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Well known Queenstown adventure racers Lisa Bates, Hadyn Key, Karl Johnston and 5 x Coast to Coast winner Richard Ussher have plenty of knowledge on the local terrain and landscapes but nothing helps when two of your team members are suffering with illness. Both Richard and Hadyn have been unwell for the 24 hours leading into to the GODZone start and had a rough first day.

“When I saw them up at the top of Queenstown Hill it was obvious both guys were pretty miserable,” says GODZone photographer Edward Lawley.

The GODZone course Doctor Lynne John checked in twice with the team. Richard was coping with an early chest infection and Hadyn had some gastro.

The squad sponsored by Queenstown based nutrition company RebelFood only recently came together and have not spent any time racing together rather relying on their own individual training regimes. Richard Ussher said the week before GODZone he was looking forward to just enjoying some time out on course.

“The chance to have a relaxed race with some good friends is enticing and it will be a purely social outing,” said Ussher. “Hopefully we’ll get plenty of sleep and still finish the full course.”

Lisa Bates raced in last year’s GODZone in Tasman with Hadyn Keys, Mark Williams and Baz Smith.

“ Mark was going to race with us this year but he was offered a spot to race world-renowned Absa Cape Epic so that was when Karl stepped in.”

Reports from the field are that two poorly teammates are hopefully back on the mend and starting to feel better.