Intro:

The Swisse Active team of Victorians Jarad Kohlar and James Pretto take the early lead at the end of day one at the 2012 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge on Wednesday, a 1,000-kilometre adventure race across the Australian state involving running, kayaking and cycling invented by the Formula One driver to raise funds for charity.

Script:

A gentle paddle down stream, this definitely is not. Instead, its just one of several stages on one of the most demanding adventure races known to man.

Extreme athletes have descended on the Australian island state of Tasmania to compete in the 1,000 kilometre Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge.

The course involving running, kayaking and cycling was invented by the Formula One driver to raise funds for charity and on day one it was Jarad Kohlar and James Pretto, who took the early lead after the opening leg.

A feat they say required just as much brain, as it did brawn.

SOUNDBITE (English) Jarad Kohlar:

"Oh, concentration plus today, you know? Constantly looking at the map the whole day... sort of spent most of the day with Richard (Ussher) and Braden (Currie, of Team Tasmania) and Mark (Padgett) and Mark (Hinder, of defending champions Team Iron House). Yeah, we were surprised that we were actually in front when we finished. We've got some of the best adventure racing and triathletes in the world here doing the event, so yeah, we're pretty happy that we got the win and it was our day."

The 40 teams now move on to the Ben Lomond ski resort, with a mere 75 kilometres of running, mountain biking and paddling in front of them.

Not quite a walk in the park.