotten after! COOL!

Toi's Challenge

the toi's challenge is the first race of the triple crown series. it's an 18k running race from Whakatane to Ohope and back, it's super scenic and has loads and loads of steps, 'ouch!!' yeah people have told me about them but i certainly didn't get it until yesterday when i saw/felt it first hand, but it might have been a good thing not to know, as it was very painful in deed. i must be getting soft! oh well! other then stairs there was a bit along Ohope beach and on the way back we ran through some beautiful bush, it was absolutely stunning and i can recommend anyone to go and walk or run the track, depending on your level of madness ;)
the race was really well organised and there was lot's of smiling people that cheered us on along the way. i blame the amount of sunshine these people are able to enjoy for always being so happy :)
i had a good battle with a local girl Karen, who took off like a rocket at the start and seemed to just want to keep going at that mad pace, luckily for me she was fading too, just like me. we changed lead a few times before i managed to pull it off and win the race, i was pretty shattered though i must admit.
Fiona got second in her class, awesome effort!! ;)


almost forgot, one of the best things about the race was that when you crossed the finish line you got a punnet of super delicious strawberries - they went down a treat!!! :)

looking forward to a restful week and then to the next challenge - the Kauri run! i hear it will be a stunning run as well, can't wait! ;)

to finish off another pic from the breathtaking Toi's track ...