From Coast to Coast: Campbell Gray’s Next Challenge on the Ultimate Adventure Race
Campbell Gray had his eyes set on an extraordinary goal: The Longest Day of the legendary Kathmandu Coast to Coast race in 2025. He finished in the top 20 - a great result for a young athlete on his first attempt.
Congratulations Campbell Gray
The Interislander team was proud to see 21-year-old Hamilton student Campbell Gray make the top 20 in the Longest Day race in this year’s Coast to Coast.
Interislander sponsored Campbell for the second year in a row, supplying him with Interislander travel to get to and from the Coast to Coast course for training and the competition itself.
This February was his first year tackling the premiere race – where competitors bike, run, and kayak the full 243km course from the West Coast to Christchurch in one day.
On Saturday 8th February Campbell crossed the Brighton Beach finish line in 16th place in just under 13 hours – and while relieved, he was a bit disappointed. “It wasn’t the race I wanted. I made it to the finish line in one piece, and it was my first time, but I was hoping for closer to 12 hours.”
It’s a delicate balancing act ensuring you have the right sustenance while constantly moving, and Campbell says he didn’t quite get that right – suffering some stomach issues that meant he had to make some unplanned stops. “When you are going for that long, the body isn’t great at digesting food. Even the elite guys find it hard to get it perfect – it takes a bit of practice.”
Other than that, everything went to plan. “The hardest bit was definitely the back end of the run. I was pretty knackered. But the time flew by and it didn’t feel like 13 hours.”
In fact, at times, he says, despite the physical pain and exertion, it was enjoyable, with sunny weather and lots of people cheering the racers on throughout the course. He felt even more buoyed to find even bigger crowds on the final cycle leg into Brighton Beach where he crossed the finish line at around 7 pm.
More about Campbell's Coast to Coast Journey
Known as one of New Zealand's most gruelling adventure races, The Longest Day takes competitors across 243 km of rugged terrain from the West Coast to Brighton Beach in Christchurch—all in one day.
This isn’t Campbell’s first taste of the Coast to Coast. Last February, he took 3rd place in his category of the two-day event. However, 2025 will be a whole new challenge as he takes on the single-day, non-stop endurance race, which includes biking, running, and kayaking through stunning, yet punishing landscapes.
Throughout the race, competitors like Campbell push their bodies to the limit. Running with wet shoes from stream crossings and keeping up energy levels without stopping to eat are all part of the experience. Elite racers rely on gels and electrolyte drinks on the go; every second counts when aiming for the podium.
When he's not training, Campbell is busy studying Industrial Design and Human Performance Sciences at Waikato University. Whether he's hitting the books or the trails, he dedicates time to long runs, cycling, and kayaking sessions on the Waikato River or Lake Karapiro.
“Changing from the 2-day race to the one day is a big step up. I’ll be footing it with the big competitors,” Campbell says.
“But there’s nothing like the feeling of crossing that finish line. It’s a bloody good feeling, a relief. You’re not enjoying the race while you’re in it, it’s just pain, but you feel so good afterwards.”
The Interislander team is proud to assist Campbell with get to the start line of this iconic New Zealand multi-sport race.
