Smile on her face from start to finish

BY EMMA DANGERFIELD

For Livi Fearnley, a challenge is always around the corner. The former Suburban School teacher can tick adventure racing off the list and she is now embarking on a new career.

Livi completed her first Coast-to-Coast last month and says she was an obvious first-timer as she could not wipe the smile off her face.

"It's a dream I've always wanted to do so I was just grinning from ear to ear the whole way.

"I just kept telling myself `you're doing the Coast-to-Coast!' I got cramp in my face from smiling too much!"

And her face was not the only place Livi felt the pain.

By the end of the first day she had cramp in places she never dreamed of having it.

Having just completed a gruelling 55km bike ride and 33km run over the mountains, she was then forced to sleep in the car because of the terrible weather.

"It was pretty bad, but I was really stoked with my first day. My strength is definitely running – my cycling's not so flash!"

Drastic changes to the course meant that, unluckily for some, the bike leg became 135km and the kayaking down the Waimakariri was cancelled altogether in favour of a far more sedate paddle 17km down the Avon River.

"That was quite bizarre, paddling past the punters on the Avon.

"But I think it actually made me more tired because on the Waimak the rapids would have been pushing you along," she says. "But the good thing is that it is a Coast-to-Coast that not many people have done."

The camaraderie is another thing which will stick in Livi's mind. Although she was competing alone, there was always someone along the way to chat to and keep spirits up.

Livi recalls one woman in particular who had travelled from the UK to take part, only to smash her kayak when it fell off the roof of her car after she had not tied it down properly.

There were highs and lows for all competitors, with even the smiling Livi admitting there were some moments she wanted to cry.

But she puts her success down in part to her faithful support crew, made up of her parents, Brent and Ann, and friend Mike Weir from Christchurch.

"They were awesome – they definitely kept me going through the tough times."

But will she do it again? Livi says she would love to repeat the experience, although the expense is quite high, with an entry fee of close to $1000 on top of the expense of all the equipment.

But for now she will have to wait as she is busy with her next mission – a new posting in Tauranga where she has just started working for World Outreach, an organisation which helps provide youth aged 18 to late 20s with opportunities to go overseas and help out in the third world.

From orphanages to schools and even building sites, Livi will be charged with making it happen for those who are keen to help.

Having been to Japan on an internship herself, which then led to work in Mozambique, the Philippines, China and Taiwan, Livi is an experienced traveller and third world assistant.

Now she hopes to facilitate this for the next group of willing helpers, by offering a course to teach volunteers about cross-cultural work, including the first step of going overseas, as well as sharing the gospel.

The position is for one year, after which she may well feel the call again and set off overseas for an extended time, something she says has always been in the back of her mind.

"I'm really excited about the new job – it's all happening!

"I will miss Kaikoura so much though."

And no doubt Kaikoura will miss Livi and her energy too, although she promises to be back on a regular basis to visit family and friends who are never far from her thoughts.

- © Fairfax NZ News