Robbie Clark was the second individual competitor to finish the Race to the Brewery.
Robbie Clark was the second individual competitor to finish the Race to the Brewery.
Whanganui's Robbie Clark had his multisport race all planned out - but you know what they say about the best laid plans.
Clark took part in February's Race to the Brewery, from Palmerston North to the Tui brewery at Mangatainoka, to help raise funds for the Cancer Society. The event is organised by Property Brokers whose local rural agent Richard White is a regular at Recaffeinate where Clark works.
During a chat about the event, Clark said he'd be up for doing a couple of legs of the six-stage race which includes road cycling, mountainbiking, road running and cross country running.
"The next thing I knew he was doing it solo," White said.
White and Recaffeinate owner David Millar pitched in to sponsor Clark for the event, which attracted three individuals and 48 teams.
Robbie Clark with his race sponsors Recaffeinate owner David Millar (left) and Property Brokers agent Richard White (right).
Feeling fit from a successful New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui where he won gold in the half marathon and duathlon events and three silvers (triathlon, 10km run and 5km run), Clark was raring to go.
However, the day didn't go quite according to plan.
"The chain came off my mountainbike going down the top of a hill on the farm," Clark said.
"Then, I don't know what happened, whether I hit a stone or something, but I flew over the handlebars at the bottom and ended up with a black eye."
Undeterred, Clark got back on his bike and kept going.
"It was quite warm but I was going really well. My splits were really good until the last leg."
That's where his fitness came in very handy as the stage - a cross country run - was increased from 7km to 15km because one of the creeks on the route was too swollen by rain to cross safely.
"The last leg was the toughest," he said.
"I'd allowed for four-and-a-half hours for the race but it ended up being five-and-a-half."
Despite the extra distance, Clark - the second individual to finish - impressed the crowd with some press-ups at the finish line.
Next year will be the 10th annual Race to the Brewery and Clark said he was keen to enter again.
"My mother died of cancer so it meant a lot to me to do it," Clark said.
