Taupo Training

This is from the last weekend in Jan so a bit late, but I did want to put something down before I forgot about it.

We drove down on the Friday night and I had decided the best idea was to find something down in Taupo. This sort of backfired as I forgot that Iz wanted something with air conditioning... So we ended up in a very small room in a hotel. Not exactly what we needed... no ideal for Iz.

Saturday:

We started with a short swim... about 15 mins in the end. A wee bit shorter than I imagined... Then back to the hotel and onto the bike. It was not a warm morning so I put on a jacket and headed down towards the houses (where the others were based). 

Picked them up then headed out onto the course... Today we had install at least 6 hours of riding and 4 x 15 min efforts to break it up a bit. Started very easy up to the race track, then just spinning at a good speed on the descent... looked back a couple of times to see a very long line of the group in single file very cool.

Just after the bridge, I took a few turns. We were going quite well! It did not seem as if we slowed down much or took it very easily! Oh no maybe I have already gone too hard... The faster riders went straight through Reparoa and almost all the way to the main road to Rotorua... Stopped at Reparoa on way back grabbed a drink and a pee, then straight into the first effort! I think I pretty much sat in (legal distance) most of the way and took a few turns. Then the next effort was from the bridge up to the race track. That one was pretty hard.

Stopped at Hotel for a feed and pick up more drink - only took two - and say Hi to Iz and Sam then back out onto the course... The second lap started the same as the first...Still going reasonably well even though we were not doing an effort... this got me quite worried!

Again we went all the way to the main road... this time though we stopped at the Dairy at Reparoa and tanked up on food an drink.

Another 15 min effort that I cannot really remember... I think by this time I might have even been sitting in a bit closer to Tony's' wheel than I would like to admit! I guess there was a bit of I just wanna get home going on!

The last effort was a bit easier for me to handle as it was up hill still bloody hard though!

Heading home along the waterfront I got a puncture so had to slow down. Just make it back to the Hotel without having to repair it...

Finished with a run. I just did this from the Hotel... ran along the road to the house, grabbed a drink and then headed along the waterfront. I did not know that there was a nice track along the lake side. Very nice. I popped out onto the main road at 2 Mile bay, just before the hotel and just in time to get passed by Mr Brown... dam it! I was running quite fast too... There was Mark W watching on the side too. A good 40m so very pleased!

Sunday:

We at least the weather was all right! Started with a swim from the yacht club. We did a few start simulations and then headed along past the hole in one pontoon. We were suppose to turn at 25 mins but the others turned at 20 mins not sure what happened there... I was sitting on Lizs feet and I do not think she liked it much but I was not feeling too good! On the way back I found Maddog's feet and although they go all over the place I was able to stay in touch... A reasonable swim if a little short.

Back to the Hotel and get ready to ride. I rode all the way down to the house this time and through a Triathlon race! They were just finishing the briefing... But apparently it was going to be one lap plus a bit and 3 x 20min efforts! Sounds like fun...

Off we went nice and easy to start with. Going up Napier road and then onto Broadlands. The ride started to get faster after the motor circuit, on the downhill... As soon as we got to the flat the first 20m effort started. This one was not too bad and I did do a bit on the front. Quite solid. Was wondering in the back of my mind if I could keep it up!

Again we went thru the 'round a bout and to the main road. Then back to Reparoa. No stopping today. Bugger. Then into the next effort. This time Tony went to the front and took off! I did not even dare to stay with him. Very solid! Thankfully when he say that we had been dropped he sat up and then lost a bottle so I upped to pace and made it as hard as I dared for him to get back on... Finished effort 2. I was going to take it easy for a bit but Tony went past and keep the pace solid! Oh well... I did sit in for a bit to get a bit of recovery going...

Next effort starts at the bridge. Off we went again... I went past Tony along the flatter parts and tried to up the anti a bit... kept it going up the hills all the way to the motor circuit with Tony giving me some support! Ok a push :)

Pretty stuffed I have to say!

The run! Isobel had transferred to the house and I went there too. Got the shoes on and off for run... I followed the road this time... Tony was at the start of the lake Terrace. I did not stop first time past and went all the way round to the IM finish. Coming back had a quick stop for water/coke and topped up the bottles then headed out for the 5 mile bay turn around... That was quite hard. Very hot. I was running quite well though... Thankfully there was some water at 5 Mile bay so stopped to get a drink! Bit of a life saver that one as Really hot today. On the plus side just getting to the top of Airport hill was only about 2 km go go after that. Turned out to be about 22Km and in just over 1h35m very pleased...

Worth noting going up the Airport hill is the 10Km to go marker for the second lap... i.e. 32Km. So if things are good it would be a good time to start winding up the running at the top...

Thoughts... So on the whole a good couple of days training. seem to be going OK in the swim, pretty good on the bike - although I have to say that Tony has really improved over the last few weeks since the Tauranga half very noticeable... of course he was not running so did not have to hold anything back - the run, well the the run is OK too, but I am lacking a few long runs...

Also I am not comfortable on the bike this is very disturbing and I am going to have to change things a bit to see if this improves... not a good idea I know but I will not be very happy on the day if my shoulders and neck hurts like f..k!!!