Mental strength has often been seen as the fourth discipline of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day. While athletes push their physical limits by biking, running and kayaking 243 kilometres from one side of the South Island to the other, much of it is done in solitude while battling exhaustion. Their ability to silence their inner critic from bombarding them with negative thoughts is what sets apart those that become champion and those that fall agonisingly short.

But even before Saturday’s start line on the West Coast’s Kumara beach, that mental fortitude has been under severe examination in 2022 as described by the top three ranked men, Wanaka’s Dougal Allan, Christchurch’s Sam Manson and Ohoka’s Ryan Kiesanowski. 

“When the Covid announcement came out, (the country was moving to the Red-Light system) I was super shattered, I was really confident that the race wasn’t going to be on, based on all the information we’d been given to that point," said Manson, a Canterbury-based kayak and mountain run instructor.

“When it was announced that the one-day race was likely to be back on again, it wasn’t as simple as sweet, let’s get back into it, it was more like, how do I get back into it, so the last 7 or 8 days have been focused on rebuilding that enthusiasm, motivation and spark that I need to be able to win the race.”

“Not only was I wrestling with the uncertainty myself, as a coach I was responding to the disappointment that my 2-day athletes were having from their event being cancelled, and also working through some of the anxiety some of the athletes in the Longest Day were experiencing,” said Allan.

“It’s certainly been a challenging build up, I was set to race the Motu (Challenge),” Kiesanowski commented. "But my flights got cancelled, so I looked at driving up, but I would have been away for days. Twizel (Hard Labour) was canned too, so it’s been a really hard year to get a gauge on where you’re at without any real competition.”

All agreed though, that competing competitively in multisport had prepared them for this sort of disruption. “This will be my 10^th Coast to Coast, and I don’t think any of my races have ever gone anywhere near to plan,” said two-time champion Allan.

“I guess in part, that’s what makes it fun. Speed and endurance are one thing. But having to adapt and not let it derail what you’re trying to achieve is a whole other thing altogether,” said Kiesanowski, “that’s a whole different skill and it’s one that often takes a lot of time to develop.”

“There’s 243 kilometres of course and a heap of competitors just as hungry to get to the finish line as you," said Manson, "you can’t expect everything to go your way.”

The next thing to potentially throw the athletes off their stride is the inclement weather. Which could result in the B Course being put into play, thereby sending runners up the viaduct and over State Highway 73 across Arthurs Pass, rather than into Goat Pass and down to Klondyke. Organisers are also assessing whether the 70 kilometre kayak leg can still go ahead or it too could be changed to a gruelling cycle up over Porters Pass. 

“I guess that’s the next thing that everyone is talking about isn’t it,” said Kiesanowski.

Allan added, “the reality is, if you want to win the Coast to Coast, you have to be the first to complete whatever’s put in front of you. I’m just really grateful that the event organisers have continued in the same spirit that we do as athletes and found a way to keep this event happening. It’s a real credit to Glen (Currie) and his team."



A decision will be made on any course changes on Friday.