Charlotte Baken

In 2025, I completed my first Rodney Coastal Challenge. After watching my partner compete in previous years, I decided it was my turn. I readied my gravel bike, laced up my running shoes, and started to paddle

I love RCC for many reasons, but the best reason is how welcoming the event is! It's great for those of us who race regularly and want to sharpen our race-day skills. It's also the perfect event for anyone wanting to have a go at something challenging. Better yet, it's an awesome event to bring the family or your colleagues along and compete as a team

To get the most out of your day, my top training tips are:

Join a kayaking club. Paddling alone can be tough, especially if you're working full-time. I joined the Waitematā Canoe & Multisport Club. The team was incredibly welcoming and held weekly races and club sessions that helped keep me motivated

Find some friends to ride with. With over half the event spent on the bike, it's important to get plenty of riding in. What better way to do it than with your mates?

Do hill repeats for the run course. Build strength and endurance in your legs by adding a simple hill session to your weekly training. It helps improve running form and prepares your legs well for race day. Trust me, you won't regret it

Practice your nutrition. There's nothing worse than being halfway through a race and running out of energy. I recommend using a high-carbohydrate drink mix during training so you're comfortable consuming it on the bike and paddle sections. Add a couple of gels for the run, and you'll be well on your way to a great day out

For some extra motivation this year, I'm bringing along my adventure racing team so we can "face off" against each other and battle it out for the team rankings. A little bit of competition always gets me going!