39th Kathmandu Coast to Coast

Holly Weston - Balancing Work, Training and Results For the C2C

Press Release / 30.11.2020

Growing up in Glenorchy with a “grass roots and outdoorsy lifestyle” is what Holly Weston believes set her on the multi-sport path.

“It wasn’t any sort of sport in particular, I was a horse rider and played team sports but it was just always being outside and running around and biking and I think my love for the outdoors grew from there really.”

Weston says it’s only been the past two years where she has started to get involved in multiport quite competitively, but she is already proving to be a serious contender in the sport.

The Christchurch based barrister competed in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast in 2020 where she finished 7th in the elite category of the one-day event and won the open class.

“I’m really happy with how I went this year, but I would love to be able to improve on that in 2021.”

Having a full time and demanding occupation, Weston said the flexibility of working from home in lockdown meant she was able to fit in more training – but she admits it also had its downside.

“I found it a bit tough trying to get back into my training routine with being back at work once lockdown was over. It was just about getting back into that mindset again and having to be stricter with my time.”

However, Weston said living in Christchurch means she is never short on motivation to train, not only with the locations and facilities she has to train with, but also her like-minded training partners.

“There are so many people here doing it and having friends who are doing the event as well really helps lift the standard of our training sessions. It is really motivating having such good quality people to train with.”

Weston has also engaged the help of coach, former Longest Day Women’s Champion Kristina Anglem, who she said has really helped put things in perspective for her.

“I was really looking at ways I could improve on everything and try and bridge that gap in my performance. But Kristina has helped me focus on the long-term career- do my apprenticeship in the sport and eventually it will come together.”

Weston, who keeps up her training regime up throughout the whole year, enjoys the kayak the most.

“I was really nervous about the kayak before the 2020 Coast and so I did so much training. It’s really gorgeous scenery and I love being out on the river.”

Weston is also at home on the bike, where she believes resilience really gets tested. If she had to pick one, running is her least preferred discipline.

“I just think the running takes so much more talent, the other two you can really train for and practice.”

Weston said the highlight for her in the 2020 race was when she got to the Waimakariri Gorge Bridge.

“I knew I was in a really good position at that point, it was like the climax of the race and then I felt good going into the that last bike. It’s just awesome having all the supporters there on that last stretch too.”

Weston says it’s easy to see how people keep coming back each year to the Kathmandu Coast to Coast.

“It is the hallmark event in New Zealand in terms of endurance, but it’s not only that.

“It’s the atmosphere of the whole event, the atmosphere is insane.”