MOUNTAIN RUNNING

Partners Life DUAL attracts endurance athletes

By AU BOUT DU MONDE


'Frosty'  Credit: Chris Ord


This year’s Partners Life DUAL, taking place on Saturday 28 March on Rangitoto and Motutapu islands in the Hauraki Gulf off Auckland,  looks set to be bigger and better than ever. 

And it’s attracting the attention – and participation – of some serious international athletes.
Anna Frost (or ‘Frosty’) competed in her first mountain running championship race in 2004, qualifying for the world championships in Italy.

“I packed a bag and left on a worldwide adventure that I’m still having.  First I raced in the UK for Team INOV-8 and after four years, I joined the Salomon UK family, focusing on mountain and trail marathons - one of the first being the Everest marathon,” she says.

“I’m looking forward to being back home and taking part in the Partners Life DUAL in the big, beautiful Kiwi outdoors - for me, nature is our prime source of energy and I mean to make the most of it!”

Frosty will join self-confessed ‘nutty’ endurance runner Mal Law on the final marathon of his High Five-0 challenge at the DUAL event – 50 peaks, over 50 marathon distances, in 50 days - all to raise money for mental health.

Well over 2,000 other participants are expected to walk, run, ride, and swim their way through the various event options taking place.

Total Sport’s event organiser Nick Carroll says he’s delighted that Frosty and Mal will be joining in the fun.  “It’s an event that offers an annual opportunity to visit the island - especially for keen mountain-bikers.  You’d never get to do this ordinarily – for conservation reasons, the Partners Life DUAL is the only occasion where mountain bikes are allowed to be taken over to the island,” he says.

There are different length courses for different ages and stages of fitness, offering trail run and walk options, off-road triathlon and mountain bike alternatives.

Carroll says that it’s an unrivalled, fun day out for serious athletes as well as recreational participants, with onsite childcare, entertainment, catering and camping options.

Not only that, but people taking part in the event will help raise funds for the conservation and restoration work on the islands by the Motutapu Restoration Trust. 

Entry numbers for the 2015 Partners Life DUAL Motutapu - Rangitoto Traverse are limited by conservation and ferry transport requirements, so early entry is advised.

Event options include;
• 6km Run / Walk
• 10km Run / Walk
• 21km Half Marathon
• 42.2km Marathon
• 26km Mountain Bike
• 42km Mountain Bike
• Off-Road Triathlon (1km Ocean Swim | 26km MTB | 10km Run)

Anna Frost’s ‘Frosty’ Career Highlights:
• 1st The Bear100 and New Course Record – Utah USA
• 3rd The Rut – Montana USA
• 2nd= SkyRunning World Series
• 8th Pikes Peak World Mountain Running Long Course Championships – Colorado USA
• 1st Telluride Mountain Run – Colorado USA
• 1st Leadville 1/2 Marathon – Colorado USA
• 1st SpeedGoat – Utah USA
• 2nd Mt Blanc 80km World SkyRunning Championships – Chamonix France
• 1st TransVulcania and New Course Record – La Palma
• 1st Azores Trail Race – Azores
• 1st Buffalo Stampede Marathon – Australia