There will also be a bit of inter-work rivalry today as McCallum's boss at Avanti Plus Hastings, Jamie Sinclair, will also be competing.
"He's done it five or six times and although I've never done it before I'm hoping for a time under the 4hrs30 mark," McCallum said.
She pointed out Sinclair has given her a few tips and along with fellow workmates has got the mountainbike she has had for the past six months in the best possible condition for the 28th edition of Triple Peaks.
"While you can't train on Mt Erin and Mt Kahuranaki all the time because they are on private land. I managed to get on Mt Erin the other day through a friend and I got a good look at it. I ride up Te Mata Peak once a week," McCallum said.
Coached by her Palmerston North-based boyfriend and fellow Rambler, William Green, McCallum, trains for almost 15 hours most weeks. She tackled the open women's 110km race at the Hawke's Bay-hosted elite road nationals in January.
"It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I didn't finish but it opened my eyes up to professional cycling. I'll be back again next year and I've now got so much more to train for."
The Napier Girls High School product played canoe polo during her secondary school days but cycling and mountainbiking are her priorities now. Tokoroa will host the final round of the North Island series on April 3 and McCallum will be doing all she can to help her Ramblers team stay in first place.
"Fortunately Easter Weekend will be a rest weekend for me so I will have plenty of time to recover from Triple Peaks."
Hawke's Bay's Gary Hall will attempt to win a second consecutive men's mountainbike title. His toughest competition is expected to come from fellow Bay starters Rick Martin and Andrew Bott.
Challenge organiser David Tait expected 600 starters this morning. He pointed out the three-person teams section was the most popular.
A gym and club challenge initiated by Neil Wagstaff of Peak Health and Fitness Centre has boosted numbers in this section. Wagstaff is well known for his managing of Taranaki ultra runner Lisa Tamati's pursuits.
Tait predicted Masterton's Graham Butcher will be hard to beat in the solo male run divison. He finished second to Chinese starter Yangiao Yun last year in 4hrs35m.
"If Graham doesn't win the open men's title he will win his 50plus section," Tait said.
A bagpiper on Mt Erin, a YouTube competition and a lower entry fee are among new additions Tait has introduced this year to enhance the experience of competitors. There will also be a new timing system with timers at each of the five transitions.
As competitors pass through these footage will be streamed live on the internet. World Vision has also become involved and competitors have the option of raising money to go towards clean drinking water in countries without it.
