Tara - Day 2

Swim: 6000m, 1:45
Bike: 200K, 6:35
Run: 10K, :50

(200K with a 64K TT from Cheviot to Kaikoura and tack on to 200K)

Day 2 started with a 6K swim with Rolly’s squad at the QEII. I did 4700 with the squad and then a steady 1300m to get to 6000m. First of two allowed 6K swims for an extra 2 points accomplished! Of course Steven and I contemplated running back to the hotel but time was running low and so Chris McDonald, Steven and I waited for Jo to finish her 6K swim including her band only 1000m that saw her feet dragging along the bottom of the pool. Chris was driving the van back and nearly passed out from lack of food!

We did make it back in time to get ready and grab a bite to eat and roll out on the bikes.

The ride was included a KOM at about 85K and knowing there was a 64K TT from Cheviot to Kaikoura coming up, was happy not to totally kill myself at the top of the KOM. I think I crossed in 8th place.

The TT started after lunch and we were all freezing cold as we pulled into lunch. I think I put on every layer I had in my day bag and really should have taken an extra layer off (I only took off two layers and left two behind!) but I was happy to feel warm again. Seeing as I was in Yellow, I was the last one to start the TT. I watched Steven pull ahead and worked hard to try and catch him, to no avail. I knew once I hit the descents, he would be much faster than I was (I really need to work on my descents but it’s a bit challenging once you have crashed and landed on your face!) and sure enough he beat me by just over a minute. Chris speedy McDonald won the TT and I came in a solid 3rd just ahead of my coach!

At the end of the TT Scott, Del, Russ and I went in for a coffee. A flat latte has never tasted so good. Scott said he was going to tack on, but then all of a sudden said he wasn’t and I kind of forgot about the timing – you have 12 hours from when you start training to finish your day so I didn’t have time to get to 210K so had to settle for 200K (good for two bonus points, but not a third which I would have had if I had gone to 210K). Oh well, I had enough time to fit in my 50min run. Just in time!