Preface: Wazza arrives and although happy to see another familiar face my fun time has ended. Heard the lecture and was read the riot act about my diet and weight, got told to get back on the wagon in no uncertain terms (blaming my mother and aunty and anyone else I could) had a good sulk, and suffered the hunger pains. (He only knew half of it too….)

Race Report – Port of Tauranga Half Ironman

The weather has been fine and sunny but a little windy right up until race morning. It decided to turn cold and windy enough to make getting ready in the dark and cold a bit challenging.
We ate breakfast, jumped into the car and headed to transition. No traffic worries and we found a car park nice and close so we were quickly numbered and into transition. No toilet queues and our gear was quickly organised – things were looking good. Transition was done and with time to spare.
The usual calm, serene waters of Pilot Bay had changed to a choppy, angry swim. No nice boaties had moved their boats from the moorings and the turning buoys were interspersed amongst the boats…..challenge No. 1
The current was running fast and furious (twice as fast as Bribie) so it was going to be a super swim – one way at least – return swim…….challenge No. 2
None of the local wildlife (the water was absolutely teeming with jellyfish larvae) had left the Bay during the night so swimming without having a sushi banquet was……challenge No. 3
The swim course was two laps, a smaller first lap and a larger second lap and competitors were set off in four waves. Pros at 6.30am, all the men at 6.32am and all the females at 6.34am then finally teams at 7.00am. Mmmm……. congested swim….challenge No. 4
My race plan (as per Coach’s instructions) was simple and should have been really easy to execute… Start at the front on the swim, race hard and fast for the swim, ride at Ironman pace, run 10klm at Ironman pace and slow to a jog for last 10klm, leaving myself with fuel in the tank for the Wanaka challenge next week. So…. game on!
Hugs and best wishes and into the water (which was 20 C) for the quickest warm swim ever. Watched the pros set off on their swim and was surprised to see them head in the wrong direction and then have to fight the current, whilst avoiding boats, to the first turning buoy. The men were off next – good luck, Wazza – and then it was my turn.
My smoothly running morning went downhill in the sharpest decline ever!!! What a chaotic scramble. No call to the start meant I was caught unaware when the start happened and didn’t end up at the front but stuck behind a solid line of “ladies” who certainly weren’t prepared to let me push, shove and force my way through. After collecting a solid whack to my face, I gave up fighting and headed to the outside of the pack. It was ugly! I drank half an ocean and fought for space to swim every moment of the first lap. The current swept us past the buoy and I headed close into the shore to avoid it for the return leg. Around the turning buoy and back into the water I’d left the mass of women behind and was now tangled up in the men. They fought harder for their space than the women and again the whole lap was three rounds in a boxing ring. Someone decided to give me a facial & left scratch marks on my face ! As per usual Wazza found me in the swim and “nicely” gave me a greeting. This time he didn’t belt me but there was a firm but safe grab on my ankle during the second lap.
Man! Was I glad the swim was over without swallowing any seafood and only one scratch on my face!
Onto the bike – wasn’t too cold so no extra clothes needed – quick transition and out onto the course. The bike course was two laps of flat road which follows the beach on gravelly bitumen. Quite a fast course but a little wind affected. I was so glad to be out of the swim, I just settled into the bike and cruised along (Coach’s instructions followed!) when I got poked in the butt. Surprised, I sat up quickly to have a rider pass so close his thigh hit my handlebars, pushing me hard to the side. Slightly off balance I quickly hit the brakes and unclipped. Big breath and got going again, I was furious! I gave him a mouthful and chased hard to make a note of his number and name. He rode a lot faster than me and disappeared off into the distance.
Whew… enough was enough – settled back onto the seat and peddled along till I came to a roundabout. Conveniently (I thought) a van pulled out of the roundabout in front of me and who wouldn’t draft for a bit…. I did…. nice – day was starting to be a little better. 2klms down the road another competitor past me and pulled in front. I didn’t drop back immediately and was surprised with a whistle and a yellow card. Oh Boy!! I’m so not having a good day. I began a mild protest about the infringement and was reminded by the Technical Official who pointed out “that sitting on the van prior hadn’t been a good idea”. So much for not being noticed! No more protesting at that point. Time to cop it sweet so I smiled and said “Cheers Bro!”.
Pulled in and did my 2 minutes in the penalty box. There were quite a few of us there so always up for a chat, the 2 minutes passed quickly. I also made the most of a captive Technical Official audience and lodged a complaint against the rider who got too close and personal previously. (just bitching, she actually new the bloke…another dumb kiwi from prev world champs who has a record of regularly crashing, Wazza). Back on the road and no more drafting, just get this thing done so first lap finished and second lap completed with no more dramas.
Off the bike and out onto the run and it was quick and easy to settle into Ironman run pace. The temperature was perfect, the crowd was great and out along the beach I headed. Seemed a long slow run to the turnaround but at about the 3klm mark I ran with Bruce and we chatted for the next 4 or 5 klms. He dropped back as we headed on the gravel track and the undulations of The Mount (Mt Manganui). Off The Mount and back towards transition for the end of the first run lap and some poor folks were just ending their bike leg. Felt good and running easy I headed round for the second lap. Had to duck into the bushes between aid stations for a minute but quickly back out on course (after covering the evidence with sand) and put in a couple of surges to catch up to the folks I’d been with before the stop. Round The Mount again and across the finish line.
Loved the race plan – especially the don’t ride and run hard part. Felt fantastic and still fresh at the finish which was the aimed for end result. Great race (now it’s over) Would recommend it to everyone but be ready for an argy bargy swim!…

POST RACE and now I can eat…

First a huge piece of chocolate brownie cake with double ice cream then a few beers, beef burger and hot chips. Later in the day I suffered through a soak in the hot tub to earn my second double scoop ice cream cone. ?
Next day – a cushy ride, then a lovely swim in the freezing cold surf with Wazza, such joy (NOT) then breakfast on the beachfront. All ended much too soon – back on the diet wagon and off to Wanaka for the next event.