Duathlon stretches Natalie's fitness

Nine months after having a child, Gate Pa woman Natalie Christy is embarking on a new challenge that will test her mentally, physically and emotionally.
Mrs Christy, 33, is due to take part in the REAL Women's duathlon in Pilot Bay this weekend and has been training long and hard for the event.
Since her son was born Mrs Christy has set her alarm "at the crack of dawn" so she could get up early to go running or bike riding. On her return, she spends most of the day attending to the needs of her three children, aged 6, 4 and 9 months.
Her rigorous schedule was tiring but Mrs Christy was determined to complete the tough challenge.
"I'm very, very nervous," the first-time duathlete said.
"I have my own little demons and I keep telling myself that I'm going to be useless and talking myself down but then I think it's not a race."
Monday's event is the first of the REAL Women's series races, held in nine locations throughout New Zealand over four months.
The REAL Women's series - Regular Exercise, Active Lives - has attracted about 30,000 entries in the four years the duathlon events have been run. The focus of the event was on participation rather than competition, said event organiser Jane Patterson.
In Monday's duathlon, Mrs Christy will run 3.5km, followed by a 10km bike ride, then a 1.5km run. She hopes to complete the duathlon in under an hour - a feat she thought was impossible until recently.
"The last few weeks I've been running and biking together ... and in the last practice I did it in an hour four minutes so I think I'll be able to push myself on the day."
"It's not easy, definitely not, but it's achievable," she said,
Her positive attitude and encouraging ethos has inspired a number of her friends to jump on the bandwagon. A handful of her friends are also taking part in this Monday's event.
Finding the time to fit exercise into her schedule has been difficult but Mrs Christy said she somehow managed to fit it all in.
"Training can be tough but my husband is very supportive ... but there's been so many benefits," she said.
"I have more energy, my house is more organised and I'm feeling better.
"My husband said I've got a bit smaller so that's a little cherry on the top."
With less than four days until the duathlon, Mrs Christy said she was "nervous but really excited" about the event.
"I want to show my kids that I can do it ... and I really think every woman should give it a go."
THE FACTS
WHAT: REAL Women's Duathlon/Triathlon, Pilot Bay, 9.30am-12pm.
WHERE: Pilot Bay.
WHEN: Monday.
TIME: Register at Pilot Bay on Sunday, from 12-4pm. Race begins Monday morning at 9.30am.