Vegan racers to smash stereotypes
Hundreds of racers will push their minds and bodies to the limit in a gruelling seven-day adventure race in Canterbury next month, but one group has set themselves firmly apart from the rest.
While some teams may be snacking down on meat pies and cheeseburgers, the Nutrient Rescue Racing team will be eating freeze-dried curries, pea and rice protein shakes, and muesli and hemp seed balls.
The vegan team hope their plant-based diet can get them a podium finish at the upcoming GODZone event starting in Akaroa on March 10.
Member Marty Lukes said the team of four would be smashing the myth that vegans were ‘‘pale’’ and ‘‘weak’’ by trekking, biking, kayaking, canoeing and rafting their way across the rugged 530-kilometre course in about five days.
‘‘We want to smash the myth that if you’re vegetarian or vegan . . . you’re a weak, hippy, sandal-wearing limpet. We’re
going to prove to the world that you can race super hard out for five days on vegan nutrition.’’
Lukes hoped by finishing strong at the gruelling GODZone event, which is described as being the largest expedition-length adventure race in the world, the team would prove people could compete at an elite level and eat environmentfriendly products.
‘‘With climate change, water quality, animal wellbeing and human nutritional health often being hot topics, we’re proud to help keep that conversation going with some everyday solutions.’’
More than 250 competitors from across the world will compete in this year’s event. The start and finish line remain a secret until race weekend.
Teams will spend half the race biking and the other half either on foot, in a raft or in a kayak. They will also have to complete a 1.2km vertical climb at some point.
The race challenged competitors both physically and mentally, Lukes said.
‘‘It involves a lot of going into a new world of belief. You’ve got to put your mental mindset on.’’
The team plan to sleep about three hours a night to avoid ‘‘absolute fatigue’’.
The key to keeping mentally tough was to keep communication up and make jokes, Lukes said.
‘‘If someone is really struggling we can take their gear or give them a lift, but if someone is mentally struggling we just keep a sense of black humour – you’d be surprised the stories and jokes that come out.’’
Joanna Norris, chief executive of event hosts ChristchurchNZ, said the event would showcase Canterbury’s wild, mountainous terrain.
‘‘We’re looking forward to hosting these local and international teams and their support crews as they push themselves to the extreme in some of the most epic, untracked wilderness our region has to offer.’’
The official welcome and race briefing will be held at Akaroa’s Gaiety building on March 9.
‘‘With climate change, water quality, animal wellbeing and human nutritional health often being hot topics, we’re proud to help keep that conversation going with some everyday solutions.’’ Nutrient Rescue Racing team member Marty Lukes