The Dual - Take Two
This Saturday 27th March will see over a thousand athletes having to first set sail before they set-off in their chosen event, as the second annual Dual event takes place.
The Dual is a trail running and mountain biking event - crossing the oldest and youngest land forms in the country and is staged on some of the most scenic landscapes in New Zealand, the Hauraki Gulf’s Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands
Athletes choose from a 30km Mountain Bike, 50km Mountain Bike, 21km Run or 42km Run. It is the only day of the day that mountain bikers are permitted on the islands and all the participants will be treated to what is possibly the most scenic course in country.
It is no surprise that last years 50km Mountain Bike winner is back to defend his title, Olympic Boardsailer, JP Tobin loved his experience at the island last year
“It was an incredible course, the best I’ve ever ridden in my mountain biking career– it was really beautiful.”
Also back to attempt two-from-two is accomplished runner, Michael Adams. He used is experience on the course last year to take out the Half Marathon Run by 9 minutes.
“I actually come over here to train quite a lot so it was so great to actually have an event over here to compete in.”
“The section on Rangitoto was somewhere I haven’t run much before though, it was really rocky and technical – quite hard on the ankles, but it was worth it, just amazing.”
The concept of the event was put together around 3 years ago by the Motutapu Restoration Trust (MRT) and total sport, an events company in Auckland, and was set up as a fund raising event for the MRT to assist with planting of trees on the island as well as a pest eradication program with the goal of establishing it as a Kiwi sanctuary.
The funds generated by the event will go directly into Motutapu’s restoration programme, managed by MRT.
Also an integral to this event going ahead is the partnership with The Department of Conservation. DOC Auckland Area Manager Brett Butland said that Motutapu, a recreation reserve, has a rich history of hosting sporting events and picnics, dating back to the Premier picnics of the early 1900s.
“The DUAL is a modern take on this history while respecting and protecting the conservation, cultural and historic significance of Motutapu and Rangitoto.”
Rangitoto and Motutapu are part of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park established in 2000. This is Auckland’s very own National Park. The vision for a gulf-wide marine park is slowly getting off the ground. Participant’s involvement in the Dual will help it gather momentum. The MRT is passionate about developing a marine reserve to complement the land-based conservation initiatives.
In 2009 The Dual was awarded ‘Best Emerging Event’ by The New Zealand Association of Event Professionals.