After about 15 hours of transit Andy and I finally reached Auckland airport at about 1am in the morning, and actual Auckland at about 2am. It was there we were greeted by Mike and shown to where we were staying. What an apartment! 11th story in the heart of Auckland, what a sweet place! Thanks again Mike J After dumping our bags we decided to get some brekky from Dennys at 3am, then finally hit the hay. Damm jet lag!
The next day was spent cruising around Auckland and the surrounding areas, with a sweet lunch and dinner and an attempt at an early night. Tuesday and we were up at stupid-o’clock to get to the bus and head to Tauranga. After a 4 hour trip we arrived, were greeted by Nana and Grandad and headed to the place we would call home for the next few days.
We spent the proceeding days, chilling in the town, sleeping, napping eating, watching movies and hitting up a couple of small out of town trips. EXCITEMENT PLUS! Before we knew it Friday was here and we were off to check in the bikes. Transition and check in was its usual self and race briefing was surprisingly short.
Thanks to some unusually hot and muggy weather we both struggled to sleep the night before the big day, but hey, what else is new. Up at 4am and I downed my usual pre-race brekky. A powerbar, a banana or two, powerade and water. We got to transition just the way I like it, nice and early and were set up with no worries. After a quick call to my girlfriend Paige for some extra luck I was in my wetty, had downed my powerbar shot and was doing my warm up with the one and only big Andy T.
Before the start I said to him something along the lines of, lets show them how us Aussies race aye?! We were both pretty pumped to come across the tasman and try and show them how its done. The swim start was very technical with as well as it being deep water, there was a yacht right in the middle of the line. I was on the front row and made the decision to go right, which was the correct call. There was the usual creeping forward from everyone and then boom, the horn went.
For about 3 seconds I was leading the race! Waahoo haha. I then got taken by the strongest swimmers, I small pack came past and there was no way I could keep with them, I wondered if Andy was in that group. Ahh well. I settled into what seemed like a long stretched out second group, that were almost keeping in touch with the first. The swim was 2k, a smaller 750 meter first loop followed by a longer 1250 meter second. I got out of the water after the first 750, and seemed to be in an reasonably good position. I jumped back into the water for the second lap and my swim started to fall apart. This has happened twice now, and needs to be addressed. I ran out of the water just under 30 mins, just into 30 by the time I got into transition. After a usual smooth one, and a cheers from Nana and Grandad I was off onto the bike.
My first 10k’s were a bit intense and speedy, but they are always are in a race like that until blood starts flowing to everyones heads and they start thinking more sensibly. I settled into a nice little group of 5, and we were all working legally together. I reached the turn around pretty quick and this is where I got the first glance of the others, actually not a bad deficit. I was happy and comfortable. I was really concentrating on my nutrition and my technique and I had broken away from my original 5 and had caught another group. We were the second or third group.
It was a tough headwind on the way back, so I rode smart and found as much shelter as I could. I came through town and over the 10 speedbumps (wow they were annoying) and was really surprised to see my defecit was quite small. The wind had changed almost instantly and we were now facing a headwind going out. Here the group was joined by 2 pro women (we picked them up) which added an interesting dynamic.
The 4 guys infront didn’t seem to want to set any kind of pace into the headwind so I set it upon myself to. I was feeling really comfortable and rode hard, but still slightly within myself. We got to the turn around again and the deficit was still not to bad, a few minutes. As we turned the 4 guys that were behind me set off. I was pretty annoyed as it seemed they were trying to break after I had done the work. I was left at the back of the back but I wasn’t going to let them go. As I came around I said to the two pro girls, “come on girls if you want to come with me lets go”. They obliged. I worked hard and caught them up again. Very satisfying and as things settled down the two girls thanked me.
About 15k from the finish, a massive pack of 4 wide and probably 12 deep rode past. CHEATERS. I sat back and had nothing to do with it no matter how annoyed I was. However the tri gods were smiling, as about 15 seconds later a TO rode past and pinged all of them!! It was so satisfying and hilarious to see them try and argue their way out of it. Bike time 2.26.
I rolled into transition and saw the first runners. They had a few minutes. I Had a great dismount and had the runners on in no time. Here we go I thought :/ I ran the first 3 and a bit k to the turn around solidly and was taking numbers. I saw Andy and high fived him (a subtle and uneffective attempt to try and break his arm and put him out of the race....). He was looking good.
From here it was on the way back to run around the mount. This was tough. 3k of undulating tough terrain, it really worked my legs over. However i was pretty happy as i was running my way through the field. I ran the forst 11k in 42 and a half minutes and was feeling good. I saw Andy again but was unable to get a split. Onto the second lap and i was slowing a little. I made it to the turn around again but i was in a lot of pain. As i was running back to the mount i latched onto a team runner and held on as long as i could, about 2k.
I reached the mount and it was pretty much game over as the legs had had quite enough. I managed to gut out the last 3 and a bit k's and finished a bit over a minute behind andy, with a PB 4.26. I was really happy but bloody exhausted.
Andy and I manged to pick up 2nd and 3rd respectively in out age group and we were psyched! Both with PB's and podiums. We managed to party untill about 12 that night, extremelllyyyy late for partying after a half haha, and managed about 7 beers and a shot of vodka or two. Crazyyy.
From here it was back to Auckland and Monday, back home. What a great trip, with special thanks going to my cousin Mike for helping us out big time in Auckland, and Nana and Grandad for their hospitality in Tauranga, cheers guys couldnt have done it with out you. :) Also well done to Andy for his great result and thank you to my family and Paige for your everlasting support and faith in me.
Cheers, Markus
