Keeping you on your toes

If you're not very keen on winter, this time of year can really start to drag. That steely resolve to keep training and be ready for summer begins to waver as a beer by the fire starts to seem the better option.

There are a few races coming up that will spark your enthusiasm while you wait for warmer weather. If you've kept up a good level of fitness, one of the most scenic courses around is the Gibbs Hill Challenge, scheduled for this Sunday.

The race starts with a 23km bike ride from Takaka Primary School to Wainui Inlet, then continues with a 21km run. It's not an easy slog up Gibbs Hill, but the payback comes after Totaranui, when the course turns on to the beautiful coastal track, making its way back to Wainui via Whariwharangi.

From Wainui, the mode of transport changes back to the bike for the 23km return to Takaka Primary School.

At front of the field, Nathan Fa'avae has the most experience. However, if Kim Hogarth is clever on the opening bike ride he should have the best legs on the run and may build a buffer before the final bike section. Jake Stow, Tony Bateup and Nigel Burgess will be in the battle to round out the top three.

The long-striding Klaartje Van Schie is in marathon training mode and could be the best pick in the women's field ahead of Dallas Ward and Jane Orbell.

Because of the national park status of part of the course, there's an upper limit of 70 on entries. There's still a handful of spots left and for those who just want to breathe in the atmosphere there's space for teams of up to five, with possible changeovers at Wainui (both ways) Totaranui and Whariwharangi. If that challenge is just too big, there's another multisport option a week later, on Sunday August 15.

With a spirit of optimism, it's the start of the Nelson Tri Club's spring series and it's on a new course based at Saxton Field.

The easy option is to run (or walk) 1.5km and bike 8km around the fields and farm roads in the vicinity.

The harder choice starts with the same terrain for the run (but a bit further at 4km), then it's on to the bike heading straight up into the hills for more than a kilometre, dropping down an airstrip, then climbing some more before returning to sea level and repeating the exercise, finishing with another 4km run.

Since the course is not open to the public, there'll be no chance for sneaky previews – it'll be new to everyone on race day.

The spring series continues on the same course with races in September and October.

You can find more information at nelsontriclub.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News