We had to get up at 3.30 am to make it to the start line for 7 am outside Collingwood, north of Nelson. I was aiming to reach the finish line within 12 hours and my plan was to target going double the speed of what is recommended by Department of Conservation. Last time I did it about 2 years ago (pretty untrained), we pushed through in 14 hours. My guideline time added up to 11 h and 15 minutes and I was very proud to cross the finish line after 11 h and 18 min. Swedish punctuality!!
I did the whole race with Mike in the end. It was planned at all, but he kept such a good steady elk-pace uphill that I followed. We were chatting away walking up the first big hill to Perry Saddle Hut. Most people started very fast and we thought we would pass quite a few later on, but I must admit that there were many stupidly fit people doing this 82 km race. Approx 60 competitors set off together, 15 of them woman.
Sorry about the lack of order of the photos...best to start scrolling up from the bottom :-)
The last 16 km was mostly along the beach line with stunning views.
Mike and the Nikau trees (the only native palm tree in New Zealand)
Hard work running in the sand
Not far to go now...just a few hours left.
Heaphy River Mouth
Heaphy River
Heaphy beach..and we can no almost see where the finish point (little knob at the end of the beach line)
Just keep running..come on Mike, no time for photos 
The first view of the West coast sea
One of many swing bridges
There were some very beautiful rock formations along the tops
Not just an average run..it was stunning!
Mike on the move
The view of the Dragon's teeth from Perry Saddle Hut, which was the first hut we came to.
Happy happy joy joy! We had done most of the uphill at this stage but still had many many hours to go.
I really enjoyed the whole day out and never really had any major lows. It was good to have someone to chat to which also made it feel like an ordinary day out in the hills, instead of a serious race.
The winner (a bloody Aussie :-) took just over 7 h and the fastest woman took about 9 hours. I was surprised how many veteran woman (40+) who finished below 10 hrs!! Will I become faster with age? I seriously don't think that I will ever become a very fast long-distance racer since my stomach just doesn't want to go too fast. I was proud to have figured out what I actually can eat during this race. Gingernuts (liknande pepparkaka) is a guaranteed winner. So are nuts, raisins and cheese wraps. No sweets...it makes me sick.
Charlie stormed ahead of Mike and me and finished in 9 hrs 20 min I think after approx 12 ibuprofen...I think he had a enjoyable day with his MP3 and Chemical Brothers. Mike and I also brought our latest MP3 purchases but never used them in the end since that would have been to unsocial.
All in all it was a great day out in the hills!! Apparently the Heaphy 100 is on the drawing board, so I will need to do some more training...
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