Her victory was like no other, and one well worth celebrating, and she goes into next Saturday’s race among favourites to defend her crown.
Maier moved to New Zealand in 2007 from southeast Germany as an elite triathlete.
Soon after arriving, she discovered the riches of Wanaka’s great outdoors.
She quickly emersed herself in endurance-based ironman distances and quickly made an impact on the national stage, winning her age-group in just her second race, at the Taupo event in 2009.
This result qualified her for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, and she finished third in her age-group despite breaking her back five months earlier.
Her first Coast to Coast came in 2011 when she finished 58th in the team section, clocking 15hr 23min 15sec.
It was not until four years later she returned to take on the Longest Day, finishing second to fellow Wanaka athlete Jess Simson in 13hr 24min 12sec.
She returned again in 2018 to finish third in 13hr 2min 21sec.
Going into the Longest Day for a third time last year, Maier was more than happy with her preparation, given past experience, but nothing can combat pre-race nerves and a 3am wake-up call.
"The sleep the night before a big event like the Coast to Coast is not the best one.
"In the past I hardly got any sleep because I am so excited," she said.
Right from the start last year, Maier made it her race to lose, and went about shaking off the threats posed early on by four-time champion Elina Ussher and a competitive group of other contenders including Fiona Dowling, of Alexandra, and Claire Bell, of Te Anau.
The handy lead she built up on the 33km alpine run was significantly reduced when she collided with a camper van during the 15km bike stage to Mount White Bridge.
Maier quickly regained focus, and was straight back up and back on her bike despite brake and rear-wheel issues, reaching the start of the 67km kayak stage holding a 3min 47sec lead on Bell and Ussher.
While Bell's race became unstuck midway through the river stage, Maier had doubled her lead over Ussher and Dowling when she exited the river for the 70km bike to the finish.
She then incurred a 2min time penalty for a transition technicality at Klondyke.
This stirred her desire to go hard-out to the finish.
Quickly overcoming cramping and soreness issues from the kayak stage, a fired-up Maier cast aside tiredness, self doubts and a mind drifting into black holes as she went about extending her lead to break the tape at New Brighton in 12hr 58min 36sec, almost 9min clear of second-placed Ussher, who came in just ahead of Dowling.
But it is a whole new ball game this year with yet another high-quality field.
Ussher and Dowling are set to make a return while others posing threats include Corrinne O’Donnell, Wanaka-based athlete Emily Wilson and Alison Wilson.
Maier is aware what most of her opponents will bring to the big dance, although she she is unsure about Wilson.
"I guess at this stage I can rest assured that no-one has won it on their first attempt." she said.
