THERE WERE 75 multisporters getting in a Sunday of relaxation after completing a hard 215km from the slopes of Ohakune to Castlecliff Beach on Saturday afternoon.
The second Mountains to Sea (M2C) challenge was back up to the original numbers which entered the inaugural race in 2014. However, the event was still short of the goal of 100 entries which Wanganui Events Trust has pitched the event at in order to be viable.
Based on the original race from the 1990s, the trust shortened the length from 270km and changed the format from three days to two after they cancelled the 2015 M2C due to low entry numbers. Most of this year's attendees took part in two to five-person teams, rather than as individuals.
Stage 1 started early on Friday with the 18.5km run from Turoa down into Ohakune, which was followed by a 32km mountain bike through Department of Conservation territory out to Ruatiti Rd where there was a transition to road biking the remaining 62km to Pipiriki. Saturday saw another early rise for a 45km kayak to Atene, where competitors transitioned into the 14km trail run through the Atene Skyline.
From there, it was a 34km cycle into Whanganui, followed by running the last 9km to Castlecliff Beach.