getting to the taupo start line

what a mission it was to get organised.  so many decisions to make.  i was flying out late monday so i had the weekend to get my shit together.  i had left the bike service pretty late this time and only being able to get to there on the weekend made it difficult.  on sunday sylvester got taken to the kitty prison for his incarceration.  cooper went to the doggie holiday camp on monday for his week of fun and mayhem. i was then left to pack and get the bike in its travel bag.  last training sessions were done.  attended the saturday 5.30am session at swim smooth and got in a pretty good 4k.  on sunday rode the bike for two hours as a last check.  still not happy with the new chain and cassette but nothing to do but sort it out in taupo. went for a 3k run on the road to test out the new hoka shoes.  i had used them on the treadmill and they felt great.  i was still going to take my kayanos and leave the decision for later.

made it to the airport and checked in for my air new zealand flight.  departed around five in the afternoon and arrived in auckland at 7am the next morning although the flight was a quick 6 hours.   this would play havoc with my sleep for a few days.  bike made it okay so that is cause for celebration.  luckily the hotel i was booked into was a five minute walk from the arrival area at airport and even more amazing was they let me check in straight away.  it was the novotel auckland  and very, very nice.  i was meeting up with tritravel first thing the next day so i had nothing to do but re-organise my gear and relax for the day.

up early and down to meet the tritravel crew and fellow competitors by 8.30am.  apparently quite a small group compared to previous years. loaded the bus with bikes and bags before starting the four hour drive to taupo. i sat at the back and started chatting to chris and glenda from the uk.  chris was the sherpa to glenda who had been to kona quite a few times and seemed to be retired but a full time triathlete.  they had been staying in noosa with family however glenda had injured her knee and it was likely it would only be swim and bike for her.

once in taupo things became hectic.  people staying at different locations so drop off took awhile.  the tour leaders - steve and martin (get it) kindly offered to drop my bike off at the bike shop before heading back to woolworths for a shopping opportunity which actually felt like a competition to see how much i could buy in under ten minutes.  back to my room at the beechtree which was perfect and really nice and located on the bike course.  wandered down to taupo central for something to eat.  i wasnt feeling all that great but i never do before an ironman.  i figured out awhile ago that while it might not feel like it the problem is just nerves and they will go away come race morning.  it just makes it hard to eat and feel positive in the days before.  off to bed early.
 

thursday and up early again and bus pick up for wet suit check and  a swim in lake taupo.  it was quite chilly and since arriving i realised that i should have bought a few more warmer clothes.   the swim was beautiful.  the lake is crystal clear as promised and while a bit fresh it did not take long to adjust.  i could have kept swimming but we had to head off to check in.  the locals so far had been amazing and continued to be extremely friendly and helpful where ever you went.   checked in and got my little race pack.  no athlete gift as they were all stuck on a wharf in china and would be mailed out to us.  i hope it is a decent back pack for a change.  after check in it was into the merchandise tent and dollars were spent.  very bad jeni. it was then a  drop off at the bike shop to pick up the bike and bag.  i rode the bike back to my room and as it turns out the chain was too long and so the guys shortened it and it felt perfect.  around 3 pm we were off again and we headed out to drive the bike course before going to the welcome dinner.  the bike course was more rolling up and down than i thought.  it was going to be an interesting ride.  the welcome dinner was pretty ordinary with very average food.  only disappointment over the whole event.  busy fucking day.  on my way to meet the bus for the road trip i bumped into tim and rae.  they were staying at the beechtree as well.  got some great tips and would catch up with them again before the race.  

friday and the day before the big day.  i found it hard only arriving by mid-day wednesday and the race being on a saturday.  it was a much shorter lead into race day than i normally have and you do spend alot of time doing stuff rather then resting up the legs.  if there was ever a next time i would somehow get there a day earlier at least.

i had to ride the bike.  it needed a test run and i needed to freshen up the legs. i headed out towards the motorplex which is part of the bike course early and it was chilly.  around 8 degrees.  it would be the same tomorrow with a maximum of 21 but more importantly light winds.  clothing choice decisions would have to be made.  the bike felt smooth but there was a creak or rattle coming from the left and from the handlebars.  it was quiet on the smooth road but there wasnt much of that.  the stories about the chip seal were true and it was going to be a rough ride.  it went away when i was aero or put pressure on the handlebars.  i think a cable had come loose from the foam it sits in and was rattling around.  i rode out about 10k and down a nice country road.  said hello to some friendly cows who thought i was there to feed them.  on my way back i decided to call into the bike shop and see if they could help.  the road around there was hot mix so they would never have heard the rattle when test riding it.  a cable tie around the front cables was the best they could do and if not i would just have to suck it up.

steve's wife was travelling with him and is a massage therapist so i had a booking.  i was hoping to at least get some relief on my shoulder/neck thing.  not a fan of doing this the day before a race as it can cause more problems than it prevents. back to my room and to finish putting together my bike and run bags before checking the bike in around 2 (this is my standard time and i like sticking with routine).  decision one i was going to ride in proper cycling gear with a long sleeve under my cycling jersey.  it was gear i had used a million times in the same forecast conditions.  it would just blow out my transition time but nothing new there.  i would be comfortable.  i decided to run in the new hokas.  they are very light, very soft and since i was going to be out there a long time i expected they would be the most comfortable.

once this was done i headed out for an early dinner.  felt like crap but again just the nerves. i had not been sleeping all that well so i was really hoping for a good nights rest.  no napping so i should be tired from all the running around.  the tritravel bus was picking me in the morning and a few others for the short trip to transition at 5.40 am for an 8 am start.  it was going to be a good day but i was not without my doubts and the feeling that i just could not be bothered doing it.  no unusual but just once i would love to be one of those people totally pumped and ready to fucking kill it.