Sleep deprivation was not enough to stop Dunedin's Neale McLanachan from making a successful defence of the open men's Peninsula Challenge 23km run title yesterday.
McLanachan (35), who finished third in both early season off-road events, the Papatowai Challenge and Three Peaks, was using the event as part of his preparation for the national cross-country championships in Christchurch in early August.
''It's all money in the bank,'' he said of both winning the title for a second consecutive year and overcoming his tiredness after little sleep on Saturday night.
With work and study eating into his ability to focus on training, McLanachan could not fully relax on Saturday night and woke in the early hours, worrying about how he would go over the demanding 23km course between Allans Beach and Taiaroa Head.
''This is a lot harder and more demanding than the Three Peaks,'' he said.
''I never sleep well before a race. You wake up and it's on your mind. Actually, I was then more worried about what had happened in the [Super 15] rugby.''
McLanachan set a solid early pace with Jonah Smith and despite pulling away from Smith on the run up the hill before Papanui Inlet, Smith came back at him on the downhill. But determination kicked in for McLanachan as he battled freshly laid gravel to pull away from Smith on the flat section around the inlet.
Despite a solid run from Smith behind him, McLanachan had opened up too wide a margin on the inlet stage. And despite heavier footing this year, McLanachan broke the tape in 1hr 39min 1sec, a time five seconds quicker than last year.
Smith clocked in at 1hr 41min 17sec, with Steven Smith finishing third in 1hr 45min 22sec.
A more relaxed approach to her running is paying off for past Otago marathon champion, Sarah Chisnall, who won the open women's section in 1hr 53min 53sec.
Chisnall (30) spent the best part of last year overcoming a series of injuries, but a fresh approach is bringing immediate success, with yesterday's challenge race and last month's Three Peaks titles in the bank.
''It is much harder than I had anticipated,'' she said of yesterday's race.
''So those last hills just nailed me. I was not expecting it to be that steep and slippery.''
Chisnall is taking a slow approach to building up her fitness, after an extended period on the sidelines.
''I'm just enjoying it. No goals. Just to get out there and run and enjoy it.''
Second across the line in the open women's section was Donna Young in 2hr 4min 54sec, while Amanda Nulock finished third in 2hr 9min 26sec.
