Costley relishes challenge of Coast to Coast | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Running champion Phil Costley will have many eyes on him when he competes in the Coast to Coast Longest Day on Saturday.

However, Costley ? who used to run with Coast to Coast champion George Christison when they were boarding hostel mates at Napier Boys' High ? is just looking forward to enjoying an event with no pressure on him.

The 34-year-old St Andrew's College teacher chalked up one of the stunning achievements in Canterbury athletics history last year when he marked its centenary season by winning all nine track, cross-country, and road titles from the 1500m through to the marathon.

But in the Coast to Coast he'll be the new boy on the block ? almost, for he did compete in the team race three years ago.

"This time I'm flying solo!" he said.

"It was a bit of a challenge learning how to paddle, but I always expected that. I look on the Coast to Coast as an opportunity to go out and have an adventure."

The best thing for Costley is competing with no pressure on him ? "every time I turn up for a running race, everyone expects me to win, and I wanted to get away from that."

The top Coast to Coasters would not even look at him, he said. "And they won't follow me down the river, that's for sure!"

However, in the 33km run over the main divide Costley will leave a few in his wake, and if the race goes well, Costley is likely to be back more seriously next year.

Costley started paddling a year ago, and has done several kayak races to prepare for the 67km slalom down the Waimak. He had a mini-rehearsal for the Coast to Coast with the Kepler Challenge in December.

"I did it in 4 hours 10, and I'm picking about 13 (hours) for the Coast to Coast," he said. "So I've got to find another nine hours in me somewhere!"

It had been a "breath of fresh air" to do other things (cycling and kayaking), he said.

"And I think I've come out with a better endurance base than I had before. The hardest thing has been kayaking because it's a completely new skill, whereas I've been riding a bike since I was eight."

After 18 or 20 years running non-stop with track in summer and road and cross-country in winter, he'd been refreshed by the change, he said.

However, preparing has meant a few hazards he doesn't encounter at Queen Elizabeth II Park, like the aggressive falcon at Goat Pass, and encountering deer and pigs on the track when he's gone "off-road" on the Wharfdale Track near Oxford.

Costley hasn't flagged his old events yet. He's looking ahead to the cross-country nationals in August where he hopes to become the first athlete since the 1950s to win four in a row. A third Commonwealth Games could also be a target next year.

And in March he is 35 and eligible for masters athletics ? an incongruous milestone for someone who is too good for most of the country's young athletes in his chosen disciplines.