On Saturday 24 February, I participated in my 4th Papatowai Challenge in the Catlins. I travelled down with Gail Sharp who was competing in her 14th Challenge and I believe holds the record for women walking in the event.
We arrived just after 11am for the 12 noon start. The weather deteriorated to an extent I made a last minute decision to wear a merino top under my t-shirt. It was cool with a breeze and the threat of rain. There were 427 participants and I managed to get away to a good start as it can get congested going along the bush track. Luckily on the beach we had a tail wind and the sand was hard.
Going up the goat track and unsealed road was a grunt but what I expected. When we got to the top and turned a corner for home the wind was a head one and it started to rain heavily. It was quite unpleasant. I managed to make up a bit of time over the last 5kms as I wanted to get back under 2:10 hrs and close to my PB of 2:07:01. My eventual time was 2:07:41 which was pleasing considering the conditions. I was 13th male and 28th overall so all-in-all a successful day. Caversham's Roger and Tom were 1st and 2nd respectively. Gail was the 4th woman home.
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