Training, tramping and fun – Rachel Baker

rachel sThe last month has been pretty busy, I finished my first semester at CPIT and hit the holidays which was awesome. It was a fun and busy semester filled with learning how to whitewater kayak, run adventure based learning activities, lead climb and much more. During the semester I started being coached by Chris Stagg and training for Multisport races. I competed in TWALK and raced the 3D Rotorua 50km premier multisport race. With these events done training now focuses on training for Spring Challenge and Coast to Coast.

I always look forward to the holidays, a good chance to have some fun, and by fun I mean adventures and training. First week and I went off whitewater kayaking on the Hurunui river with some friends. I also did some running and cycle training sessions. Chris and I tried to get out for a paddle on the lower Waimakariri River in multisport kayaks and start working on my kayak skills but unfortunately the river flow was too high. I was pretty gutted as I was keen to test out my new Sharp 6 and get my first experience of paddling whitewater in a multisport kayak. I started paddling a few years ago but have only just started learning how to whitewater kayak this year and it will be something I have to work on for Coast to Coast.

I took the opportunity of holidays to head to the hills and check out Arthurs pass as I had never been tramping there before. My Friend and I attempted to tramp the Casey- Binser saddle loop over 3 days with a side trip to Lake Minchin on the second day. It was a nice tramp but unfortunately we had to tramp back out from Casey Hut via Andrew’s track – the same way we tramped in due to lots of heavy rain and a risk of not being able to cross some streams.

After tramping I headed home to Wellington and was excited to hit the Wellington hills for some training. I smashed out a 2hr run where I got to run through most of my favorite running spots, Wellington Skyline, Karori cemetery and Otari-Wilton’s Bush, it was awesome. I also got to test out the new mountain bike track at Makara peak – Peak Flow, which I’d been dying to try, and can’t wait to ride it again. I got typical Wellington weather of wind and rain to add extra fun to training.

To finish off the holidays I went on another tramp in Arthurs Pass. It was a fun adventure where we attempted to cross Harman Pass. After a fun holiday of tramping and training I’m now settling back into semester 2 and study.