Spring Challenge 2009- Lisa Morrison, Team R&R Sport

Posted on September 29, 2009

The third edition of the largest adventure race in the world happened in the last weekend of September.  Over 500 women competed, proving what a great event it is.  This year it was at Lake Rotoiti, St Arnaud.  I was asked to step in to a 6 hour team two weeks before the race.  I met one of my teammates for the first time at briefing the night before and the other I had met once.  Since we had never trained together, we decided to have lots of fun with no pressure, but still give it everything.  Laura and Jess are great girls, so it promised to be an awesome day.

The course was relatively short for the 6 hour at just 36 km.  However, there was a lot of climbing which made it tough.  The start was a mass sprint to the rafts at the lake edge, with a few teams getting confused about which raft was theirs.  We jumped in and were moving before I knew it.  Then it was a matter of powering around a section of the lake and into the Upper Buller river.  R & R Sport had the good fortune of pairing up with another team of kayakers, so our raft led the pack into the river – our one moment of glory!  The Buller was running very low and there was a lot of jumping out to push the raft off rocks, made difficult by slippery didymo. We used specialist bouncing techniques to jiggle ourselves off other rocks, at the instruction of our raft guide, Nick.  Not being an experienced rafter, I could only assume that this was a genuine tactic!  Nick did a great job of picking lines and steering through the rapids, but it was the nature of the river that a few rafts passed us. 

Into transition and it was didymo-cleansing for our race bibs, followed by a steep climb up to our brilliant support crew.  After some stripping and eating, we were onto our mountain bikes for a short burst.  Then at an unsupported transition, we changed into running shoes and left our bikes behind.  From here it was a gradual climb up a gravel road, which turned into a steep incline up a ridge, through forest.  Along the tops we got into a good rhythm through some reasonably technical terrain to the next checkpoint.  From here it was a steep descent along another ridge and back to the bikes. 

The next stage was a 10km mountain bike up another hill.  By now it was getting warm and it was great to get to the top.  Even better was the downhill, allowing our team to make a gap on some others.  There was a short section of single track followed by gravel road and finally an awesome flowing grass track before hitting transition. 

Running out of our final transition, we grabbed an orienteering map to supplement our topo map for finding the next checkpoint.   Here we made our only navigational error, getting a little lost in a maze of scrub and clearings that all looked the same.  But a little bush bashing never hurt anyone, so we eventually found the checkpoint.  By this time I was starting to run out of speed and there were still 3 or 4 km to the finish.  The other two girls were stronger than me but kept me in the middle so that I didn’t drop off the back.  For the last 3 km, Laura took my pack and Jess towed me running.  I was unbelievably grateful for their help and commitment to the team.  It was a huge effort to cross the line, having been racing above my usual intensity all day.  A great feeling as always and the pain memories faded, as they have a habit of doing.  It was brilliant to see other Complete Performance Athletes and Spin participants at the finish line, sharing stories and navigational choices with lots of smiles.  Keryn Ford, Ruth Chapman, Leah Bateman, Susan Basterfield, Wendy Spray and Maree Scott all competed in the 6 hour, with Rosie Shakespeare and Kate Hopewell racing the 12 hour event.  Well done to everyone who competed.

We finished up 18th in Open Women 6 hour, stoked to be in the top quarter.  It was a fantastic day out with a great course, beautiful weather and a friendly but competitive atmosphere.  My only regret is that I didn’t get a massage with Jason from Good Massage, who was working hard at the finish line.  Once again, Ten Events delivered a smooth event, which is a real task given so many competitors.  I am looking forward to next year already!      

Lisa, Laura and Jess

Spring Challenge 09

Posted on September 28, 2009

Well done to all those that completed the Spring Challenge – a women’s only adventure race – that was held in St Arnaud last weekend.  Below are an number of comments from our Complete Performance athletes that took part in either the 6 or 12 hour races

• Rosie Shakespeare was part of the Complete Performance team competing in the 12 hour section. “We had good times, hard times and every where in between.  16 hours 20 mins, whew!!
• Kate Hopewell – “Hey, Awesome day I think we got 17th, way harder than last years 12 hour event, we did 15 hours 30 min.”
• Keryn Ford – “We went from 5th to 32nd on the river then back to 6th by next transition and then got lost and finished 8th. Fun day though”.
• Lisa Morrison – “18th open women’s team so pretty stoked.  My cold slowed me down but my team helped a lot so it was great.  Great to see all the CP girls there.”
• Ruth Chapman – “Survived! Came in about 6 hours 40mins (6 hr section) and in about 21st of 80+ teams.”

Tiddlers Multisport – Last Sunday

Posted on September 22, 2009

Thought you might be interested to hear how our event went this weekend. It was huge!!  Tiddlers has certainly gained some momentum.  I had 180 children registered last Sunday and it was a very big morning.  Everyone had a great day and parents were very complimentary to me for organising another successful event.  We have our own finish line now (c/- a friend Manning Signs) and it is big and beautiful!!  Kiddy style!! Bright green with bright funky lettering and our logo. You would LOVE IT!! I had two professional photographers there to take some great shots and I believe they took 500 which they will be editing and putting up on our site in the next few weeks.  I had a bbq and  two face painters for the kids.

I announced my next event which is going to be in November, our first triathlon!  Yes, a run, cycle, and wet slide to the finish!  I have the local Lyttelton fire brigade helping out too so it should be very funny. Just working through the logistics of water, slipping and small children… Will need to think that one through….. but safety is high on our priority so we will be careful, don’t’ need any chipped teeth….

Sharon Brophy, half marathon PB

Posted on September 17, 2009

“Still stoked at the half-marathon time  of 1.35.16!  I did 1:38 in 2005 and the four half-marathons I’ve done since have all been disappointing (all over 1:40)  So I’m pretty happy    My long term goal has been to get to 1:35 !”.  Awesome effort Sharon – you are well on track for the 1/2 Ironman worlds, keep it up!

Nadine Voice – New PB!

Posted on September 17, 2009

“Am absolutely stoked with my time up to the Sign of the Kiwi today tho!! Woohoo!! Blimey you have to fly to get up there in that time, still I reckon I can go quicker!”  Well done Nadine – keep charging!

Lizzie Loudon- Abel Tasman Coastal Classic

Posted on September 14, 2009

Superb effort from Lizzie in a very wet and muddy 36km. She achieved her goal of under 4 hours (3:50) and came in 14th Place. You’ll have to do that off-road marathon now Lizzie!

Scott McNab-Kaikoura Half Marathon

Posted on September 14, 2009

Great effort from Scott  who rode a 50km training ride to the start of the Kaikoura Half Marathon, then proceeded to run a PB of 1:29.

Kylie’s preparation to the Triathlon Worlds tomorrow…

Posted on September 11, 2009

Anna Hiatt – Making huge improvements!

Posted on September 11, 2009

“I took eleven minutes of my best Rapaki up and down this season”.  That is awesome Anna keep up the great work! You are well on track to completing the 2010 edition of the Coast to coast.

Lindsay Dey – flying the flag!

Posted on September 4, 2009

Complete Performance Dunedin Athlete Lindsay Dey was feature in the the Otago Daily Times and the front page of the TRI NZ website today as he lines up for his sixth world champs in the Gold Coast next weekend.  All the best Lindsay!

For the full article click here

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