![Former Dunedin multisporter Josh Harris with wife Alex and daughter Harper. PHOTO: SUPPLIED](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2025/01/coastyarn.jpg?itok=LjIgjE7e)
He had a waterlogged introduction to the race as support crew in 2010 but got hooked on the 243km race between the shores of the Tasman in the west to the Pacific in the east.
Now, Harris is answering a late call to return to the event.
He sought some advice from multisport great turned America’s Cup sailor Dougal Allan when he was ushered into a three-person team as a replacement paddler to join Kyah Young (bike) and Bree Monaghan (run) for the race at the end of next week.
Harris now lives on the Sunshine Coast with wife Alex and 2-year-old daughter Harper.
Harris has three two-day individual Coast to Coast races (2011, 2014, 2015) under his belt to go with victory in the open section of the tandem team category in 2020.
The desire to return never left him, and he had begun working with Allan to have another crack at the two-day individual next year.
"I wasn’t expecting to race this year, but when the call went out, I couldn’t resist, as I was returning home for my dad’s 70th birthday anyway," Harris said.
Since winning the two-person tandem category with Dave Slater in 2020 — topping pre-race favourites Richie McCaw and Rob Nichol — Harris has been focused on work and family, mixed in with some second grade rugby and gym work.
"I had been working with Dougal on preparing a 12-month programme, and had to call him back to help with a 30-day programme to paddle the 70km in low water.
![Harris tackles the Coast to Coast as a relative youngster in 2013. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2025/01/gettyimages-160915479.jpg?itok=BRFdc6h5)
"I’m inspired by all those that take part in the Coast to Coast each year, which makes it hard to stay away."
Harris, 36, jumped the Ditch to work as a commercial real estate agent a decade ago. He has maintained a passionate interest in the Coast to Coast and Dunedin’s local multisport scene.
He cut his teeth in the sport in Dunedin before contesting ironman events, both nationally and internationally, but injuries and fatherhood have dominated recent years.
Harris said the initial goal was to get Allan’s astute coaching to prepare him, particularly around the mental challenges, for the two-day individual next year.
All going well, he would then look at the Longest Day — known as the world championship of multisport — in 2027.
His new team-mates, Young and Monaghan, both hail from Whangārei, and the two were drawn to the event after seeing their parents compete. Both are just 20 but already have plenty of sporting experience.
Young is a talented mountain biker, who has switch her training to the road bike this year and is favoured to be in the leading bunch of women on the 56km stretch between Kumara and Aikens.
Monaghan, who will tackle the arduous mountain run over Goat Pass to Klondyke, has competed on the national stage in triathlon and hockey and has qualified to compete in the world duathlon championships in Spain later this year.
By Wayne Parsons