ECNZ 2010 – Day 1 – Cape Reinga to Kataia

ECNZ 2010 – Day 1 – Cape Reinga to Kataia

We’ve got a TV production company following us on this camp so all you readers can forward to a documentary of what we are doing some time down the track. When they shoved a mic in front of me at the start of today and asked me how I felt I said I was simply relieved to be getting underway after all the planning and travel

Cape Reinga (The Northern most road ending of NZ) is a long way from anywhere but it was a spectacular start to the camp. There is a great white lighthouse on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. After some photo opportunities we were off. We were opening with a 22km run (+ optional tack off to take it up to 25km for an extra point), this was split into a 12km at your own pace then a 10km race to the finish. I’ve plotted all the profiles for the bike routes but not the runs. We were greeted with some reasonably serious “kiwi rollers” for the duration of the run with the last 8km or so being a single road. I had a few takers on my run walk strategy – I’d simply walked the top sections of any hills to get a little recovery and keep my HR down. The thermometer was heating up as well and by the time we started the 10km race it was probably mid 20’s.

The 10km race was a chance to see how sensible athletes would be on day 1. I had a plan and stuck it pretty well. Push it a little on the climbs, pretty easy on decents (to preserve my quads) and moderate pace on the flat. Early on there were a few fireworks going off as everyone tried to sort things out. Gordo and I went off the front early and as expected Clas came steaming past of the first decent. From there Gordo pulled away to take it from Clas and myself. A few of us did a hoax tack on of 3km to get a few bonus points, it really was a woeful display of aimless jogging. We basically did lots of little short laps around our lunch base as there were hills in every direction.

The first 60km of the bike was uneventful. It was a good tailwind and instead of dealing with a surging bunch I dropped off the back and just rode touring pace to the start of the TT. Like everyone else I was light on fluids, I more or less went through 2 bottles on 1 hour after loosing a lot of fluid on the run. It’s baron countryside up north with just a spattering of farms. Finally I came across the only store between the start of the ride Kaitaia. I promptly got of my bike, went to fridge and got myself a cold drink. I was salivating looking forward to nice cold drink. As I got the checkout and reached for my cash I realised I hadn’t anything in my pockets as I’d thought it was such a short ride I wouldn’t be needing any money. I won’t be making that mistake again!

The final 28km’sih TT was a pretty cruisey/weak effort by me and I took a good pasting in the standings. I just didn’t want to fry myself on day 1

With a 20min break we were off to the pool. 1km warm up then a 1500m mass start race. As I pushed off the plan was to go straight on Madman’s (Steven Lord) feet. Only problem was straight off the push off both calves went into full lock. Gordo also decided to pop under the lane rope into our lane. In normal circumstances I would have pounded the crap out of him and tried to pin him under the lane rope but I was having such issues I was struggling just to swim. Once things settled a little I tried a lane swap of my own to try and get past Gordo, this completely back fired as the cramps camp back and I actually lost time. Then all of a sudden “The Curley Freight Train” (Mark Peitrofesa) and Gordo were standing at the end of the pool, I thought for sure we have a few hundred to go so I popped my head up to see them both grimacing with cramps. I went round them but was laughing so much I didn’t make much headway. Meanwhile the whole pool was a sea of athletes with cramps which was quite entertaining.

Whilst we effectively only did a half ironman today the heat and intensity has everyone looking forward to a good sleep.

Summary

Run 25km with 10km race

Bike 90km with 28km TT

Swim 3km with 1500m race