Time for me to give the full account
- Swim, in a cold cold lake, started off well and got on to Brian Fullers feet who led the swim out, but dropped off after 400m or so, Gina and a few others came up beside and we swam the two laps together. I was glad there was someother athletes around as i made the mistake of wearing clear goggles and couldnt see much at all for the swim leg back into the sun.
- Onto the bike, and the first 40k section is a out and back, so it gives you the only chance in the ride to see where the competition is. At the turnaround Brian was extending his lead and I thought he must have really good legs or on a suicide mission, thankfully he slowed down later on. I rode to the 60k mark by myself and Richard Ussher and Pete V rolled up beside me. We continued together until the 140k mark when Richard split us all up and I finished the ride about 2min down with Pete a further 2min back. Unfortunately I made some errors at the aid stations and didnt get what I wanted and needed, which ended up costing me later on. Next race im taking extra supplies of everything. The legs felt good during the ride, much better than the year before.
-Run, after I had fumbled around in transition I got out into the run course. I tried to get as much coke down as soon as possible, but was feeling pretty bonky straight away so I knew it was going to be a long day. The ks came and went and after been in 2nd until the 30k mark, Justin Daerr came past in a reversal of last yr
I had nothing left in the tank and rolled to the finish with a 2.55 run. The finish line kids gave me a hell of a fright again, they run with ballons behind you for the last 200m or so, for a split second I thought there was someone passing me!, but I had a gap of 20 or so minutes to forth
So a much improved race from my last IM where Bella chicked me, and now I have IMNZ to look forward at the start of March.
Some photos of the day below

SWIM START

GUESS WHERE I RODE DOWN THIS ROAD

NEAR TURNAROUND IN TOWN

SUNBURN

ME RECOVERING FAST IN MY COMPRESSPORT GEAR