Godzone: One step at a time for McCaw

Richie McCaw, Rob Nichol and Ben Meyer from team Cure Kids trek across the Red Hills. Photo / Godzone - Getty.

One step at a time is the motto driving Richie McCaw on the Godzone adventure race.

McCaw and his Team Cure Kids fellow racers have set off on the fourth stage of the race which is now into its third day in the South Island.

The team of McCaw, Rob Nichol, Sarah Fairmaid and Ben Meyer finished trekking through the Red Hills just before 7am and spent almost an hour at the transition area before leaving on the next leg just before 8am.

McCaw said he would be focusing on one thing at a time instead of being overwhelmed by what's yet to come during the 500km race.

Sarah Fairmaid, Richie McCaw, Rob Nichol and Ben Meyer from Cure Kids.

He said: "You just have to look at one thing at a time. There's a 140km bike ride on the route. If you just look at that it's a bit scary, rather than just breaking it down to keep the legs turning.

"I have been enjoying the mountain biking. I wouldn't say I like climbing up the hills but I seem to enjoy it on the bike."

Fairmand said the team were hoping for better conditions.

She said: "I think we're feeling fine, everyone's feeling good. We had a few route choices that possibly could have been better last night. All in all I think it's going okay, the conditions are really claggy.

"In the day when you should be able to see we can't so there's no letup; we're either in the night or in the fog. Hopefully Nelson will bring out the sun today."

The team are now setting off on 47km bike ride and orienteering course on foot, before paddling across Lake Rotoroa.