Self-Made Multi-Sport Adventures

My background in triathlon has set the stage for my enjoyment of multi-sport adventures. When ultra running became very popular, I tried my hand at the sport but found that I didn’t enjoy running for that length of time like I thought I ‘should’ and my waning interest in competition left me without many events to train for.

I realised that I was more interested in solo or small group self-made expeditions, often involving two or three of the sports in triathlon. Since I love crossing lakes and swimming rivers, and with few to no events involving swims that take as long or longer than the riding and running, I began making 3-4 day triathlons, often combined with camping.

A self-made triathlon can be a river or lake swim on one day, a backcountry mountain bike ride for a few days and a mountain run or fast pack for another day or two.

Sometimes it’ll be a swim first followed by a cycle tour. Sometimes it’ll be a swim/run, and other times cycling and running without a swim.

The trail and hut network in New Zealand and the plethora of beautiful lakes, rivers and ocean swimming venues make it possible for an almost never-ending selection of adventures to choose from for many years to come.