It is a gruelling race that puts even the toughest athlete through their paces but two Central Otago women were up to the challenge.

Christine (Chris) Galbraith and Emma Trolove completed the Coast to Coast adventure race last weekend, calling the finish line feeling “brilliant” and “surreal”.

The pair said they would sign up again to improve their times and embed the learnings gained from their first experience of the event.

Chris entered the two day solo race and placed sixth in the female 40 to 49 year old category. She made it to New Brighton in 16 hours, 43 minutes and 7 seconds.

Emma entered the longest day race and finished sixth in the female open category (18 -39 years). Her epic day of running, kayaking and cycling finished after 15 hours, 17 minutes and 43 seconds.

Multisport icon and nine time Coast to Coast winner Steve Gurney congratulated Emma at the finish line. PHOTO: Supplied 

“There was a feeling of disbelief that I actually made it after a year [of training],” Emma said.

“I started the day in the water on the West Coast and ended the day in the water at New Brighton [on the East Coast].

“The coolest moment was when my [former] rowing coach Adam Milne, who has done the event a few times himself, shook my hand at the end.”

Emma (26) moved to Central a year ago and has a background in rowing, running events and basketball however she was new to multisport and had never been in a kayak until a year ago. 

Emma, all smiles on the course. PHOTO: Supplied 

She found the kayak leg the hardest, “by then I was so far through the race everything was falling to pieces”.

She thanked her coach Wānaka-based Mike Johnston, her support crew; sister Phoebe Trolove who travelled from Auckland, and her former rowing coach from Christchurch Adam Milne.

Like Emma, Chris decided a year ago to enter the event, and was put on a waitlist, not receiving confirmation of her spot until August.  

“It took me a month to get kayaking gear, then I spent two weekends with Bill Godsall getting my grade two kayak certificate… It was early October when I was really starting to paddle.”

Chris said she found the 30.5km mountain run the most gruelling because she didn’t get her nutrition quite right. 

She followed her dietician’s advice of two days of carb-loading and having electrolyte drinks before the race.

“I think I over-fueled. I was feeling ill, and dry wretching during the run.”

Chris said taking her two daughters with her was an additional logistical challenge but she really wanted them there, so they could see what all her training was for and to inspire them too. 

“My uncle and cousin always used to do this event.. I wanted [my girls]...to see it and be involved too.”

The weather was two “bluebird days” and her second day was “primo” Chris said.

She ended up heading back to Hokitika for a proper bed and a hot shower after the first day, and that meant a 3am start with the girls in tow for day two.

She said the 67km kayak stage on the Waimakariri river was challenging due to a lack of water flow in the river.

Chris said the kayak component pushed her far out of her comfort zone. PHOTO: Supplied 

“When you got to a narrow piece of water in the gorge you could see all the crazy happening ahead.

“I had three near misses and a swim… I got out of my boat safely, got to the side and a rescuer helped me. It all worked out.

“Then I was almost wedged in shallow water as I missed a main channel, but luckily I managed to turn my boat around and I still kept my rudder.”

For Chris, an experienced cyclist, the bike ride sections were an absolute highlight.

She crossed the finish line hand in hand with her girls and celebrated with friends later that evening in Christchurch.

“My best weekend ever,” she said. 

Chris thanked her support crew Shaun Portegys and Dan Batchelor along with friends who helped on the day.

This year was the 43rd Coast to Coast. The race starts at the beach on the West Coast (Kumara) and finishes at New Brighton in Christchurch.

In its first year (1983) the 243 km course had a field of 35 entrants. Now the race attracts huge media attention and has become a prestigious event.

Athletes have several options to compete in, including one day teams of three people, the longest day single person race, two day events for individuals, tandem pairs and two or three person relay teams. There is also an option to tackle the mountain run stage on it’s own.

For more information see Coast to Coast

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