So there it was. The Coast to Coast was incredible. Much to my delight, it was an epic adventure of many highs & surprisingly few lows.

The first day started on the chilly Kumara beach with everyone huddled together but a distinct buzz in the air, my thoughts turned to what a silly idea it was to cross the South Island in two days... Then we were off! A 3km run to the bikes and a beautifully sociable 55km ride through sun kissed hazy valley floors to the start of the mountain run. My excitement was growing as I set off up Deception valley for the monster 33km of bush, river crossings, rock strewn riverbed & a mountain pass. Using my guidebook for the run (which I'd picked up in Christchurch), I managed some overtaking manoeuvres through bush and on grassy terraces to avoid the gnarly riverbed (and my ankles!). About half way up Goat Pass, I fortunately caught up with someone well experienced with the route. Stowing my guide, I just about managed to power walk up and over the steep terrain/river crossings to the top. I've absolute respect for the folks who run the whole route! In true Gordon style I paused at the hut for some lunch and a visit to the loo before setting off again. The last 15km was great fun (possibly euphoric from reaching the pass), I felt stronger than I thought possible and enjoyed the varied descent: down scree & steep slopes, over smooth board walks, more river crossings, through bush & eventually over a wide rock strewn valley floor. It was like the Deer Stalker race on steroids.

 

Day two was a lot more lonely however equally fun. Despite a quick-ish 15km ride, there were problems with kit at the river (a missing paddle for one!) and I ended up losing about 40 mins. Not one to kick up a fuss though, especially when I was just out to enjoy it. Some people were getting properly irate at their support crew, which was a shame. However, Raz & my Cousin were real troopers. Hence, I was one of the last people to set off on the kayak and spent pretty much the whole 67km paddling by myself apart from the odd safety crew along the river for company! It was great fun though. No swims or portages left me feeling really chuffed and a little more than six hours later, I inhaled a famous Sheffield pie & hopped on the bike for the remaining 70km to Christchurch. The bike ride was good, boosted most likely by the pie (and memories of Graeme Obree's Flying Scotsman film, carefully chosen by Raz a few nights before). However, I did experience moments of spontaneous giggles. I feel I may have started to go slightly delirious at the thought of actually finishing the race. Highlights from the bike included: the flyover from the NZRAF; positive comments from the one day pro's as they started to whiz past; people camped out along the entirety of the last cycle route cheering; and finally the police, who stopped all the traffic at every red light in Christchurch to let you past. Fantastic fun! The race ended with a chute run onto the beach and I was presented my can of Speights Ale, cracked open by Rod Judkins (the creator of the race).

From the beach it was straight to 'Indian Sumner', via the burger stand, for a top feed with Raz, Steven & some chums. Despite some early post-race enthusiasm over coffee & cake the next day & a 13 hour sleep, it wasn't long before I started to fade again... More calories & sleep needed!

Now, the dream life is nearly over and I'm sure A&E in Tauranga will hit me in the face like a brick.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me through the race & especially to those who have sponsored my chosen charity. I'll leave the page open for a while yet in case anyone else feels like leaving a donation.

Hope this finds everyone well & apologies for the waffle (good effort it you read it all the way through!).

Cheers,


Gordon

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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

As some of you might be aware, I've entered the gruelling New Zealand Speights Coast to Coast South Island race on the 8th & 9th of February. This madness includes two days of cycling, scrambling over mountain passes & a 67km kayak. This is a challenge far harder than anything I have ever done before or possibly ever will do. Therefore, I'm planning to use this opportunity to raise money for a charity that has been on my mind for some time now & to remember my late Grandpa 'Bill Boyd'. 

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland are campaigning for Cardiac Rehabilitation with a 2014 goal of every heart patient in Scotland having access to a program that is widely believed to be significant in the treatment & care of heart patients. Cardiac rehabiliation is made up of many aspects, including exercise training, education & psychological support. This helps people to return to normal living after a heart attack & encourages lifestyle change to help prevent further problems.

My Grandpa, Bill Boyd, passed away from a heart attack a few years ago now & was in the process of trying to improve his own health through restarting exercise when he died. He was a legend in our family & in the lives of others, a broad Glaswegian man who, despite living in New Zealand for nearly 50 years, never lost his accent. Moreover, it was his tales of cycling, for example, down from Scotland to Blackpool for a weekend trip. On another occasion he returned to the Cobbler (a mountain north of Loch Lomond) on his bike from Glasgow because he'd left his jumper on the hill that same day -fearing the wrath of his mother. It was his passion for cycling that has in part inspired me to try my hand at cycling in various forms: from a casual road bike to sportives, triathlons, mountain biking & long distance cycling.

During my medical training I underwent a Sports & Exercise Bsc year, it was there that I learnt about the importance of cardiac rehabilitation for people who have suffered a heart attack. Therefore, despite me deciding relatively late on to raise money for charity, I would like to see any funds raised via justgiving.com to go specifically to the Scottish Campaign for Cardiac Rehabilitation program. 

For more information please see:

http://www.chss.org.uk/about_us/campaigns/cardiac_rehabilitation.php

http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/

Thanks for reading & for your support!

Cheers,

 

Gordon