800 take the challenge

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
HEALESVILLE and Marysville were buzzing over the weekend as elite athletes soaked up the valley’s offerings before they trekked to the city.
Almost 800 athletes including former AFL star Shane Crawford took part in the Marysville to Melbourne Multisport Challenge (M2M) on Sunday 10 April, with those taking part able to complete the entire 155km race or relay in teams.
Marysville’s Dr Lachlan Fraser completed the entire trek as a solo competitor, coming eighth in the 40-49 year age group in a time of 10 hours 28 minutes.
Former Healesville resident James Pretto finished third in just over eight hours, with family members cheering him and other Pretto family competitors on as they cycled through Healesville.
Team Snap, Crackle, Pop were made up of Star News Group managing director Paul Thomas, Fraser Milne and Carina Tomietto, who crossed the line in 10 hours and 39 minutes.
Runners set off at dawn in Marysville with a 19km off-road run. Shane Crawford admitted to being unprepared for what followed with slippery and wet tracks making the hilly course even more demanding.
Swapping over to bikes at Dom Dom Creek, cyclists pedaled through the Black Spur on to the main street of Healesville just after 8am, on the 50km road ride to Kinglake, before another 40km cycle to Eltham.
From there runners took a 15km scenic trail to Ivanhoe, where kayaks awaited on the Yarra River for 64km of paddling through the heart of Melbourne.
Organisers said the M2M signalled a return of tourism and a much-needed economic injection to the region.
The money raised will be used by The Berry Street Ascent expedition to take a group of boys from the Marysville triangle on a team-building wilderness expedition.
Geelong athlete Luke Haines crossed the finish line after seven hours 53 minutes, two minutes ahead of the second place Reece Stephens, and Elizabeth Dornom stormed home to take the women’s individual race.