New Zealand Ironman Race Report - Better Late Than Never.

Rules, Rules, Rules.

The new rules made for interesting racing this year at the New Zealand Ironman race.  The new 10 metre rule was well talked about.  I was to discover some rules were still being changed the afternoon before the race.

Due to Achilles issues and 8 weeks of no running, I knew I was never going to be able to run the full marathon.  Next best option - film my race.  I scanned the rules, couldn't find any rule against filming and even asked.  So, with my new GoPro and emails from Ironman NZ and Tri NZ saying there was no rule against it, I was set to go.  However,  Friday afternoon JUST after I had racked my bike I received a phone call informing me that the Ironman corporation had made a decision that no cameras were allowed. Silly rule really!

Beautiful start to the day!

RACE DAY  

After many years of bad weather, today made up for all of them! Lake Taupo was flat, warm, calm and extremely clear.  I started slow, got into a good rhythm and was even managing to swim pretty straight.  I was actually enjoying the swim until some plonker, who had all the room in the world, decided to grab my wrist and pull me down.  He was wearing a yellow cap, 40-44 age group?

Where in the rules does it say you are allowed to do that?  It certainly rattled me and I guess that was his intention.  I was happy to finally reach the shore and see the clock say 59 minutes.  That is a personal best for me.

The run to T1 was a long one but with the crowd 3-4 deep the time flew by.  T1 was uneventful.

Biking along the foreshore, I could see a bunch just ahead of me and was torn between chasing them down or starting slow.  I chose to start slow and ease my way up the hill, as it turned out everyone else had the same idea.  As I was approaching the main road to Reperoa, still going up hill leaving Taupo, I saw someone get busted for blocking (he was riding beside or just behind another competitor and made no effort to pass).  It was reassuring to see the rules being followed through.  From that point on I made a conscious decision to ride on my own.  I thoroughly enjoyed the ride out and back, the first 90km was my fastest including my Half Ironman times.  

End of Lap One, All Going Well

End of Lap Two, Finally!!!

 The second lap wasn't so pretty, I missed a gel and struggled to key off anyone as very few athletes were in sight.  It wasn't until I reached an aid station where I got a bottle of coke that things came right.

It was a relief to finally reach T2.  Biking on my own meant I had too much time to assess things like my head over heating in my aero helmet.  It was such a great feeling to finally take it off.  I took my time through T2 and eased my way onto the run course. 

Start of the marathon

Easy to smile at the beginning

Again, I wanted to start slow and saw a bunch about 50 metres up the road.  I was wondering, do I chase and run with them or stick to my plan?  Interestingly, the gap stayed the same for quite some time.  During the early stages my main focus was to keep my body temperature down by grabbing as much ice as I could from the aid stations.  I was able to run for 33km, then my legs locked up.  It was an enjoyable walk home, the crowds could see my arm bands and appreciated I didn't have far to go.  The highlight of the whole race was the crowds cheering in the last km.

 

  Walking down the finishing straight was amazing; I only wish I had my camera to record it.

Later on that night Danielle and I went back to cheer home the athletes finishing in the last hour.  It was great to see Bevan Docherty mixing with the crowd.

Here is a short video of the last athlete to finish under the 17hr time cut off and become an Ironman.