I am a person who likes, no, needs eight hours of sleep. More if my busy life permits and this was one of many things that I had to consider when I was unexpectedly asked to join Team Wet Coast to compete in the 1998 Southern Traverse. That year the Southern Traverse adventure race was transitioning to the adoption of the standard international team format, which requires each team to have one female member.
In February of 1998 I had exceeded my own expectations in the Speight’s Coast to Coast Longest Day with a second placing and the fastest mountain run time, so I was seen as a possible replacement for Kathy Lynch, who had raced with Wet Coast the previous year.
Team captain Duncan Hamilton invited me for a "training weekend" in Haast which turned out to be a survivor-style bootcamp, where they tested my suitability for Wet Coast’s dream of winning this iconic race.
Geoff Hunt, the founder of the Southern Traverse, prides himself on setting a course that tests teams to such an extent that he is only happy if just a handful of teams finish within the time limits. Mountain-biking, trekking, kayaking, abseiling, caving, extreme navigation and sleep deprivation brought on by non-stop racing are all part of the event.
Starting in Manapouri and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Steve Gurney, I had no idea what was in store for me over the next five/six days.
As it turned out, we stayed in or near the lead for all of the 99 hours of the race, we managed to grab about four hours sleep and we experienced some of those magical moments that come when you push yourself to the limit and beyond. I lost all my toenails, experienced crazy hallucinations and found strengths I never knew I had.
We won the premier mixed team section and instead of catching some sleep we let the buzz of winning keep us awake well beyond the prizegiving. So much for needing eight hours sleep a night!
Why was this the best day of my life? Was it winning? Was it proving that I could "foot it" with some of the best adventure racers in the country? Maybe, but really it was proving to myself that anything is possible if you just give it a go and that is a pretty good philosophy to live by.
- Bernice Lepper is the manager of Central Otago REAP (Rural Education Activities Programme) in Alexandra.
Your best day
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