Rachel Lynskey, Garry Nixon, Mark Smith and Jeremy Webber are a like-minded group of Rural Hospital Doctors and General Practitioners who are competing in the GODZone 2014. Through this adventure they hope to raise awareness for rural medicine in New Zealand and highlight the fundamental role of exercise, teamwork and endeavour in improving the health of New Zealanders. They are also raising money for the Pat Farry Trust.

Follow our vigil as we track the team on this epic expedition…

Rachel Lynskey, Garry Nixon, Mark Smith and Jeremy Webber are GODzone 2014' s Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine

To become a Rural Hospital Doctor requires an adventurous spirit, a mild adrenaline addiction, commitment, motivation and the ability to problem solve when situations spiral out of control. These skills and personality traits will bring this team to the finish line of a race such as GODZone.

The Challenge:
GODZone is a multi-day, non-stop, adventure style race that is held annually in the South Island of New Zealand. In 2014 this race will be based out of Kaikoura from March 7th-15th. (http://godzoneadventure.com/).

GODZone uses a journey concept where teams traverse some of New Zealand’s most stunning landscapes with a logical pathway from start to finish. The teams know ONLY the starting point. They get their first glimpse of the course on 8 March before beginning the race a few hours later.

Teams of four (with at least one female) enter and compete “unsupported” i.e. teams do not require their own support crews as organisers will move all equipment and racers around the course as necessary and all kayaks, canoes and certain other key items of equipment will be provided by the organisers.

The route traverses a distance of approximately 520km. Teams will be expected to navigate, trek, mountain bike, kayak and canoe over a vast array of different landscapes. Other disciplines may be included which will test the mental and physical skills of participants.

Day 1: GODzone 2014 teams get their first briefing on the course. Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine listen ... and ponder.

Teams must pass through a series of mandatory checkpoints along the course before reaching the finish. Teams are provided with marked maps and team handbook which provide valuable insight into the challenges ahead. Competitors change from one mode of transportation to another at designated transition areas. Transition areas and some checkpoints are staffed with race officials and medical personnel, as well as volunteers from around the world.

Starting March 8th, leading teams will complete the journey in around four days with perhaps only one to two hours sleep in the entire duration. All teams have up to seven days to complete the journey. Selling out seven months ahead of the event, 41 team entries from New Zealand and offshore have entered the 2014 race making it the largest field to date.

‘Fun’ Facts about the course

Coasteering: Distance 9km

Trekking: Distance 114km, Ascent +6900m, Descent -6540m

Mountain Biking: Distance 267km, Ascent +4990m, Descent -500m

Canoeing: Distance 101km, Descent -500m

Kayaking: Distance 38km

Total Distance 520km

Total Ascent +11,890m

Total Descent -11,890m 

The Team:

Rachel Lynskey is a Rural Hospital trainee originally from Paraparaumu and currently based at Rotorua Hospital who devotes her spare time to whitewater kayaking, skiing and mountain biking in which she is driven by both the adrenaline rush and fitness challenge. She is excited to be part of a team oriented pursuit in the beautiful New Zealand back country that will equally have many individual challenges. In 2013 she was a member of the winning team of the ARC 12 hour adventure race in the Coromandel.

Day 1: Seakayaking for 12km off the coast of Kaikoura.

Garry Nixon is a well known Rural Hospital Generalist at Dunstan Hospital who is an old hand to both the art of medicine and the New Zealand outdoors. He is a well seasoned trans – alpinist particularly in Fiordland and the West Otago Alps. He has climbed several major overseas peaks including Mt Logan and Mustagh Ata. He has spent a significant amount of time ski touring both in New Zealand as well as North America and more recently he has taken to the sports of mountain biking and whitewater kayaking.

Mark Smith is a Rural Hospital trainee with Hokianga Health based in Rawene who grew up in rural Southland with the adventure playground of Fiordland in his backyard. His passion and enjoyment for the outdoors and adventure has led him on tramping trips, up peaks and along countless mountain bike trails. In recent years he has competed in on and off-road marathons and multisport events including the Rotorua half-ironman. He is excited at the new challenge that GODZone will offer.

Jeremy Webber is a Rural Hospital Generalist based in Taupo who has a passion for competition, the outdoors and multisport. He has tested himself against the best athletes in the most hostile of environments, the Hawaii World Ironman Championships and is now seeking a new challenge of body, soul and spirit.

Before the race, Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine spoke with local school children about their 'day jobs' as rural doctors.

The Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust:
The team are excited to have the Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust involved in their adventure. The late Dr Pat Farry was a Rural General Practitioner and University of Otago School of Medicine lecturer based out of Queenstown who was passionate about Rural Medicine. He devoted his life to improving rural education and in 2007 established the very successful Rural Medical Immersion Programme for medical students of the University of Otago. Pat passed away in 2009 and the Trust has been established in his memory to further develop and maintain his vision.

Since its founding in 2010, ten medical students have benefitted from the Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust’s scholarship programme which supports travel to offshore rural healthcare learning situations. The Trust also seeks to sustain quality health services to rural communities through innovative technology such as high spec video communications facilities.

Attendees at the annual RNZGPN conference will follow Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine from the Pat Farry Trust stand via the live online stream.

Support Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine:

Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine will share this tent when - and if - they get to sleep.

Godzone 2014 starts in Kaikoura on March 8th when all 35 teams are given the instructions for the first of 7 to 8 race legs. They only know their starting point. They do not know where they are going on each leg and whether it entails running, climbing, biking, kayaking until the point that they receive their instructions. It is estimated that the leading teams will complete the race in 4 days with only 1-2 hours sleep.

Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine are competing in the GODZone 2014 hoping to raise awareness for rural medicine in New Zealand and highlight the fundamental role of exercise, teamwork and endeavour in improving the health of New Zealanders.

They are also raising money for the work of the Pat Farry Rural Health Education Trust. Just go to the Pat Farry Trust GiveALittle page and make a donation, sending a message of support to the team in the comments.

The Team are GPSed and their progress is being streamed live online. During the NZRGPN conference in Wellington 13-16 March, the Pat Farry Trust is running this live feed on a screen at their stand (#17).

While you watch, show your support by entering the Team Pat Farry Trust Rural Medicine GODzone Sweepstake. The team have donated one of their hard won – and worn – race bibs as the prize for guessing how long it will take them to complete Godzone 2014.

Place your guess in return for a donation to the Trust. Guess as many times as you like – just make a donation for each guess. The winner will be announced at the close of the NZRGPN conference (5pm Saturday, 16 March).