Multisports: Bean counters and lolly testers live the dream

Contestants in the cycle leg in the Coast to Coast. Photo / Getty Images

On his entry form, he called himself a "dreamer" - instead of the usual Coast to Coast occupations of doctor, lawyer, plumber, mechanic, electrician and the like.

Tim Madden, 41, is running the Coast to Coast because he's dreaming of more chips and beer. It's a more simple motivation than running his Hairy Mussel Company in Havelock.

"My motivation divided by training days multiplied by output equals more chips and beer," Madden jokes. "That's the main purpose for my being here; I only normally get off my a*** if I'm paid money.

"But it's an inspiring event, even if my legs feel jiggered at the moment."

They come from everywhere, the Coast to Coasters - drawn by a challenge that most of us dismiss as too daunting. That's why they are here - to be daunted and to beat it.

Running, cycling and kayaking 243km across the South Island is not for everyone but for 604 entrants this year (down on about 800 last year) that is precisely what drives them.

It is a tribute to the legacy of the Coast to Coast - now in its 29th year - that it does. For most, barring the odd age concession, it costs $965.25 to enter the event, making it just under $4 per kilometre for a clientele whose occupations stretch across the traditional middle New Zealand socio-economic strata.

Doctors, lawyers and accountants (in one creative case, self-labelled "bean counter" Hadyn Johnson) compete against builders, plumbers and electricians. Several exceptions enliven the employment field. A grocer, a shearer, an upholsterer, a mushroom grower, a "cellar rat", a "lolly tester", a micropalentologist and the odd mum have all been stepping over their fair share of rocks on this year's course.

Farmer and shearer Paul Avery is one such example. The 44-year-old led the veteran men's 40-49 two-day category after the opening day.

Avery links his success with the phenomenal endurance and fitness powers he builds in the woolshed at his 1020-acre Toko farm, 15 minutes east of Stratford.

"It mightn't use all the same muscles but shearing gives you stamina. I've only done a third as much training as I should have, but my base fitness and mental strength have shone through. My upper body strength has also helped holding the kayak paddle [in training].

"I've always thought I'd like to do this event but shearing competitions got in the way. This year I've taken the plunge and splurged on all the gear but I've realised dodging rocks all day is still a pretty mean business."

On the theory that lanolin in sheep's wool makes hands more supple and therefore resistant to hard yakka, Avery is sceptical.

"Those soft hands can still blister easily. Luckily I still have farmer's hands from doing tasks like fencing, so there are no problems there."

Dexterous hands is a trait shared by baker Simone Maier. The 30-year-old from Wanaka was the first female to Deception Bridge in the two-day teams event.

"My legs aren't too flash," Maier says. "But baking bread, cakes and cookies at the organic shop Soul Food allows me to better squeeze in training. I'm applying for residency here soon - I've been here four years from Germany - I'd still love to be a professional athlete full time if I could fund it."

Time is more of the problem for Hamilton mum Teresa Mumby.

"It's a mission. My husband and I are both doing it. We take turns looking after our two-year-old daughter Josephine. We haven't seen much of each other the last couple of months but I've done a lot of running with the stroller. I did the [adjusted] race last year but got caught in the cut-off. I want to finish on the proper course this time."

It's a sentimental approach for Tim Sutton, who works in the family upholstery business just north of Wellington.

"It's a chance for my old man [Peter] and I to do it together. He turned 60 last year but is such a scrawny bastard - and incredibly fit. He reckons it's the fittest he's been in his life - and he used to be a yachtie and a surf lifesaver."

At 32, Sutton is keen to seize the Longest Day: "I'm only going to be allowed to do it once. My girlfriend will put the kibosh on anything else any time soon."

It hasn't stopped Sutton scoffing the lunch of champions on Friday.

"I've actually followed Steve Gurney's method of getting some fish and chips into me the day before. I'm not sure if I followed quite the right advice because I also smothered it in béarnaise sauce with all the trimmings. Whoops."