Team Expedio Update

Team Expedio transformed to Team Inov-8

2010-09-10T16:47:00.001+12:00

As most of you will know, we at Aventure Group have a diversity of activities. One of those activities is High Beam which distributes high quality outdoor equipment for adventure loving New Zealanders. One of the products imported through High Beam is Inov-8, an increasingly popular range of trail shoes and accessories. Although Team Expedio has been a great platform for our regular outdoor adventures over the past couple of years, we're now transforming ourselves to Team Inov-8. To continue to follow us on our adventures please click through to our new page at www.teaminov-8.co.nz. We hope you enjoy!

XTERRA Auckland Trail Run Series Race #5

2010-08-17T09:54:00.002+12:00

On Sunday 15^th August the team at Expedio took on the Whitford Forest for the 5^th instalment of the Auckland XTERRA Trail Series. The days prior had brought torrential rain so difficult conditions were expected. Whitford has a nasty reputation for its misleading terrain and slippery surfaces and it certainly did not disappoint. The combination of heavy rain, a thin top layer of pine needles, and an under layer of clay, made for very difficult running conditions. In fact, a number of runners were seen sliding down hill sides on their backsides instead.

Richard, Emma, Pamela and myself (Reece) were all in attendance at this event. We all made sure to don our Inov-8 trail shoes, knowing they would save us significant amounts of time through the muddy and slippery trail sections. Pamela took on the 17.7km long course and finished first masters female and top ten overall. The rest of us foolishly took on the superlong course, with an unbelievable 1050 meters of elevation over the 21.8km distance. A steep, slippery and wet downhill section met us within the first few kilometres, alerting us to the fact it was going to be a tough day. Nonetheless, I had a solid day and finished 6^th overall. Emma was not far behind with a 2^nd place female open. Richard brought home the team with an impressive 1^st place male vet.

XTERRA Auckland Trail Run Series Race #3

2010-07-05T11:07:00.002+12:00

The third race in the Auckland XTERRA Trail Series was held at the Waiuku Forest last Saturday 3^rd July. Although the conditions were said to be quite good, the grimaces seen on competitors faces was enough evidence to know that it is a tough course out there. As per usual Team Expedio had a number of athletes in attendance including myself (Reece), Richard and Emma in the Superlong category and Pamela in the Long category.

Within the first kilometre of my race I knew it was going to be a tough day. Waiuku is not renowned for its painful elevation but rather its soft, deep sand. Anyone who has run on the beach will know that the softer the sand the more difficult the run. A large number of soft, sandy sections are what made the Waiuku course difficult. Matters were made more difficult with a number of these sections making their way uphill. In saying this however, I couldn’t help but marvel at the ocean views and high canopy pine forest we were fortunate to run through.

Pamela was the first of the team back to base and took out the Female Master category very convincingly. I was second home with a tough but enjoyable 6^th in the Male Open category. Emma once again showed her class with a win in the Female Open category, more than three minutes clear of second place. Richard also won the Male Vet category.

Overall a good day for Team Expedio in an isolated, yet superb, location. Keep an eye out for us at the next race in Woodhill near the end of the month.

Coromandel Classic Preview

2010-06-28T17:56:00.000+12:00

Last weekend Team Expedio took the opportunity to have a preview of parts of the Coromandel Classic course, and remind ourselves of what is in store late in August.

Last year's preview (an attempt at the day One run) didn't get any further then the river after the Pinnacles, with a raging torrent threatening to sweep the whole party away, and forcing us to retrace our steps back to the start. This year was not nearly as dramatic, with the river barely over the ankles, and persistent drizzle the only negative.

We cycled a section of the Kauaeranga Valley, ran the Pinnacles and out to Coroglen, and then cycled some more - some of the party through to Tairua, with others taking the easy option of a ride in the support vehicle.

Sunday the sun did not dawn.Instead there was mist and steady rain. Looking out the window of our accomodation in Tairua there was proof of just how much rain had fallen overnight , with a small lake on the back lawn. After ascertaining that none of the team were likely to melt in the rain we mounted the cycles, and headed into the rain towards Whangamata. Sure enough, the closer we came to Whangamata, the more the rain eased.

From there it was into the Day Two run. Since last year the first part of thetrack has had signifcant work done on it, and now resembles a very pleasant walk in the park. Even above the falls the track is in excellent condition, although the top part of the four wheel drive track is somewhat more beaten up.

Nevertheless all the team were surefooted throughout in our Inov-8's - this time everyone was equipped in Roclite 295's.

From the end of Wires Rd it was a short tired walk as we waited for the support vehicle to come the long way round.

Thanks to Al McFarlan and Susan Prater for support assistance.

Auckland XTERRA Riverhead

2010-06-17T13:09:00.001+12:00

Three words sum up the third race of the Auckland XTERRA Trail Series – mud, mud, and mud! Although this was expected, it still didn’t stop the gasps of horror heard as Richard, Pamela and Emma made their way around the course. Riverhead has a nasty reputation for normally being quite muddy, but given the torrential downpours Auckland received throughout the week prior it wasn’t surprising the course was in the state it was in.

Nonetheless, all three attending members of Team Expedio donned their trusty Inov-8 trail shoes and subjected them to an environment they were designed for. A slightly modified course due to unexpected forestry works made the course even more interesting. Emma showed her class in her preferred off-road environment by dominating the womens field in the superlong distance. Pamela followed suit by coming out on top in the long distance. Meanwhile, Richard was busy getting himself lost. To his credit, he still received an impressive second place in the superlong distance.

The conditions at Riverhead were clearly difficult which gave trail shoes a huge advantage. Not surprisingly, the Team Expedio members flourished in these conditions and will undoubtedly be wearing their Inov-8’s in the upcoming Waiuku event.

Maungatautari Mission

2010-06-08T10:13:00.002+12:00

Want to wake up at 4am on Saturday of a long weekend??!! ....SURE!!! ...doesn’t everybody??!

While a 4am wake-up call is not my first choice on how to start a long weekend, it would end up marking an exciting day...well, at least for me, it would!

Richard (Keene) entered us in the Adventure team category which meant we would be doing the entire race together ...no taking turns competing in different legs of the race as was my experience with previous multisport races.

Initially I was excited about the race as it meant I had something exciting planned for my long weekend, but as the race drew near, I suddenly realized I would be doing my very first complete multisport race ...now my excitement had gone to a whole new level!!!

It was a cold crisp morning and as we biked the few hundred metres down to the race start, we couldn’t help but notice all the flash looking bikes and all the flash looking people! ...so much for a down-to-earth, local race!

The race begun and our observations of there being ‘flash’ people in the race were confirmed ...the first pack was gone in the blink of an eye!!

As we rode along the 32km road bike portion of the race, there seemed to be other riders quite insistent on leading the pack. Richard and I didn’t argue about letting them lead and sat comfortably near the front of our pack.

Arriving at the first transition, ever-experienced Support Crew Susan was there ready to help Richard and I onto the next portion of the race ...the 15km mountain run. Exchanging bike gear for run gear, we were off and steadily climbed the hill which greeted all runners right at the start of this leg.

Now, I don’t have a heap of experience when it comes to off-road running, but there is one thing I’ve learned already, NEVER assume anything about an off-road run!!! SURE 15km may not seem that long compared to other races and SURE, I’ve done a few runs now which have been quite challenging so really, I should be somewhat ready for this run ...right?!! ...WRONG!! Okay, maybe we were ready, but Man! What a run it was! After about 2km of road and gravel road run, we hit the trails like I’ve never hit trails before!

We scrambled up ...and we clambered down ...we carefully manoeuvred our ‘Rockstar’ Inov8 trail shoes over slippery roots and ran not very confidently through undergrowth which covered the trail making it impossible to see where our feet were landing . We scrambled up for what seemed like ages! I did best to follow Richard’s lead but my 5’6” ‘sturdy’ built legs were no match for his 6’ long, lean off-road experienced legs!! We stuck together and passed a number of people en route. It was cool to pass as many people as we did, especially on such a technical run. I ran my very best and silently hoped I wasn’t slowing Richard down too much.

The next leg was a 15km road bike, but never underestimate the smaller distance ...15km can be a long and hard way if you aren’t ready for it!! Richard and I rode the undulating route well and were thankful of a fellow competitor we met along the way – he knew the route so when we came across a fallen sign which was indicating which turn to take, he kindly told us the way.

We cruised down the hairpin turns which took us to the final transition and found Susan once again, ready and waiting for us. Exchanging bike gear for kayak gear, we headed into the water.

I was excited! I had fun today and was about to complete my first multisport race! The race wasn’t over yet though and has Susan pointed out, we were the leading Adventure team. ’No pressure?!! ..yeah, right !’ Kayaking is my least experienced discipline and I knew Richard would be paddling to my pace in order for us to stay together.

Off we went and while the water was flat, it felt like a slog! Was I more tired than I realized? Had I not fuelled right? Was it simply my inexperience coming through? A few more minutes went by and finally confessed to Richard about how hard it felt ...he was feeling the same way ...and to boot, we both felt like our boats were going all over the place! Turns out, there were heaps of weeds underneath and this was making the paddling much harder. Thank goodness! I thought it was just me!

Getting out of our boats wasn’t a pretty sight! I suddenly had HUGE empathy for my mates who I had supported in their multisport races. I always noticed how competitors struggled to walk after paddling ....now I was experiencing the very thing! Whoa! This walking after paddling was much worse than I realized!

And as if getting out of the boat and walking a few steps wasn’t bad enough, what made things worse was that the route to the finish line was about 400m up hill ...how mean is that?! Sore butt and wobbly legs, we ran as best we could up, up to the timing mats which would end our race.

“First Adventure Team!” the race commentator announced! We’d have to wait for the official results to have that confirmed, but in the meantime we knew we had had a good day.

Full of smiles and stories of the day, it was off to the car to drop off our gear before happily refuelling at the local cafe which conveniently positioned near the finish line.

Thank you, Richard, Susan and Team Expedio for such a great day. I honestly wouldn’t , and couldn’t, have done it without you!

Pamela Ens

XTERRA Auckland Trail Run Series Race #1

2010-05-17T15:34:00.003+12:00

The popular XTERRA Auckland Trail Run Series kicked off on Sunday with the first event in the Hunua Ranges, south of Auckland. The series has now been running for a number of years and has gained a reputation for its hassle free setup, positive environment, and unforgiving courses.

Four members of Team Expedio attended the event in the weekend. Richard Keene and Emma McCosh ran the 22.1km superlong course, Pamela Ens ran the 17.6km long course, and Reece Billington took the easy option by running the much tamer 12.6km mid course.

After a couple of days of heavy rain during the week conditions were expected to be tough out on the long courses. They did not disappoint! Even though Total Sport have a reputation for putting on tough events, they made sure to highlight the difficulty of this one. The National Downhill and Pukapuka Track were only two of the mountainous walls Richard and Emma had to negotiate as they completed the 22km course. Tough sections of tree roots and steep, slippery uphill sections made things all the more difficult. Regardless, Emma McCosh must have been oblivious to the difficulty of the course as she finished in a time of 2:33, more than ten minutes ahead of the second placed open women. Richard followed suit taking out 3^rd place in the male vet category.

Conditions were much the same for Pamela in the long course option. Thankfully, she too was wearing her trusty Inov-8 Roclite 295’s and managed to collect 2nd place in the master women category.

Reece turned up to the event intending to run in his Nike trainers but purchased a pair of Inov-8 Roclite 295’s last minute. Although he has never run in Inov-8’s, let along trail shoes, he took a gamble and donned the Inov-8’s to run the mid course event. A dash of ignorance and a solid run enabled Reece to take out the victory in the mid course event, without a blister or hot spot in sight!

All in all a great day out was had by Team Expedio and we look forward to the next event in Riverhead. Given Riverhead’s reputation for mud, we hope to see Team Expedio and their Inov-8’s once again near the top of their categories.

Video of the event can be viewed here

Inaugural T42

2010-05-11T13:30:00.001+12:00

On Saturday 1st May, Team Expedio members Emma McCosh and Pamela Ens ventured south to participate in the inaugural T42 event. Below is Emma’s report:

After the initial excitement of having my mountain bike come off the roof racks of my car, we arrived at the Park Travellers Lodge ready for the T42 race. It was good to see DOC braving the cold and spraying off bikes while a bustle of energetic athletes gathered their race packs and took to the expo’s great bargains.

At 9am the hooter went off and hundreds of bikers pushed their way through the muddy gateway on the Landcorp farm. We rode a few kilometers over farmland and a small stretch of road before connecting to the 42nd Traverse track. Although the field spread out relatively quickly, there were still a few near crashes that I managed to avoid. As it had rained a lot the night before the race I was glad I had changed my tyres!

Before the event I’d read that the 42nd Traverse was the North Islands most popular mountain bike track. Now I know why. The track is well maintained and winds its way through beautiful native bush. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to get much chance to admire the view as the track drops 400 meters in altitude in only 45 kilometers.

Flat tires, broken chains and even a cracked frame were a few of the mechanical casualties I saw during the course of my ride. My bike came off a lot better than me when I managed to somersault over the handlebars!

One final long uphill until the finish line gave me the chance to push hard and catch the 2nd placed woman who had crept ahead of me after I'd dropped my chain twice. A tough sprint over the last few hundred meters gave me a mere 2 second lead as I crossed the finish line.

DOC were there again hosing off our muddy bikes and shoes before we loaded our bikes back onto the big trailers to be delivered back to the lodge. It was great to see the smiling faces come in from the mountain bike and run. The field consisted of a mixture of first timers, seasoned athletes and weekend warriors.

Locals selling homemade cakes, slices and burgers as well as a bouncy castle, pony rides and the fire brigade contributed to a great post-event atmosphere. It’s not just the athletes that I believe will want this event to return next year.

After returning to the lodge for a spa and clean up we headed off to the event prize giving. A number of spot prizes were handed out including Inov-8 shoes, accommodation packages, 2XU gear and more.

On Sunday morning we left our mountain bikes behind, laced up our Inov-8 shoes, and joined a bus load of runners and walkers attempting the infamous Tongariro Crossing.

Although we had blue skies and a bright sun, a cold wind made conditions quite cooling so we were glad we’d packed our jackets, gloves and beanies! Our Inov-8’s were made at home on the rough rocky trails and mountain top ice.

What a fantastic weekend! Weather permitting, I'd definitely recommend the T42 and Tongariro Crossing combination for an energetic weekend experiencing some of the best trails New Zealand has to offer!

Anaconda Aventure Race Waihi

2010-04-26T15:29:00.001+12:00

The inaugural New Zealand Anaconda Adventure Race was held in the coastal town of Waihi on Sunday 25^th April. Being a well established series in Australia the event had great expectations to live up to, and it did not disappoint. Team Expedio, consisting of Richard Keene, Pamela Ens, Emma McCosh and Reece Billington, joined the list of eager participants looking to experience the well anticipated off road series.

Blue skies and slight winds were much appreciated as competitors lined up on the beach of Anzac Bay in Bowentown early Saturday morning. The first leg of five was a 1600m ocean swim, with a low tide and favourable current contributing to exceptionally fast times. Pamela was first to exit the water before passing the timing transponder to team mate Richard. Reece and Emma followed a short distance behind, with Emma looking to make up ground over the strong paddle discipline. Unfortunately, Reece has little to no paddle experience so found himself near the back of the field concluding the 14km ocean section. Meanwhile, Richard remained ahead of Emma who had not managed to close the sizeable gap.

Several weeks of fine weather meant the run section was dry and therefore technically easy. The very hilly terrain negated the dry trails however, with most of the field having to resort to a walk in a number of sections. Stunning scenery overlooking Orokawa Bay as well as perfect temperatures meant for an enjoyable run. Emma and Reece made up some time on Pamela but could not quite close the gap, allowing Richard a lead onto the mountain bike section.

The mountain bike weaved its way through private farm land allowing competitors the rare opportunity to experience trails not normally accessible. Several hills, a couple of short road sections, and some brief single trail brought competitors into the even less accessible tailings area of the Waihi mine. A strong mountain bike from Richard allowed him to extend his team lead, while Reece managed to close the gap on Emma.

The final leg of the Anaconda was a 2km run around the inner circle of the Waihi mine. Richard and Pamela easily managed to sustain their lead finishing in a respectable time of 4:51. Reece finished seven minutes back in 4:58 and Emma a further one minute back in 4:59. This giving her an impressive second place in the individual women category.

The Anaconda was a well organised event which will undoubtedly experience continual growth over the coming years. The format of swim, paddle, run and mountain bike is something a little different so expect to see Team Expedio there in future!

Sabah Adventure Challenge

2010-04-18T11:20:00.007+12:00

Emma McCosh and Richard Keene travelled to Sabah (Eastern Malaysia)in northern Borneo, for the 3 day Sabah Adventure Challenge - a three day stage adventure race in some pretty rugged terrain. Here is the race report:
Our idea was to have some fun and see a different part of the world - and do a little race as well. We had entered for the "adventure" category , but at the last minute we made the call that as we had come all this way we may as well really test ourselves, and upgraded to the "extreme" category. There was a point half way through day one when we seriously questioned why we had done that ! Day one was a 3am start. We started out doing what felt like the coast to coast run - in the dark,with slippery rocks and in a sauna.After that it was mountain biking up and down massive hills on tracks through the jungle. More river running followed and then back on the bikes where we managed to expose our minimal map reading skills. Between us we can get the map facing north but we do need serious lessons on interpreting the squiggly coloured lines! We managed to ride totally the wrong direction for 10k - and it was not flat! So that cost us 90 minutes, and drained the legs a little. Day 2 and 3 started at 8am. Just as it was starting to get really warm! Day 2 was the fun day. More mountain biking (and pushing) up and down massive hills, plus some jungle running. But we also got to tube down a river, and a new experience - a biathlon - 2 people with one bike.The biathlon was at the end of the day , so the bodies were tiring just a little, and as the section wore on the run stints became measurably shorter. Day 3 started with another jungle trail run and then onto the dreaded orienteering where we again managed to end up in totally different places on the map than we expected to be. Overall a great experience. We didn't see too much wildlife and most of the snakes were either dead or sleeping. And we managed to come 6th overall in the Extreme category - and second mixed team ! I can highly recommend it as an experience.
Thanks to our great sponsors Team Expedio, Inov-8 shoes and Kinesys sunscreen.Having great gear really does make a difference!

Summer Update

2010-04-18T11:12:00.004+12:00

Team Expedio has not been idle over summer - with a range of events.
Coast to Coast: Emma McCosh ran , cycled and paddled to 8th place in the Open Women category in the longest day.
Ironman Week: new recruit Reece Billington won the 5k in the lead up to Ironman
Tarawera Ultra: Susan Prater, Natalie Seay , Louise Shambrook and Phil Shambrook all ran the 80k at the Tarawera Ultra trail run.

Cape Kidnappers Challenge

2009-12-16T10:28:00.011+13:00

Team Expedio travelled to the Hawkes Bay on December 12 for the inaugural Cape Kidnappers Challenge. The prospect of running around Cape Kidnappers, past the gannet colony and over private land on the headland was too good to pass up.
Expected temperatures were in the high 20's, but these thankfully did not materialise until later in the day. Instead the field of nearly 500 runners and walkers encountered a fine and temperate day, with a little fine drizzle on the first third of the billed 28km (actually closer to 31km ) route.
A sizeable proportion of the field comprised 3 person teams, and the race was split into 3 legs. The first 10k incorporated a fast 8k along a firm beach, and then a stiff climb to the first transition (for team runners and walkers). The second leg of 8k was primarily over open farmland, firstly dropping down to the beach briefly, then incorporating some testing steep undulations. The third leg of 10k (in reality 13k !) took in more open farmland with steep ridges and deep gullies, eventually dropping down to a small river. We crossed the river 14 times over the last 4k on the run in to the finish.

Susan Prater, Natalie Seay, Emma McCosh and Richard Keene all ran as individuals, with Emma winning the Open Womens section.
Full results at http://www.capechallenge.co.nz/

Tarawera Ultra Marathon

2009-12-04T09:52:00.002+13:00

Team Expedio athletes Susan Prater and Natalie Seay have entered the Tarawera Ultra, on Saturday 20 March 2010. Susan and Natalie will be tackling the 80k distance.
Learn more about the Tarawera Ultra at www.taraweraultra.co.nz

Lake to Lighthouse

2009-11-24T19:35:00.002+13:00

Excellent racing conditions greeted an enlarged field of multisport athletes for the second running of the Lake to Lighthouse Challenge on November 20/21 at Tuai near Lake Waikarimoana. This year the course had been changed slightly for the second day to make the event a little more "team friendly", which it certainly proved with four even legs on the second day.
Day one consisted on a 14k mountainbike from Tuai to Home Bay on the lake, a 14k paddle across Lake Waikarimoana, a 46k run on the Great Walk track around the lake, and then 6k mountainbike downhill to Tuai.
Athletes and support crews camped for 2 nights on the village rugby field at Tuai, and enjoyed the hospitality of the local villagers.
The second day's racing, in temperatures in the high 20's, consisted of a scenic 24k mountainbike throough forests, scrub and farmland - all with magnificent vistas, a 42k road bike which largely followed the Wairoa River, a 21k kayak to Wairoa and finally a 16k loop run starting and finishing in Wairoa and incorporating some sharp climbs onto exposed ridges with magnificent views.
Once again, as it was for the inaugural race, the organisation was exemplary. This race is destined to become the C2C of the North Island !
Emma McCosh and Richard Keene travelled from Auckland for the race, and Emma ran, paddled and rode a well judged race for 3rd place in the Open Women category. Congratulations !

World Long Course Triathlon Championships

2009-11-24T19:27:00.002+13:00

Susan Prater from Team Expedio represented New Zealand at the World Long Course Triathlon Championships in Perth, Western Australia in late October. This year Susan came back from the World Champs with a 10th placing in her age group.
The Long Course Champs are traditionally raced over distances decided by the host country, and this year it was the double Olympic distance of a 3k swim, an 80k cycle and 20k run. The venue was Langley Park, which is nestled between Perth's CBD and the Swan River.

The Great Ape Race

2009-11-13T08:47:00.004+13:00

Team Expedio (Susan Prater, Natalie Seay and Richard Keene) joined The Great Ape Race at the Auckland Zoo - with profits from the race going to the Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund to support the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP). Despite being somewhat navigationally challenged at critical times Team Expedio managed to take out second place in the corporate division.

Motu Challenge

2009-10-13T08:28:00.003+13:00

Team Expedio travelled to Opotiki for the 15th running of the Motu Challenge on Saturday October 10.
Consistent rain during the preceeding week, and torrential rain on the Friday evening meant a high and fast river. This year's event was also notable for high winds on parts of the mountain bike ride, and bitterly cold head winds on the road bike stage from Motu Village to Matawai.
Overall conditions were probably the most difficult we have experienced in our brief multisport career - but valuable lessons were learned, particularly about the speed with which hypothermia sets in, and the necessity of staying well clothed.

Once again the support crews were invaluable in keeping the athletes fed, hydrated and moving in the right direction.
Emma McCosh improved on her 2008 time by 61 minutes to finish in 9:13 for fourth in the Open Female division, and Richard Keene cut 42 minutes off his 2008 time to finish in 9:49 and 4th in the Classic Male division.

TeamExpedio runs in Inov-8 trail shoes

2009-10-08T17:44:00.005+13:00

Team Expedio are proud to run trails in Inov-8 technical running footwear - found by experience to be the very best for New Zealand bush and mountain trails.
Look for the Inov-8 car at trail runs around the country !

Abel Tasman Coastal Classic

2009-10-08T17:37:00.003+13:00

Richard Keene and Emma McCosh travelled to the Abel Tasman National Park for the Abel Tasman Coastal Classic on September 12.
Competitors are transported by water taxi to the start of the 36km run at Awaroa, which follows the scenic coastline back to the start at Marahau. Conditions were perfect for running, being cool, with misty rain at times.
Full results at http://www.nelsonevents.co.nz/AbelTasmanCoastalClassicResults.htm

Coromandel Classic

2009-10-08T17:26:00.003+13:00

The Coromandel Classic multisport race starts and finishes in Thames, and this year was over the weekend 28-30 August. Competitors this year were treated to a variety of conditions , including rain, wind (head on during the final cycle leg) and opposing tides for both kayak legs.
Emma McCosh won the open womens race with a margin of 38 mins to the next woman.
Full results at http://www.endurancesport.co.nz/coromandelclassic/2009overall.html

more Xterra Trail runs

2009-08-21T09:26:00.003+12:00

#4 in the Auckland Xterra Trail run series was in the Waiuku forest on 19 July, and then #5 at Whitford on 9 August. Results are at http://www.totalsport.co.nz/results/results_2009.php

We are now solidly building for our major multisport races in the second half of the year - the Coromandel Classic http://www.endurancesport.co.nz/coromandelclassic/ over the weekend of August 29/30, and then the Lake to Lighthouse http://www.laketolighthouse.co.nz/default.aspx November 19-21. With the days lengthening and becoming warmer, it's easier to get out for longer training sessions.

Xterra Trailrun #3

2009-07-03T18:54:00.007+12:00

The 3rd Xterra Trailrun of the winter series was run on a wet Sunday morning June 28. The course had more than enough mud, but also variety, with pine forest, felled pine forest, native bush, shingle tracks , clay tracks and mud. And more mud ! There was ample surface water, with judgement of the depth of the puddles almost possible. And the mix made for great trail running, with it's variety of technical and fast sections. Results at www.totalsport.co.nz/results/results_2009.php

Nowhere near Piha rogaine

2009-06-14T16:04:00.005+12:00

Team Expedio (represented by Richard Keene, Emma McCosh and Richard Everitt) competed in the "Nowhere near Piha" rogaine on Saturday 13 June. 'Nowhere near Piha' was actually north of Helensville on the south head of the Kaipara Harbour, and had to be re-located there due to the Auckland Regional Council's edicts to evict the public from many of it's regional reserves. The weather came right for another well organised Lactic Turkey event, held on a private farm with an amazing network of mountain bike tracks, on a combination of open grassland and pine forest. Results at http://www.lacticturkey.co.nz/RogaineResults.htm

Xterra Trailrun Series

2009-06-08T21:16:00.003+12:00

Congratulations to the team at TotalSport for another great trailrun. The weather played it's part with a great Sunday morning, and the Hunua trails were in their usual fine condition. Results at http://www.totalsport.co.nz/results/results_2009.php

Next week Team Expedio will be at the "Nowhere Near Piha" rogaine.

New Team Uniforms

2009-05-28T06:22:00.004+12:00

Team Expedio now has a team uniform! Thanks to Expedio Ltd and designer Rachel Lilburn, we now have Team Expedio cycling and running shirts.

Trail Running in Colorado and Wyoming

2009-05-28T06:10:00.005+12:00

Richard Keene and Susan Prater took the opportunity recently while in the Western United States to run 2 trail races – in Colorado and Wyoming.

The first was the “Crazy Legs 10k+”, just outside of Loveland, Colorado. Dry, rocky and with hardly a tree in sight sounds easy, but at just over 5,000 fee altitude the lungs were made to work. Details at http://www.paulstofko.com/Crazy_Legs_10k_.html

The second race was in the Medicine Bow National Park, located between Laramie and Cheyenne in Wyoming. The half marathon distance incorporated some climbing , but was run on an ideal surface of a wide dirt road. Conditions were very chilly, but dry, and again, at an altitude of over 8000 feet was challenging for runners coming from sea level.

Details are at http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/marathon/

Autumn Challenge - All Girl Adventure Race

2009-05-01T12:04:00.005+12:00

Team Expedio was represented at the Autumn Challenge by Susan Prater, Louise Shambrook and Natalie Seay.The Autumn Challenge is a 6 hour (for the winning team) adventure race for all women teams of 3. Based on the Mohaka River (on the Napier Taupo highway), the race featured stunning, and steep, landscapes.

The event was held on Anzac Day, April 25, in perfect racing weather.

Full results at http://www.autumnchallenge.co.nz/default.asp?PageID=18049

ARC 24 Adventure Race

2009-04-05T19:06:00.015+12:00

The ARC 24 on March 14/15 was TeamExpedio's first attempt at an adventure race longer than 6 hours, and the first time with a 4 person team. Team members for this event were Emma McCosh, Myree McCosh, Paul Franks and Richard Keene.
Based in Pauanui, the event utilised the Tairua Harbour for the kayak sections, and a mixture of forest, farmland and bush on the eastern side of the Coromandel for the mountain bike and trek legs.

Although our navigation skills certainly need work, the team enjoyed the experience of racing through the night, and the variety of country the event covered.
Yet another example of the amazing scenery New Zealand offers, that relatively few people get to experience.
For 2009 the ARC 24 doubled as the New Zealand chamionships. We finished well down the field - but will certainly be back for more.
Full details and results at www.arcevents.co.nz/arc2412/content/

Wellington Auckland 7 day Cycle Challenge

2009-03-16T21:57:00.004+13:00

Mid February 2009, saw 90 cyclists of all abilities on the start line for the inaugural “Lion Foundation Wellington to Auckland 7 day cycle challenge”. The field ranged from the super fast to the not so fast, and amongst them was Susan Prater from Team Expedio.

The race format on 6 out of the 7 days involved 2 stages each day with the remaining day being a single stage.

There was enthusiastic support for the race, and the journey, from the cyclists involved, who are able to confirm that yes it is all uphill from Wellington to Auckland and yes the wind is always against you!!

Thanks to Hammer Nutrition for support with fuelling. More information on the event from www.wakaroc.co.nz More information on endurance training and race fuelling from www.hammernutrition.co.nz

Congratulations to Susan who finished 3^rd in her age group.

Coast to Coast 2009

2009-02-20T09:44:00.009+13:00

Expedio sponsored two multisporters to this year's Coast to Coast - Emma McCosh in the Longest Day, and Richard Keene in the Two Day event.After predictions of heavy rainfall, the days dawned fine, if cold and windy.A very low Waimakariri made for a slow and bumpy trip, with headwinds on most other sections. Both first timers, Emma and Richard were 12th and 9th respectively in their age groups. Full details at http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/

The Goat - 5th Anniversary

2008-12-09T15:51:00.002+13:00

Saturday 6th December was the 5th running of The Goat Alpine Adventure run, from Whakapapa to Turoa on Mt Ruapehu. The day was warm, sunny and very clear, with the mountain in full view.
The course is 21 km, but there the similarity to a half marathon ends. The footing is better suited to goats - the terrain being very rocky, uneven and undulating.
Richard Keene and Emma McCosh from Team Expedio competed in a field of about 400, and were both 4th in their respective age groups.
Full details and results are at www.thegoat.co.nz/Tongariro/

Lake to Lighthouse

2008-11-28T07:59:00.004+13:00

The inaugural Lake to Lighthouse multisport event was run on Friday / Saturday November 21/22. Based at Tuai, the event initially circumnavigated Lake Waikaremoana, then set off for Wairoa, including a 26 km paddle on the Wairoa River.
The event was run by the Wairoa Community Development Trust, with the major sponsor being Genesis Energy.
Team Expedio congratulates the organisers on a fantastic event, with excellent organisation and a really enjoyable total experience for competitors.
Team Expedio (Emma McCosh and Richard Keene) competed as a team in the 2 person mixed open category, splitting the 15km MTB, 14 km kayak, 25km trail run and 20km trail run/6km MTB (Day One) and 60 km MTB, 25km MTB, 26 km kayak and 5 km street run (Day Two) between us.
For full details and results visit www.laketolighthouse.co.nz

SERFAS P6 Adventure Race

2008-11-11T13:57:00.002+13:00

Team Expedio fielded a team in the mixed pair category at the Serfas P6 Adventure Race on Saturday November 15. Once again Lactic Turkey turned on a great event, this time at a location on the Kaipara Harbour, just north of Helensville. The P6 (pedal,plod, paddle, plan, pursuit, puzzle) is a six hour entry level adventure race , and the weather was kind for the day.
Team Expedio managed to accumulate enough points for a second place finish in the Mixed Pair category.
Full details of the Serfas P6 are at http://www.lacticturkey.co.nz/P6Home.htm

Motu Challenge

2008-10-13T08:56:00.003+13:00

Team Expedio were in Opotiki on Saturday 11 October for the 15th running of the Motu Challenge. A very smoothly run event, The Motu starts with a 65km mountain bike leg billed as "the most scenic in the country". And it is. Mainly on gravel roads, there are three significant climbs, and then a long descent into Motu village for the start and finish of the 17km loop run. Largely flat , the run includes a 7km picturesque bush run. From the run there is a 52km road cycle section including one major climb, and then a long fast descent to the kayak transition. With low river levels the rapids were not overly challenging. The event culminated with a flat 8km road cycle and 3 km run to the finish. Emma McCosh finished in 10:15 for 7th in the Open Female division, and Richard Keene in 10:31 for 5th in the Classic Male. Complete results at http://www.motuchallenge.co.nz/ Thanks to the support crew for fantastic assistance.

Expedio supports AFS

2008-10-13T08:35:00.003+13:00

Expedio was proud to support AFS New Zealand Returnees in a recent weekend forum, sponsoring the Saturday 31 August wine and cheese evening. Over 30 returnees who had participated in exchanges to a wide range of countries gathered together to develop ideas focussing on involving returnees as volunteers in the organisation. AFS is the world’s largest student exchange programme, and has sent over 9,000 New Zealanders overseas since 1947. The overriding mission of AFS is building a more just and peaceful world through intercultural understanding. AFS New Zealand currently has 1,500 active volunteers in 38 chapters throughout the country.

Team Expedio in Europe

2008-09-15T18:37:00.004+12:00

WORLD LONG COURSE TRIATHLON CHAMPIONSHIPS

Susan Prater was a member of the New Zealand team at the World long course Tri championships in Almere Netherlands on August 31.Susan placed 8th in her age group over the distance of 4km swim, 120km cycle and 30km run. Full details and results are at http://www.triathlon-almere-2008.org/en/

JUNGFRAU MARATHON SWITZERLAND

Susan Prater joined Emma McCosh and Richard Keene in running the Jungfrau Marathon on 6 September. Starting in Interlaken, the marathon climbed to over 2000 metres. Full results and a course profile are at http://www.jungfrau-marathon.ch/

Xterra Trail series - Riverhead

2008-08-19T11:05:00.002+12:00

Richard Keene was the only TeamExpedio representative at the 4th Xterra Trail run this winter. Moved to a new course at Riverhead due to political problems with the ARC, the long course run lived up to it's billing of being muddy and boggy.The wet winter meant ample water and mud, with some bridges almost submerged. A new challenge on these trails was the gorse border, which ensured plenty of take home souvenirs. Full results at http://www.totalsport.co.nz/events/run/run_pdfs/2008_pdfs/Results_Race4_2008.pdf

Sunset Coast Multisport

2008-08-19T10:56:00.003+12:00

Emma McCosh, Richard Keene and Justin Earl completed a 6 stage Sunset Coast Multisport Club training event on Sunday 10 August. With perfect conditions on one of the rare sunny days this winter , this low key and extremely enjoyable event started with a 12km kayak down a swollen Waikato river from Mercer to Tuakau, then trail run and muddy mountain bike through Onewhero and back to Alexandra Redoubt at Tuakau, before another trail run, and a road cycle leg to the top of Pukekohe Hill. The last leg was a road run down Pukekohe Hill to the Pukekohe Leisure Centre. Thanks to crew Rachel Lilburn, and the organisers from Sunset Coast Multisport Club for a most enjoyable Sunday.

Team Expedio goes to Europe

2008-07-29T08:08:00.002+12:00

The next events for Team Expedio are in Europe. Susan Prater competes in the World long course Triathlon championships in Almere, The Netherlands on August 31, and then joins Richard Keene and Emma McCosh for the 16th Jungfrau Marathon, starting from Interlaken, Switzerland on 6 September.
Details at www.jungfrau-marathon.ch

Xterra Trail Run - Woodhill

2008-07-29T07:59:00.003+12:00

Richard Keene from Team Expedio competed in the long course event at the 3rd of the Xterra Trail series at Woodhill on Sunday 20 July.
With the sandy base to the area mud was in short supply, and the absence of hills, the major challenges were the corrugated motocross tracks.
Results are available at http://www.totalsport.co.nz/events/run/run_pdfs/2008_pdfs/Results_Race3_2008.pdf

Nowhere Near Huia Rogaine

2008-07-14T18:50:00.003+12:00

Team Expedio fielded 2 teams on Saturday 12 July for the "Nowhere Near Huia" Rogaine.
Conditions were rather damp (very wet at times !) but both teams were able to identify skill areas to work on for future races.

This rogaine was limited to 3 hours, with 50 control points, at times very close together, which made for some interesting navigating.

Expedio (Richard Keene and Emma McCosh) competed in the Open Mixed category, and Expedio Girls (Susan Prater, Natalie Seay and Shara Matthews) in the Open Women.
Results are at http://www.lacticturkey.co.nz/Rogaine%20Results/NowhereNearHuiaRogaineResults.pdf

Monty's Revenge

2008-06-15T16:52:00.001+12:00

The Expedio Team travelled to Whakatane for the Monty's Revenge multisport race on June 14.

Richard Keene and Emma McCosh competed as individuals in the Full Monty - 11 km trail run,23 km mountain bike and 20km kayak.

This was the Expedio teams first attempt at a multisport race - and won't be the last. The run was spectacular, the mountainbike tougher than any previously encountered, and the paddle relatively tame.

Overall a great introduction to multisport.

Full details at www.whakatane.com/feature_montys.html

Piha Rogaine

2008-06-15T16:47:00.001+12:00

Saturday 7 June saw two Expedio teams competing in the Lactic Turkey rogaine at Piha.
Team Expedio (Emma McCosh and Richard Keene) and Expedio Babes (Susan Prater, Natalie Seay, Shara Matthews and Tracey Mitchell) both competed in the 3 hour rogaine.
Full details at www.lacticturkey.co.nz/rogaines.html
Thanks to lactic Turkey for another great event.

Routeburn Classic

2008-05-14T19:44:00.001+12:00

TeamExpedio ( Susan Prater, Emma McCosh and Richard Keene ) travelled south for the 5th annual Routeburn Classic on 10 May.
The event is billed as an "Alpine Adventure Run", and getting to the start line is a real part of the adventure.The run starts from The Divide, on the road between Te Anau and Milford. To get to the start line necessitates a bus ride from Queenstown to Te Anau on Friday evening, with the race briefing held in Te Anau, then a 6 am departure by bus from Te Anau for the start.
Despite forecasts which threatened poor weather, Saturday morning dawned clear - and very cold.
With a clear and dry day, the footing was good, if a little icy on the tops. The scenery over the 38km run was spectacular, with a mix of bush running, easy hills, and some icy tracks above the snowline.

A full report, including results is available at http://www.goodtimesevents.net/routeburn.html

Autumn Challenge

2008-05-02T09:47:00.000+12:00

Team Expedio (plus support crew) competed in the 6 hour Women's Adventure Race, the Autumn Challenge, on April 26 , at Taupo.

After nearly seven hours of racing, Expedio (Louise Shambrook, Emma McCosh and Susan Prater) managed to claim 5th place in a sprint finish, and by virtue of veterans classification being decided on combined team age, 2nd place in the vets section.

A great first outing for Team Expedio Women's Adventure Racing , in an event which looked to be enjoyed by all teams and support crews.

The full race report is on www.sportzhub.com at http://www.sportzhub.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4334&Itemid=98