McCaw arrives in one piece
Arriving at Klondyke Corner with no blood streaming from his legs or nasty wounds, Richie McCaw let out a wry smile.
The retired All Blacks great completed the first day of the Coast to Coast’s two-day tandem team event yesterday with New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol and were satisfied to be sitting sixth in the open men’s category.
Competing the 2.5km run, 55km cycle and 30.5km mountain run through the Southern Alps together, McCaw and Nichol finished part one of the 243km endurance race in 6hr 48min 54sec – 1hr 21min behind the two-day tandem men’s leaders.
It was a stark contrast from two years ago, McCaw’s first appearance in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast, where he lined up in the mountain run, and cut both legs after slipping on rocks and required stitches upon finishing.
‘‘It went pretty well in terms of we got here and we didn’t hurt ourselves,’’ McCaw said.
‘‘It wasn’t as quick as we perhaps had in mind. Some days are like that. It’s just good we made it.’’
McCaw wasn’t feeling his best throughout the day, but he and Nichol managed to push through. They were reluctant to offer up a target time before the race, but were content not to come unstuck through the rugged Deception Valley boulders.
‘‘I thought we might have been a little quicker if we’d been feeling a bit better, but it was what it was. Couldn’t have gone any quicker I tell you,’’ McCaw said.
Good friends McCaw and Nichol, who are competing under the moniker ‘Best Foot Forward’, have also featured together in the Godzone and Defiance adventure races.
The tandem event involves both competitors doing the entire course over two days together, staying within 50 metres of each other on the bike and run sections while paddling the Waimakariri River leg together in a double kayak.
McCaw, Nichol and the rest of the two-day tandem competitors will head off early today to knock off the 15.5km cycle, 70km kayak and then jump back on their bikes for the final 69.5km cycle to New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.
Having only done the mountain run two years ago, McCaw said yesterday’s cycle was a new experience. ‘‘It was the first time I’ve been in a bunch like that properly.
‘‘It was something a bit different. It was quite good. We were hustling along at a pretty good pace. Sitting in there and getting a bit of a free ride was pretty good.’’
ON THE HUNT