Retired couch potato Kathryn Davies has endured a battle of mind over matter for the past 12 months while preparing to tackle the two-day individual section of the Coast to Coast.
The 29-year-old Dunedin physiotherapist has come to terms with several demons over the past two years, since failing to qualify for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Rising to cycling prominence as a teenager, Davies (nee Jones), medalled in 2004 at Youth Commonwealth Games and Oceania Games competition and remained in the national mix for the next decade.
Although New Zealand titles eluded her, she did win a string of silver and bronze medals along the way.
Davies has no regrets on not qualifying for the Commonwealth Games, which prompted her to retire from the sport.
Her only battle was coming to terms with lifestyle changes and accepting she had given it her best shot.
"That's life. That's how it goes,'' she said.
"I had goals. But once that goal was no longer achievable then the cycling became just a chore.''
Davies admitted to becoming a couch potato and felt she needed another goal.
Until September last year, Davies had commuted from Dunedin each day for eight years to work in a practice in Balclutha.
This was how she crossed paths with Balclutha multisporter Craig Gordon, who ushered her into his support crew last year.
"It was an amazing experience and I was hooked,'' she said.
Davies' early experiences with the event were as a child while growing up in Christchurch where she would watch competitors stream past on the way to the finish.
Family holidays would include walks up the Mingha Valley, which was part of the mountain-running section.
Witnessing the event firsthand last year, Davies became inspired and committed to having a crack this year.
"I looked at people and thought ‘well if they can do, then there is no reason why I can't'. I felt inspired.''
But there was an obstacle she has had to overcome - kayaking.
"Me and water aren't very good friends,'' Davies quipped.
Davies had never been in a kayak and her first attempt on Otago Harbour lasted half an hour.
"Everything hurt. We then tried a surf ski. But that ended in tears. For the sake of the marriage we left that alone.''
Davies contacted a friend in Invercargill, who lent her an Eclipse craft, which has more stability on the water.
Davies gained confidence on the water when she joined the University of Otago Kayak Club and contested local events such as the Winter Flat Water series last year.
"There's a real love-hate relationship, though,'' Davies maintains of her kayaking skills.
"It's frustrating as [husband] Joel is very good on a surf ski and has no fear on the water.''
Since committing to the event, Davies has seen off any number of training mishaps, one on a recent training exercise down the Waimakariri which had her ready to chuck it all in.
She tipped out when the supporting jet-boat broke down in her path.
Getting back in her craft she then had to take an alternative line only to hit a bluff and fall out again.
Getting back on the water, she collided with another craft, which cracked the back of her boat and bent the rudder forcing her to walk out of the isolated gorge.
The pain continued when she then had to pay for a private jet-boat to retrieve her kayak.
But she has not thrown in the towel and a finish at Brighton Pier on February 13 will be celebrated.
As for a second challenge and a possible shot at Longest Day, Davies for now, only has concern for making it through this one.
"We'll take it from there.''
Kat Davies
Profile
Name: Kat (Kathryn) Davies (nee Jones).
Age: 29
Marital status: Married to Joel.
Occupation: Physiotherapist.
Sporting background: Track cycling.
Sporting honours: Youth Commonwealth Games and Oceania representative 2004.
