What a treat. We were always going to Aussie at this time of year, but it was a real bonus to be able to do a Half Ironman. The training weather back home was very much less that perfect. In fact, the consensus appears to be that the weather in NZ over June and July completely sucked.
Anyhow, it was great to be able to go up the Yepoon in our nice rental car (an A3) and stay at the Ridges (not as great as it sounds I'm afraid).
Race day was Sunday and it dawned fine if a little cold (a lot cold for the locals) and we had to walk down the beach to the start. I had entered the OPEN event in a spat of complete madness a couple of months ago. Started to get a bit nervous over that deal.
Race started at 8:00am and I just slipped into the back of the pros and let them duke it out. I was dropped before we got to the first can at 100m. One turn left then 1700m down the beach with a nice strong tide and the waves to our back right. I got left out on my own for a bit so dug in a bit to get on the feet of a guy just a few metres in front. Then sat on his feet the most of the way. I would have stayed on his feet the whole way but he kept moving all over the place. There were a lot of cans along the way and we had to keep these to our left so plenty to think about. The turn can came up real quick. Once around the feel of the tide really showed itself and I gave up trying to allow for it and just swam in letting myself drift a bit. 27' 45" I think to the beach. This was ok but was hoping for a faster time.
Took the run in easy and got my got myself into T1 with the HR down to a reasonable level (under 150) although the watch looked rather waterlogged :(
No dramas getting onto the bike and getting going although I still have trouble using my left hand to help put my left foot in shoe. I used my right hand instead! Very odd I know. Once up to speed the rough road really started to get noticed! And the wind. It was a 5 lap out and back course and there was not that much tail wind a bit of a solid course! I put the pressure on early to see who I could close the gaps on. Did take a lot out of some of the slower pros but the main front group were gone and there was no chance to get near as they were all drafting well.
I think on the first or second lap I might on hit 50Km/h in the down wind sections but there were not enough of these. Just before halfway my watch died completely. This was a really problem as I was using it as my guide for laps and how well I was going.
Lot of spares, drink bottles and other stuff on the course as the vibrations took there toll! It turned out I had a split of 2h 20m for the bike which included T1 and T2 so was very pleased with this. But at the time I had no idea and after loosing a bike shoe going into T2 (and having to go back and get it) I was thinking the race was not going too well.
Past the finish line for the first time there was a clock. I showed a time that would equate to 4h 30m if I did about an 88m run. This really set me back and from that moment on was rather negative and just wanted to get the run over. Not having done any real long runs in training possibly did not help either!
The run was a 3 lap course about a 1/4 on roads and the rest on tracks some of which were sand based. My the run flat but hard work. I did catch a few pros eacly on and pushed on but knew that I was not going super fast just solid. At the end of the second lap another pro went past me quite fast and I tried to up the pace to make it hard for him to pass (could hear him coming a mile away!)... as he finally went past I felt that he had me, but I pushed on and he got about 100m ahead. Through the tracks for the last time I upped the pace again and past this gut at about the same point he past me the last lap. This was very pleasing as I was still going strong...
Crossed the finish line and had not idea of time and place! It turns out the clock was broken and showed the wrong times. I was at least 10m ahead of first woman so that was promising!
A few days later results out said I was 16th overall and 14th in the open. Time 4h14m A fastest time for a half. Not bad going. Would have preferred none of the Age Groupers to be in front of me but all in all a great race. Shame about my watch. That will teach me to be to depended on technology.
