All Katrina Collins needed was a little help from a friend to get through in Whangamata.
Katrina’s dip into triathlon began around three years ago after a big life change prompted her to take a new direction and get fit.
Starting out with six half marathon walks, a trip back to her native England proved the catalyst after a stumbling upon the Blenheim Triathlon and spending the day watching it all unfold.
Fast forward to January 3rd 2011 and there stood Katrina at the start line for the Contact Tri Series race in Whangamata.
Under clear blue skies and with nerves pulsing through her body, she set off into the water for the swim.
"The swim was a challenge as the waves kept pushing me into the shore and then back to where I had just come from, it seemed to take forever,” she says.
Katrina was urged up the beach by one of the event team and into transition.
Off on the bike, things continued to make themselves difficult for Katrina when she and another competitor accidently rode up the wrong road.
Back on track and over the first hill, she ran out of steam on the second. It was at this point that she met Mel Saltiel who was working as ‘tail end Charlie’ for the event.
"I think Mel thought I had broken down at first. She went on ahead and said she would wait for me at the next hill.”
That’s when Katrina had what she calls a ‘melting moment’ – she couldn’t breathe, started to panic and then broke down on the side of the road.
But Mel wasn’t about to let her quit and after a hug, some water and words of encouragement Katrina was back up on her bike.
"I simply explained to her that it was all about finishing, that I wasn’t going to be out there with her and then have her quit,” Mel says.
"I told her a little about myself and the fact that I had been where she was and if I could do it she could as well. I told her that if she wanted to finish she could, simple.”
Mel made a deal with Katrina – she would do the run alongside her if she dug deep and finished the bike section.
"I just assured her that not only me but all those at the end wanted her to finish.
"We prepped a bit for the finish line, I told her it was her moment of glory, to wipe the face and smile. We picked a point that we were going to run and then into the finish chute we went.
"It was fabulous to see the grin and relief on Katrina’s face. It’s certainly moments like these that make days special.”
So Katrina made it to the finish line, almost an hour after she had been ready to pack it all in.
It just goes to show that with a little help from a friend, anything is possible.
