Sam’s still the one
FOR many people it would be like experiencing hell, but for Sam Stedman his victory at the 59km On a Mission multi- sport race was more like a chance to unwind.
Stedman won the latest installment of the annual adventure race after edging out Cairns ultra- athlete Steven Francis in a thrilling race featuring ocean paddling, beach running and mountain biking.
Locked neck and neck with Francis for the majority of last weekend’s race, which covered a course encompassing Dunk Island and Mission Island, Stedman made his move on the final bike leg.
A rigorous bike training regime paid dividends for Stedman, who soon pulled away from Francis to score his latest adventurethon victory.
“I’m in training for the six- day Pioneer mountain bike race in New Zealand, so that’s been my main focus,” Stedman said. “And it was with the mountain bike leg that I was able to pull away, that’s where I was able to get the edge.
“But I still had enough experience and base fitness to get me through.”
Stedman will race at the Pioneer event in November – the latest in a long line of big events that Stedman has competed at since starting the sport more than a decade ago.
From running across mountains in China to abseiling down rock faces in South Australia, Stedman has made it his life’s work to test the limits of his endurance.
That, and spreading the word about adventurethon.
“For me it’s great to get out and support any event,” Stedman said.
‘ That’s why I went up to Mission Beach, because it’s a distinct event that’s well supported and it’s one of North Queensland’s oldest multisport events.
“I didn’t go up there with any expectations, I just wanted to enjoy it.
“So to get the win was a bonus more than anything.”
More than 120 competitors took part in this year’s Mission Beach race, which saw Townsville athletes scoop the medal pool.
Kimberley Nagle was crowned women’s long course champion, and fellow Townsville competitors Julia Anderson and Peter Spilsbury won the men’s and women’s short course events respectively.
I DIDN’T GO UP THERE WITH ANY EXPECTATIONS, I JUST WANTED TO ENJOY IT. SO TO GET THE WIN WAS A BONUS MORE THAN ANYTHING. SAM STEDMAN