The Coast to Coast

The Coast to Coast begins on the beach at Kumara, on New Zealand's west coast, sending racers 243 kilometres across the South Island to New Brighton Beach near Christchurch. It is the world's longest-running adventure race, featuring running, road cycling, mountain running, and river kayaking, available as a two-day crossing or the one-day solo version, the Longest Day. Participants can compete alone, as a pair in a double kayak, or as a relay team with a cyclist, runner, and kayaker sharing the effort. The route starts with a short beach run, followed by a 55km road-bike leg and a 32km mountain run over Goat Pass before the two-day field stops for the night. The second half includes more road biking, 70km of kayaking on the Waimakariri River, and a final 70km ride to the coast, often against a headwind. The mountain run involves scrambling through rocky riverbeds rather than a simple trail jog, and the kayak leg requires grade 2 river skills. The front of the one-day race attracts serious multisport athletes globally, while the broader field includes pairs and relay teams, all requiring support crews to move equipment and pass safety checks.