R&R Sport Motatapu Multisport Race 9th March 2013

Matukutuki Paddle - I'm the 3rd Boat in the line up there!

It is always great heading up to Wanaka for a weekend - the weather always seems to turn it on when ever we head up and this weekend just been was no exception to this. We loaded up and headed off to Wanaka on Friday lunchtime. The Motatapu Multipsort race is a new one for me. Last year I raced in the Xterra Tri which was the Swim/MTB/Run option, this year new for people to enter after being trialled last year was the Multisport Race option which consisted of a 15km Kayak stage down the clear braided waters of the Matukituki River and then onto the MTB for a 55km MTB through the Motatapu Station and onto Arrowtown for the final run stage made up of a 15km run up around the "Miners Trail" - this run was still pretty clear in my mind form last year as it had a massive hill climb that went on and on, the run course reaches a high point some 640 metres above the race start before a steep descent back down to the finish in Arrowtown.

MTB River Crossing

How it all went for me - The paddle was fantastic I really enjoy getting out in the Kayak and this paddle down the river was a great way to get going for this race - the river level was quite low so it was a bit of a slog at times but my trusty UFO slid through the water nicely - I came off the water 10th and felt good, the paddle time was around 1hr15min maybe (no watch on the wrist) onto the MTB it was straight into a wee pinch up and over a hill to join the Motatapu MTB track that would later have hundreds of MTB racers coming through, It was good to be on the trail before all of these bikers! After quite a few relentless little pinches up and down it I came to the 16km to go mark and from here the course is pretty much all down hill with some super quick descents and river crossings. From this part of the course you catch up with many of the Marathon runners. It is always a little nerve wrecking coming blasting down hill at full speed passing by runners on the left of the trail trusting fully that they are not going to cross over to the right of the track which wouldn't be pretty to connect with them at full speed! As always quality gear from R&R Sport had me biking through here comfoartably with the Giant XTC 29er rolling fast all the way - perhaps the only limitation being my leg muscles tiring!

Miners trail Run Descent

Off the MTB and onto the run, we there was a bit of walking as it is straight into the climb - all uphill for a long time - up and up in the heat I went until reaching the top, super views and then into the descent down over the slippery tussock grass before joining back onto the trail and river crossings to the finish in Arrowtown. I finished in 6hrs 59min and finished up 10th Open Man and 21st overall. Once I had cooled down and recovered a little it was time to catch up with Cherie, Oscar and Charlie, a steak Sammy form the BBQ tent, a trip to the Arrowtown Bakery for a well earned Pie and that was that! A great race and well oganised event. Thanks to Mat Woods for being my support person with the kayak drop off and Pick Up logistics at the start and to R&R Sport for the continued sponsorship and support.