Maier stands equal with Olympic cyclist Kathy Lynch, now retired, for having won the most Longest Day titles for women — they hold five each — and if Maier wins on Saturday she says it "will be the icing on the cake".
"If someone beats me, I will be very happy for them.
"And it will be good for me to realise I have made the right decision," Maier said in an interview with the Wānaka Sun this week.
The Coast to Coast, from the west to the east coast of the South Island, was launched by Robin Judkins in 1982 and has World Championship status.
Maier — who turns 45 next week — has been competing in Coast to Coast for many years, earning her first Longest Day victory in 2019.
A kayak issue in 2020 meant she could not complete the race, which was won by Corinne O’Donnell, of Whakatane.
Maier went on to make up for that mishap with a consistent streak of four more wins from 2021-2024.
She has also stood on the top of the podium in many other adventure races around the world.
Maier said she injured her foot just over a year ago and has been carefully rehabilitating it, even while winning races in China and at the 2024 Longest Day.
After this year’s race she will take some time off to continue to look after her body and focus on her coaching business.
She still has passion for the outdoors and adventure.
"I am not retiring.
"I am not hanging up my shoes to sit down and watch TV," she said.
"But this will be my last elite Coast to Coast.
"If I can pull this off, it would be my sixth win, which has never been done before by a woman.
"It would be cool to give it a go ... Number six sounds great.
"I want to showcase that you can do it if you make the time and effort ... Just put in the training.
"Put your mind to it.
"You don’t need fancy gear, you don’t need to be keeping up with the Joneses, all you have to do is put in the training hours," Maier said.
In the men’s Race, Hamish Elliot, of Wānaka, will be defending his first championship title again Sam Clark, of Whakatane, and Alex Hunt, of Australia.
Clark has five wins under his belt but has not raced Coast to Coast for four years.
Hunt has several top three places and was second last year, behind Elliot.
