The world's largest adventure race has come to a gruelling end at Rotorua's Redwood Forest.
Former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and iSport teammates Dougal Allan, Theo Wordsworth and Simone Maier came across the GODZone finish line in second place on their mountain bikes after travelling 666 kilometres together on foot, bike and kayak over five days.
Speaking to First Up's Nathan Rarere minutes after he crossed the finish line McCaw said he'd spent the best part of five years training for the event,
"It doesn't really compare if I'm honest," He said when asked how tired he was, "I haven't slept much, you know when you do a hundred and something kilometres on your feet over a few days it takes a bit out of you ....it probably takes you six weeks to recover,
'Your feet are certainly pretty sore they'll take a while to come right, luckily I didn't have any blisters or anything like that.. but just in general the whole body feels like it has been put through the ringer but anyway, it'll come right.'
"I think this adventure race challenges you as much as you can get,"
He said you can feel apprehensive at the start of the race,
"That scary feel at the start of knowing you're not back for a good week and you don't know if you're going to get there that's the bit that gets you on the start line...when i think back on the days I had playing (Rugby) it's a bit like the kickoff of a game, you don't know how it's going to go."
"I think it's more than just deciding you're going to do it, and doing it in a few months time," He said when asked about the preparation he had to put in. "To be honest to be able to race where I could this time has taken 5 years of training... a lot of it is building a base and being able to get up and down hills, bike and with a big pack on."
"It's just putting time in, and that's something I enjoy doing, you build a base and hope that sees you through."
McCaw said on the ride back his teammates were talking about what their first treats would be.
"They gave us a pie on the finish line, it's unbelievable how good a pie tastes, you crave salty, fatty, horrible foods that probably aren't very good for you, but you give yourself a good week of treating I think as there's a fair bit to replenish."
