Video of the finish!

Just got this from Anna's brother in law, really cool! I dropped the flag and had to go back for it...

Job Done!!

What an amazing experience today has been. Thousands of triathletes from all over the world competing against each other in the centre of Auckland and I was one of them. When i decided to try to qualify for the GB team back in August last year I thought it would be a good challenge but one I was not sure I could achieve. The journey to get here has always been fun but has also been hard work and at times frustrating but today has made all that more than worthwhile.

I got a bit lost on the swim as the tide was running fast and the waves were too big to see the buoys, all quite fun and added to the adventure. The bike was good, hills one way and headwind the other, lovely though all around the coast up to Mission Bay x 2. The run was lovely and one I do often when I am here, all the way along the waterfront with big crowds shouting 'Go GB' all the way. Fantastic....and then they give you a medal...

One of the nicest things about doing this has been the support I have had from everyone. Thanks to my sponsors Bluefin Insurance and to Dorrington for all your interest and support. Thanks also to friends and family who have been encouraging and motivating by just askng me how its going. In particular thanks to the Birdies who have been a constant source of motivation and sat up into the early hours last night watching the race on the net.

Thanks most to Anna, without whom I could not have done this. She provided the inspiration, encouragement, understanding and support that has been invaluable.

 

 

Thanks also to Annas family who all came to watch today and are now more tired than I am!







 

 

 

Dad, this was for you x.



One sleep to go!

Well its  just a few hours to go now and I am looking forward to it. Pouring with rain, thunder and lightning and wind have been prevalent today so probably the same for tomorrow. We watched some of the mens race on tv but missed the end as GB had to rack our bikes between 3-4pm this afternoon straight after the mens elite race. We were all standing in line as they played the national anthem for Johnnie Brownlee though.

I have all my transition bag packed and my numbers on everything. Ann, I have the book in my bag, all wrapped up safely.

All numbered up and ready to go!

Thanks so much for all your good luck texts and emails, I will let you know how it goes...........

Womens Elite Race

Feeling a bit more positive today as the wind has dropped and the sun has come out. If it stays like this it will be almost fun! Went for a trot round the run course this morning which is fab, nice and flat for me after the hilly bike.

Auckland put on a fabulous city centre race for the Elite women today.. Fabulous atmosphere and exciting racing up and down the steep hills in the middle of the city. The elite races are two laps of a 750m swim so they jump out and dive back in again after the first lap, like this...

 

 

Then it was 8 laps of the bike course and 4 laps of the run course, all coming through transition in front of the grandstand which made for a great atmosphere. This is the girls coming through on the bike with Jodie Simpson and Andrea Hewitt still in the pack.

 

 

This is how it feels to be the new Triathlon World Champion!

 

 

And this is how you celebrate!

 

 





Team Briefing

Busy day with a trial swim of the course at lunchtime and team briefing and photos this evening.

The swim was ok but I felt a bit spooked about something although not sure what it was. The swim in a dock with really high walls and a container ship on the other side and then out into the ocean and back, think I might be scared of the high walls as I cannot think what else it would be. Something to work out for Monday.

Team briefing was good, very motivating and good to meet all the rest of the team and the girls in my category. These are the RG active girls and the others in my category. Rachael, thats Julie Tapley on the right, she is actually really friendly!

There is still some concern over the weather but hoping it will settle down for Monday. There are a couple of hairy bends on the bike course so the person who wins will probably be the one who takes the risks.

This is the team photo of the guys and girls in my age group on the standard distance.

 

Opening Ceremony

Just got back from the Opening Ceremony which was really fun. Must have been about 5,000 triathletes there from every nation you could think of. Big teams from GB, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

We all gathered over at the events centre and walked in teams behind our national flags though the waterfront of Auckland, all lead by a group of  Maori's from the local tribe. Really good atmosphere and lots of people watching the parade of nations.

Met lots of people today, loads from GB, US and Canada.

 

At the end of the parade we filled up the Cloud with so many colourful tracksuits, it could have been Uxbridge on a Saturday afternoon! We watched the Maori tribe do some dancing listened to some good speeches and then the whole Noozie team did a Haka. All 5,000 of us then joined 2 queues to get some pasta.



Great experience and so many people with different stories of how they got here and what they want to achieve...Lots of them, like me just want to get to the start line and then get to the finish line with no dramas.

The Aquathon!!

We came back from Waiheke at lunchtime and could see people warming up around 'The Cloud', the big white cloud like building which is the home to the Triathlon. As usual I had the time wrong and the Aquathon started at 2pm and not 4pm... This is 'The Cloud' is at the back with the swim area for all events to the left and Sky Tower at the back..

All very exciting with everyone in the National Team kit...apart from me as I didn't have time to get home to change. Anyway racing soon got underway, 1000m swim and a 5km run through the water front area, the same course as the triathlon. This is the first swim wave, you can see them all splashing. By all accounts the swim is fine until you reach the end of the dock and have no protection and then its pretty rough.

Some good racing through the streets with really good support for everyone. Loads of GB athletes and supporters.

Met up with the guys from RG Active who were all on good form. If only I had my kit on too!!! Meeting up with them for a bike ride around the course again tomorrow. Generally there was a lot of concern that the wind will be too much for the tri bikes and also the forecast is rain which makes the downhills and corners pretty tricky.

Another day...another beach...

Decided to have a rest today so we drove round the island in 'Tarzan' (a very reliable beaten up Toyota 4x4). Was glad of the four wheel drive capabilities on the steep unmade roads on the east coast.

Found a lovely beach to train on tomorrow morning, Onetangi. Should be good for intervals against the wind.

Did some swinging training just to test the strength of the rope.

This is' Man O' War' Beach which is in the next bay to 'Great White' beach....not really keen on swimming today anyway.

Flocks of Triathletes!

The wind has dropped a bit but its still gusty. I went for an interval run along the sea front along with about 100 others in Auckland this morning and I think spotted Stuart Hayes doing a reccy of the elite course. As you can see from the photo below in front of the grandstands I was pretty tired even for a Monday morning! Flying the Dorrington flag though...

Fixed up my bike and got a couple of spare tubes in case there are more punctures. The guys in the Bikelab on Victoria Park are really helpful, especially as I have been in there nearly every day to get my tyres pumped up.

We are now over on Waiheke which is a beautiful island in Auckland harbour a ferry ride of about 30 minutes. Staying at a beach house owned by Annas friend Lois, it is stunning. This is the house and the view from the deck.

Wet and windy...

Yesterday was a bit of a washout, but all back on track today. Woke up to the sun trying to come out so I thought I would go and try the bike course early rather than wait for the GB team ride. The high winds have caused a lot of debris on the roads and it was more like mountain biking than road biking resulting inevitably in a puncture, but it was late on in the ride so all fine. The bike course is hard with one really tight turn and about four steep long hills, two of which I can't get up without standing up ( all x2). Really windy too, bike was getting blown sideways so no chance of getting on the tri bars for me! Loads of people out in the course, I even passed someone although she did look like she was in the 90-95 category! Enjoyed being out there and soaking up the atmosphere.

Went for a run too this morning which was also good although the head wind was quite fierce. Breakfast is always a good incentive though.

The grandstands are up down in the middle of Auckland and all the road markings and restrictions are up. I went to the team hotel this morning but not that much going on. Tomorrow I get to pick up my athlete ID cards  so it will be the first part of an exciting week!
This afternoon we have been to one of the west coast beaches, Muriwai. The wind made it even wilder than usual but lovely nonetheless. The cliff is a breeding area for Gannets before they head off to Australia for an overseas experience, tons of them. Most return after two years when their work permits run out.

Windy and raining....

Woke up with a sore throat so have been resting today and getting lots of vitamin c and echinacea. Severe weather in Auckland so at least I missed that, heavy rain and winds 50mph gusting to 78mph, not ideal for being on a bike!

Basketball was cool. Auckland are the league champions and won pretty easily. The kids loved it, this is Anna's nephew Hanak.

Hills, Beaches and Hungarians

We spent the rest of yesterday driving around sightseeing on the Coramandel penninsula. What a lovely place, amazing beaches and views. Hot Water Beach has hot springs coming up through the sand so you can dig a hole and sit in hot water, something the Noozies love as you can see below! It really is hot, if you bury your feet in the sand its too hot to stand there. Thats me and Anna's Mum on the beach.

Had a really good swim this morning. Just as I was leaving, along came the Hungarian elite squad in all their kit. Its the first time I have seen any other athletes and really made me think about what an exciting event this is to be part of.

This afternoon we drove around the bike route. It has some pretty big hills in it both up and down so I now have my tyres pumped up so plan to get out there once it gets light in the morning....watch this space, I hope to be back!  I ran up One Tree Hill which is pretty steep but has amazing panoramic views of Auckland.  Thats me at the top with Anna's neices ( they walked) and Sky Tower to the left and Rangitoto the volcano to the right.Trotted down and am now having a kip before going out to see Auckland play basketball against Adelaide.

Wh is for 'f'!

Here is a tip for any of you navigating in NZ, Wh is pronounced f (in most circles).....we finally arrived in Whitianga mid afternoon yesterday. Its a lovely place the Coromandel penninsula and this bay in particular. Went for a lovely run along the beach just after sunrise this morning, 5 miles in record time (for me).

Another tip, a hot dog here is actually a battered sausage on a stick...imagine my dissapointment. I know hot dogs are not allowed anyway even in the conventional sense!

Getting loads of emails form the GB team management so am looking forward to meeting up with them all over the weekend.

Bike all ok!

My bike has travelled well. I have managed to put it all back together, and after a few clunks from the rear derailleur it all works! Really pleased with myself as I only learnt to change an inner tube this year.

Biking here is quite a challenge, according to the triathlon shop man its the most dangerous place he has ever cycled, honestly these Noozies look quite placid until you put them behind the wheel. There are not many cyclists around, not sure if that is down to the manic bus drivers or the fact that Auckland is the most hilly place ever made. It is all volcanic and looks like someone came up to the shore and pushed the it all up towards the centre. Not really looking forward to the hills and may wait for the GB team orientation rides to start on Sunday before I venture too far.

Had a good swim this morning, good 100's and 50's and we are now off down to Coromandel for some sea swimming and beach sprints.

On the social side we had a fab Japanese meal last night with all of Anna's family, 12 of them kids and all. The Japanese food here is amazing, really fresh sushi and steak....no chips!

Here in sunny Auckland!

Following a really good last week at home we have finally arrived in Auckland and yes the sun has come out today!

Had a lovely surprise with the guys from Dorrington with a good luck lunch last Friday. I love a surprise and Inna's cooking! Dorrington have been amazing with the support I have had both in the interest shown by all my colleagues and also the generous help with time for training which has been invaluable over the last few weeks. I have made good use of this and have had a few hard sessions with my great coach Rob who I think has made me run and bike faster than I ever have, even when I was a normal age for doing these things! www.mountainmanpt.co.uk/

So we are finally in Auckland. My bike arrived and looks like it is one piece, at least all the pieces looked undamaged. I am just going to put it together so we shall see! I found a lovely new pool just down the road from Anna's Mum and had a great swim there yesterday morning with a lane to myself. This morning I went for one of my favourite runs through the Marina down to the Harbour Bridge, sunny and raining all at one, just perfect.

GB Kit with Bluefin!

Very excited as GB kit with my sponsors name, Bluefin Insurance, arrived this morning. Looking forward to getting to NZ so that I can wear it!

First live post!

This is the first post on my first blog, the reason I have taken on this new challenge is because in exactly 34 days I will be taking part in the 'World Triathlon Championships' held in Auckland, New Zealand! From this week I will be updating this site regular basis. So bookmark my address and watch this space!