Multisport: Disastrous memory provides motivation

Emily Miazga knows her main rival is the defending champ. Photo / APN

Every time she heads out to train, Emily Miazga uses the memory of her disastrous 2010 for motivation.

A three-time champion of the Speight's Coast to Coast, the bubbly Canadian was the favourite to claim her fourth title until she badly sprained an ankle while training on the mountain-run course.

Light on training and in pain, she limped through the race last year to come in fourth, almost an hour behind winner Elina Ussher.

The ankle problem eventually took surgery to reconstruct a lateral ligament and tidy up some cartilage.

But by early December Miazga was fit enough to return to the Coast to Coast course when she went over the 36km mountain run and 67km kayak on consecutive days.

There is no doubt that her setback in 2010 has played a big role in her retribution today.

"Last year was a massive disappointment and it has been good motivation for this year," said Miazga.

"It was really frustrating to have done all that training but not beat my best on race day."

Miazga backs her ability to return to winning ways on a happy hunting ground. "I am more experienced than any of the other girls," said the 36-year-old.

"I have done it more times, won it more times, won it from the front and come from behind so that all added up should give me an edge."

Miazga, contesting the race for the eighth time, believes she is in her prime as a multisport athlete.

Sophie Hart (Nelson), who was third last year, and Rachel Cashin (Taumarunui) are experienced athletes to return, but Miazga's main rival is defending champion Ussher.

"She is always a good challenge and there is very little between the top girls at this event.

"I try not to focus on anyone else but my own race plan and get my nutrition right.

"If I stick to my plan well, then I am confident in my ability to win on this course."

She admitted her feelings were mixed ahead of the longest day today that is made incredibly tough with the mountain run.

"It is exciting but also pretty daunting," she said.

"It's a painful race and it hurts you mentally and physically, so you have to be ready for that."

The Canadian broke through internationally with third place in the 2004 and 2005 events, and then never went home, winning the race three times.

The adopted Kiwi settled on the West Coast where she runs her business, Em's Power Cookies.

"The message I want out there is, if you eat Em's Power Cookies you win the Coast to Coast," she said with a laugh.

"It is such an iconic event, so it's easy to be excited, and I am looking forward to a good race and hopefully regaining the title."