At the start, me sporting full wet weather gear ;-).

Gerry at registration.

Nervous smiles on the ferry heading to Motutapu.

No turning back now!

The organisers must have had a snigger when they planned this start! Up, up, up.

Willie and me negotiating mud puddles early on.

Gerry and Willie with the start way below, right behind Gerry.

Fly, fly away.

MTBs and runners sharing a short section of the road.

Gerry and I on Rangitoto’s scoria.

Most of the surface of Rangitoto consists of volcanic rock and scoria.

Rocks under foot.

Gerry – full speed.

Taking a walk break up a small hill.

Before.

After. They smelled much worse than they looked!

Happy with our complimentary Speight’s Traverse beers at the finish.

What a awesome moment! The last finisher getting a hero’s welcome.

Wow! wow! wow! Phew … wow … I don’t have the words to describe the experience that is the DUAL. It is 2011. For me the year that will always mark our first running of the DUAL, a character-building experience that will probably be engraved in my mind for a long time. The weather god, Huey, played an evil trick on us to help make sure we will never ever forget this event.

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