Ruddock gears up to take on Cape Brett Challenge

Whangarei runner Leigh Ruddock knows a bit about the 37km Helly Hansen Cape Brett Challenge having run it three times previously, and this year she will be all the more wiser.
"I know I am mentally and physically fit, but I will be more aware of my nutrition this year ... I'm looking forward to it, and am wiser this year," the 45-year-old said about next Saturday's off-road race.
In 2009, Ruddock placed third overall and second in her veteran age group, behind winner Sonya Clark and Christine Carleton. Ruddock crossed the line with sister Ady Ngawati, who decided against running the 37km event this year. Ruddock finished the gruelling run in six hours - and that was after four hours of cramps - so nutrition will be of utmost importance if she wants to achieve her goal of knocking half an hour off that time.
"Nutrition is on your mind constantly - and you don't really feel like eating but you have to as it is so taxing. I have been training up Parahaki, and over Easter I have been up and down Mount Maunganui. I've been eating muesli bars and replace drinks, so that's what I'll use to race on next Saturday (April 17)," she said.
Ruddock plans to start easy from Rawhiti, and travel steadily along the track which passes through Whangamumu and Te Toroa Bay before joining the Cape Brett track where she hoped to come home strongly, she said.
The Whangarei runner is among 250 competitors, who have entered across four events - the 37km Cape Brett Challenge and the 37km relay, the 17km Whangamumu Track, and  the 10km Cape Brett Walkways Kauri Ridge Walk.
In the men's field, Puhoi's Simon Walters will be in with a chance after placing third in the 2008 and 2009 37km challenges. Last year's winner Mark Bright had not entered to date. The 17km course welcomes back Jourdan Harvey of Auckland, who will be the man to beat.
Harvey is New Zealand's orienteering champion and was a clear winner in 2009 being a junior record holder running 1hour 41.54 minutes last year, while in the women's 17km field, Whangarei's Ame Burke had the stand out run last year, placing second overall and smashing Oksana Isavnina's 2007 women's record. Burke was gearing up to take on the challenge and would  be difficult to beat if she repeats her 2009 pace.
Entry numbers have exceeded expectations of organisers Sparkle Events Bay of Islands, and managing director Pania Sigley is very pleased with the response for the 2010 event.
Next Saturday, the 37km Cape Brett Challenge field will start first from Rawhiti's Kaingahoa Marae at 8.30am, along with the Explore NZ Cape Brett Relay runners. At 10am, the Outdoor Action Whangamumu 17km runners will start, with the 10km Cape Brett Walkways Kauri Ridge Walk competitors.
For further information go to www.capebrettchallenge.co.nz.