A MOUNT Hotham resident who will tackle this month's Kathmandu Coast to Coast multi–sport race in New Zealand has credited the local community with helping her prepare for the bucket list challenge.
Gemma Kitson is in 'taper week' this week, as she readies for the 243km race, in which competitors cycle, kayak and run from one side of New Zealand's South Island to the other.
"All the hard work is done as far as training; now I just need to keep myself healthy," she said.
The 39–year–old is one of only five Australian women, including former AFLW star and Channel Seven commentator Abbey Holmes, set to take part in the event on February 10 and 11.
The challenge will be the latest for Gemma since she took up running in her 30s, and she is relishing every moment of her active life – and particularly the people she has met along the way.
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While she said she was relatively sporty in high school, Gemma said she had been under the impression that "only really fit people ran", and had a misconception that her body wasn't the right shape for running, and that she wasn't a natural runner.
"Then I got a really big dog, so it was more efficient to run than to walk to the dog, and I fell in love with the fit life, and the community around it," she said.
"There are so many amazing sporting groups in Wangaratta which have helped me to upskill and get my confidence, so I haven't seen my preparation as training, more as mini–adventures."
Gemma splits her time between Wangaratta and Mount Hotham, where she works in marketing, and has thoroughly enjoyed being able to cycle on Fridays with the West End Girls, who ride out of Wangaratta's West End Cycles, and to hone her running skills through Parkrun and with the Wangaratta Runners.
"My biggest concern (in preparing for the Coast to Coast) was the kayaking, because you need to be qualified to compete in grade two white water, but I was put onto North East Paddlers, and I've been able to boost my skills with them," she said.
Gemma said all these groups, and the wider community in Wangaratta and surrounds, had been integral to preparing her for the starting line of the Coast to Coast, which begins on the west coast of New Zealand at Kumara Beach, and traverses the width of the South Island, with competitors riding, kayaking and running to cross the main divide, finishing on the east coast at the pier on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.
"We have some amazing people in our community in Wangaratta who are so welcoming. Parkrun has done great things for the community in that regard – you just turn up and do your thing with no judgement, and I'd love to see more people experience that," she said.
"I've met so many awesome people, and the support I've received has given me the confidence to sign up for events that I thought were a stretch for me.
"This race was on my bucket list, and I thought I'd do it one day, but I was encouraged to have a crack now. I'm following the approach of 'shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you'll still land among the stars'."
Gemma encouraged others to move beyond their comfort zones and discover a world she herself hadn't realised was there.
"We do get into our comfort zone and get comfortable within our boundaries. Taking part in challenges like this not only improves your confidence, but expands your world," Gemma said.
"We are really fortunate to live in this region – we do have the world's best playground.
"My life motto is to believe in adventures big and small, that this life is just one big adventure.
"It's brilliant to be away from Netflix and be discovering more about myself and about our region. It's a great chance to get out of your car and take the blinkers off.
"Females do sometimes lack a bit of confidence to sign up to events like this, but we should dive on in, lean into being a bit uncomfortable, and show them we can do it."
With tight cut–offs in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast, and the realisation that she'll be racing across a similar distance as that between Wangaratta and Melbourne, Gemma said she was looking forward to facing the challenge.
"How lucky am I to get to go on this course?" she said.
"I never thought I'd be here, after I signed up for my first 5km in Hobart through Parkrun. I just want to enjoy the experience. I'm just so excited about getting to the start line.
