OK so I decided not to enter the race this year. The girl and I were travelling from NZ to the USA the following day and I don't think the body responds well to long haul flights at the best of times. Despite this a good mate of mine was keen to pick up the hotel room we had booked and needed some race support, so off I went to Taupo, bike attached to the car.

Taupo in New Zealand is a great destination, the lake, the mountains, the forest and a town that gives 100% to help the athletes. The pros group had some interesting match ups. Cam Brown looking to be the first to 7 wins in one event against Kieran Doe who pinched a win at the NZ HIM champs only 2 months earlier. Also Luke Bell returning after a neck and neck drag race with Brown last year. Likewise Jo Lawn was looking to go for 6 wins with some very promising youngsters looking to take her crown.

Race morning brilliant, the bad weather forecast was nowhere to be seen. Lake like glass, 20 degrees in the water, why am I not in there??? Off and racing with Kieran Doe thrashing the swim looking for a head start on Brown, which he achieves, 4 minutes the lead. I mounted up on the trusty raod bike and decided to head out to the bike turnaround. The ride at Taupo consists of a 90 km loop, riders completing two laps. This starts with a reasonable hill section, mostly down, and then out over the Reporoa flats. Great scenery as you cruise past the volcanic cones that once created the region, endless forests and steam rising form the numerous thermal pools wich dot the landscape.

I rode the main highway which runs parallel to the course about 1 km west. At first I thought I was just a little slow to warm up, putting in a bit of effort to maintain even 30 kmph down hill. then I noticed the trees starting to flex a little as a stiff headwind picked up. Ride took about 1:40 to get to the turnaround, and I managed to pick up the boys as they turned back toward town. By now the wind was really steady with a large black cloud bank rolling in like a breaker at a surf beach. About 20 minutes into the return journey the wave caught me, boom, torrential rain and a tail wind that kept me howling along at around 40 kmph, crazy. Started to feel for all those athletes who while enjoying the wind assistance on the return would have to turn back for lap 2 and grind into the misery. Now this is a real ironman.

This year however, I was the jellyman and in a rather soggy mess retreated to a cafe for coffee feeling one lap was enough for me. Caught the bike-run transition, Doe by 6 but not looking comfortable. Brown following looking like the terminator in relentless pursuit, head still, back straight. right into his stride. Having somewhat less water in my shoes now I shot out the back of the marathon course to cheer on the boys.

The run is 2 laps along the lake front with a lengthy hill toward the turnaround. The weather had improved but now came back with a vengence. Having run this race I can tell you that it is a tough mental challenge when you get to the turnaround and come back towards town. the uphill section stretches endlessly in front of you with a string of athletes disappearing into the distance. Getting out on the bike was OK but after catching the boys my journey home was hell. I was managing about 10 kmph on the bike with rain coming horizontally into my eyes. Any competitor that got through that run can really feel that they achieved something, my rambling here cannot do justice to how hard conditions were.

After soaking up more water I got back for the finish. No contest, Brown and Lawn had too much metal and experience today. Cam Brown crossed the line looking like he could have done another lap, Lawn set a womens record, which was impressive given the weather. To Kieran Does credit he picked up to retake second place.

My mate came across the line in a pb 10:42 well deserved. Some great moments from the big guns but the amateurs who got through should hold their heads high. We stayed out in the rain late into the night to cheer on those coming home in the dark, true ironmen, truly tested.