The Wānaka multisporter aims to reclaim the world championship of multisport in the Longest Day section of the Coast to Coast on Saturday.
Two years ago, Elliott claimed victory in a sensational time of 10hr 48min 53sec, Australian Alex Hunt doggedly attempting to run him down to finish runner-up just 2min 14sec behind.
While that margin may sound convincing on paper for the 243km journey from the shores of the Tasman Sea near Kumara to the waters of the Pacific at New Brighton, the gap is equivalent to a split second in athletic track racing.
The slightest miscalculation, loss of concentration or gear failure can be defining factors in a race governed by small margins.
This came into play last year when Elliott lined up to defend his title.
Early in the race, he suffered a fall at the first river crossing, injuring his knee and losing a soft flask with 200g of carbohydrates, leaving him with just 90g to fuel the remainder of the three-hour run across the Southern Alps.
"I knew I’d be rationing my nutrition while knowing it would be nowhere near enough to keep me fuelled," Elliott said.
He got through the alpine stage and maintained the lead, but his day began to unravel when he hit the water for the gruelling 70km kayak stage down the Waimakariri River.
"I hit a wall just before Hamiltons Rapid and I thought I was out of the race. No power whatsoever.
‘‘To be honest, it got tough. I was completely empty."
Elliott dug deep to hold on for second place behind Hunt in a reversal of the 2024 result.
Hunt was never going to be an easy target. He had upped his training regime under three-time Coast to Coast champion and multiple Halberg Award winner Gordon Walker to become the first champion from outside New Zealand since fellow Australian John Jacoby 32 years earlier.
Hunt broke the tape in 11hr 29min 20sec, with Elliott holding out four-time champion Sam Clark (Whakatane) to finish second in 11hr 33min 47sec.
A rejuvenated Elliott is keen to put last year behind him and bring the world title back to Wānaka.
"I love the race. I love the training and disciple that goes with it. And the person it helps me become."
Elliott is determined to maintain a low-key approach to the race.
His training regime has involved 19 to 24 hours a week and he feels he has the bike-run-kayak balance right heading into the event.
While Elliott is staying tight-lipped over strategy, it will come as no surprise to see him make a move on the mountain run.
He expects the Canterbury pair of Sam Manson and Lachie Brownlie to be among the contenders on the kayak stage.
The top contenders were at similar levels of strength and fitness, so the race could come down to whoever executed the best, Elliott said.
"Nobody finishes that race saying I wish I was fitter. Most say I wish I didn’t stuff up here or stuff up there, I wish I did that and not that.
"It’s a real character-building race."
Hamish Elliott
The facts
Age: 31.
Based: Wānaka.
Occupation: Builder’s apprentice, adventure tourism guide and coach.
Coast to Coast record: Third two-day individual 2017; seventh Longest Day 2018; fifth Longest day 2023; first three-person Longest Day team race 2022; first Longest Day 2024; second Longest Day 2025.
By Wayne Parsons
