Health worker takes gold at Coast to Coast

Health worker takes gold at Coast to Coast

It took 13 hours and 53 minutes for 38-year-old Hayley Shearer of the Healthy Eating-Healthy Action Team in Planning and Funding to win the open women’s section of the two day individual Coast to Coast on Saturday.

The Canterbury District Health Board employee’s goal was to be in the top five but she managed to take out first place in the two day individual race event.

It was a nostalgic moment after winning the veteran women’s team section with her mother a decade ago.

Hayley says there was also great satisfaction in beating the younger competitors. She had a seven minute lead over 21-year-old Olivia Faull who finished in second place.

Her strategy paid dividends with Hayley taking it easy on the bike so she could focus on her best stage, the mountain run over the rocky Goats Pass.

“I was almost the oldest in my field. Most of the other women in the top 10 were all aged under 25 years – so yes, there was great satisfaction there,” Hayley says. “I admit that I’m slightly competitive.”

As well as taking out a win, Hayley raised $600 for the New Zealand Heart Foundation – her chosen charity, inspired by her father who died of heart disease nine years’ ago.

The two-day race began near Greymouth on the west coast and finished at Sumner, Christchurch on the east coast.

While winning has been a great achievement, Hayley says with the right attitude, almost anyone could do this event. For herself, she’s looking forward to enjoying the rest of summer at a more relaxed pace.

ENDS

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