Couple have CoasttoCoast bug
BACK in early February, former Highlander and Otago rugby representative Lee Allan needed a nurse to help him through the 243km Longest Day Coast to Coast course.
In next year’s race he is taking one with him.
Allan, who had married Alyce Carson just a week earlier, was one of 248 hardy souls to take on the Longest Day section of New Zealand’s great race.
Originally, Allan’s thoughts were a little more conservative as he pondered thoughts of contesting the twoday section. But, backing his ability, he adopted an allornothing approach and switched to the premier Longest Day event.
With a full social calendar of stag dos, hen nights, wedding celebrations and honeymoon in the two weeks leading up to his date with Longest Day destiny, Allan had little time to prepare but was confident all would go well on the day. But the hand of fate intervened. As raceday approached he was hit by a gastric bug, and for the first time in his life, became covered with hives
Alyce, a registered nurse, led the support crew together with her parents, Kaye and Chris Carson, along with Allan’s father Wayne Allan. All had concerns over the state of Lee’s health.
‘‘He went a bit rogue on us,’’ Alyce commented.
Bedridden and struggling to retain electrolyte fluids, which had made him vomit, Lee somehow mustered the strength to make it to the 6am start on Kumara Beach. And just as he did in his rugbyplaying days he left it all out on the playing field.
He remembers many stomachturning moments on the run up Deception Valley and on the kayak stage, emerging from the 67km paddle down the Waimakariri River at Gorge Bridge a little worse for wear and facing a daunting 70km bike ride to the finish. But a sausage roll bought on the spur of the moment by Alyce in Springston proved a lifesaver.
‘‘It was that that got me through. I’m sure,’’ he said.
Originally, Lee was going to withdraw from the event. But with dogged determination he decided to still give it a crack as he realised all the training and expense he had ploughed into the event would come to nothing if he did.
‘‘I thought I’d tough it out. And managed to get through the day all right.’’
Although disappointed in not finishing around his estimate of 12 hours, a plus for Lee was finishing well inside any cutoff times around the course.
‘‘It was good to get it done considering I couldn’t get out of bed the day before.’’
A coaching and development officer with the Otago Rugby Union, Lee said that despite a rough introduction to the course last year it was awesome and good to get it done.
Lee finished in 14hr 57min 53sec, slightly worse for wear, but in better condition that the 25 who failed to complete the Longest Day category. He and Alyce, who was also bitten by the Coast to Coast bug, immediately lodged an entry to contest the tandem section together for the 2019 event.
‘‘I think it was was pretty inspiring just watching everyone come in throughout the day. Lee got on the bandwagon and got us signed up straight away. So we are all locked in for the twoday,’’ Alyce said.
Although there are cutoff times to meet, Alyce added that the main goal would be just to finish.
One thing that struck Alyce about the event was the supportive nature of each competitor to their opponents.
‘‘Everyone is pretty keen to help everyone out. That is what drew us to the event in the first place.’’
But for Lee being able to return to the course and not leave so much of him behind is as much of a goal as it will be to keep up with Alyce and keep within a 50m gap, as the rules state for tandem team competitors.
The inspirational couple are looking forward to tackling the twoday tandem team section beginning on Friday, February 8. Lee makes no secret of an intention of making a return to the Longest Day in 2020, while Alyce has an eye to contesting the twoday individual event.
❛ It was good to get it
done considering I couldn’t get out of bed
the day before