Wanaka athlete Braden Currie will embark on a testing triple challenge this month.
He will compete in three gruelling events over consecutive weekends, adapting his racing style and tactics to a multisport race, an ironman and an off-road triathlon.
Currie (28) will begin with the defence of his Coast to Coast title on Saturday.
Then comes his debut attempt at a full-ironman-distance triathlon in Challenge Wanaka on February 22. He finishes with the Oceania cross triathlon in New South Wales on February 28.
Currie's decision to make sport his key focus after winning the Coast to Coast in 2013, with the goal of finding where his ''passion and ability lies on an international level'', prompted this three-in-a-row attempt.
''This is why I enjoy setting myself challenges like this one.''
Despite the heavy workload, each of the events was a must-do, Currie said.
''Coast is a must for me. I was always going to do it, because I love racing Coast. Challenge Wanaka is a really quick way of pushing myself to the next level in on-road sports, as well as competing in my debut ironman in an area I love racing in.
''And Xterra and cross triathlon are now my key focus and a huge challenge for me this year as I have a big year ahead of me in the United States.''
Lining up on Kumara beach before dawn on Friday, Currie will be aiming for a threepeat Coast to Coast victory.
He first won the Longest Day in 2012 and then, after a blistering 33km mountain run over Goat Pass last year, he beat home five-time Coast to Coast winner Richard Ussher by 21min, finishing in 11hr 18min 37sec.
Although his experience means he can race at full pace for more than 11 hours, he realises it will not be an easy day out.
''I know that there's a good group of guys that have committed a huge amount of time in their preparation for this year's Coast. I also know that there will be a big target on my back.''
The day after the Coast to Coast, Currie will begin a rapid recovery programme that will allow him to turn around and race a 226km triathlon the following Sunday.
He knows that it will be a ''tough mental game'' as the usual full recovery time for him is up to 2 weeks after Coast to Coast.
While there are plenty of people who question the wisdom of contesting two gruelling and contrasting endurance races within a week of each other, Currie does not like to place limits on himself.
''I never wanted to be an athlete afraid to enter an event because I was worried about trying something new or being beaten.''
His final race of the month is familiar territory, as he tackles the cross triathlon format that he successfully trialled last year in Europe. In his debut season, he placed second overall in the European Xterra championships.
Braden Currie
His schedule
Feb 14: Coast to Coast
Feb 22: Challenge Wanaka
Feb 28: Oceania cross triathlon
March 7: Motatapu Xterra
April 11: Rotorua Xterra
April 18: Asia-Pacific Xterra
