I know it's a long shot, but are there any CRs apart from myself crossing 'the ditch' to do this race on March 7?

It is my first overseas race of any description, and I'm getting quite excited.

Also a bit worried about what the notorious NZ weather will dish up.

Muz

Good on you Muz, I’m heading over too, leave next Monday and can’t wait!
How’s the training going? Likewise not sure about the weather there but at least I won’t need to worry about it being too hot

Go get 'em Muzman

What she said

Have a great time over in NZ Muz. I look forward to reading your race report.

And good luck to Valium too.

Great to hear from you, Valium! We also fly out Monday.

I will be definitely wearing my CR cap on the run leg, and my Aussie Flag jersey on the bike, so look out for me.

Hopefully we can catch up in person somewhere. Going to the functions?

Muz

Good luck Muz and Valium. Hope the weather gods are nice to you this year.

Good luck. I have raced there 4 times. A great course, very cold in the mornings...take arm warmers for the bike...usually sunny tho once the fog burns off! Taupo water is extremely clear, plenty of fish, very clean...road is largely flat but granular surface, some false flats, and usually a head wind heading back to town from Reparoa on the second lap. Run flat with a few very small undulations...u will enjoy...if you can genuinely say that in an IM...

Heading over too, for the 2nd time (first was last year) - can't wait! Monday must be the day for flying - look for all the bike bags Air NZ for me - love the extra 10kg for the bike.

Muzman finished in 15:08. Not sure about Valium or shuffleupagus.

Tough day over there with Rain, Wind and Sunshine - sounds like Melbourne!!!

Great effort by Muzman, in his words "it was a tough day at the office for me, especially on the bike"

Looking forward to the race reports.

Cheers
Andrew

Pretty lousy weather in Taupo for the 25th IMNZ, although the day started out not too bad, with a fresh breeze and overcast. The lake temperature, however, was the coldest it had been all week. I had a pretty good swim (for me) staying out of trouble for most of the way (only a couple of guys swimming over the top of me) and managed a 1:25 (2 min over PB). The finish line never seemed to get any closer, and the run up to T1 is a long, steep 500m with stairs.

I spent a bit of time in T2 sorting out what I wanted to wear on the bike and decided to wear arm-warmers and pack a jacket in my jersey pocket. The sun was out so I took sunnies, but that changed soon enough as about 40km in it started to pour and blow into my face. When it stopped and I turned around I had a nice tailwind, and a steep downhill back into town after the 5 or 6 big hills on the main road, so I finished the first 90 kms in a bit over 3½ hours. I got a flat on the first lap, which I had trouble changing initially, but I got it sorted eventually.

The second lap was a lot tougher, with my back and butt hurting significantly, and having to stop regularly to stretch it out. I also lost my chain once, and the wind swung right round so I had a headwind coming back to town where I averaged only 20 km/h until the last big downhill through the CBD. 8:09 on the bike including two very slow transitions.

I was much happier on the run, except for the rickety bridge across the main road, which terrified me. I ran the whole first lap before I started to hurt a bit, and backed off, only walking the uphills and aid stations. The support in Taupo was fantastic, with locals and visitors alike cheering and calling everyone’s name. The atmosphere in town was something out of this world.

I managed to run the last 5km into town, and shed my long sleeved top that I was wearing against the cold, grabbed an Aussie flag and ran down the chute like an idiot, hearing Mike Reilly say, “Murray Verran, YOU ARE an Ironman!!” . I sure missed Iron Mike in Busselton. 5:20 marathon.

Total time 15:08:42.

Pretty tough day for a hacker like me, but very satisfying once I got off the bloody bike. I was SO looking forward to the run, and was more than happy with my swim after a poor swim preparation (by my standards).

Thanks to Ewoksta for his interest in my exploits, and special mention to Mrs Muzman, my life partner and Sherpa for the support, and baggage handling all week.

Next stop – Busselton ’09, but not before cheer squad duties in Port on Apr 5.

Muz

congrats Muz - one tough day by all accounts. Great to hear about the swim PB!

Sorry I haven't been able to follow this race as closely as I would have liked - a few pressing issues in the miner-household in recent weeks. But looking forward to seeing you here in Port in April!

Well done Muzman, sounds like it was a tough day but you did a great job soldiering on and finished strongly. Gotta be happy with that. Might see you in Busso.

Great work Muz.
Given the testing conditions, you did awesome and thoroughly deserved to hear Iron Mike call you across the line.

Looking forward to seeing you at Port for some cheering duties

Congratulations Muz on a fantastic result under what sounds like difficult circumstances

Looking forward to catching up with you in Port!

Well done Muzman! Sounds like a gutsy effort. You are indeed an Ironman!! Great stuff.

Well done Muz, sounds like a tough day at the office.

Wow, what a race. Haven’t done an IM for more than 5 years and after giving myself a block of 14 weeks to prepare, I felt I was ready. More than that timeframe training, I start to lose interest so I’d rather go hard for a short period and if I get injured so be it.

My ultimate goal was to go under 11 hours. I knew my swimming was worse than ever (for some reason, I seem to have got slower so need to sort out technique) but figured it was just a warm up for the bike and run and I would just have to get through it. Which I did, slowly, in a personal worst of 1.12!

Onto the bike, felt good and only problem initially was making my way through people and trying to get into a rhythm, my rhythm! First lap flew by and second lap was when everything seemed uncomfortable and I remember a guy passing me and saying this would be a good time for a neck massage, ah if only!! Hit a dead patch about 160km when nothing seemed to work and just couldn’t seem to get legs working but got through that and came into T2 in 5.47.

Legs like jelly as I got off the bike and put my Garmin on in T2 to help me start the run slower but headed out on 4.30min kms pace and couldn’t seem to slow down. I knew I would pay for this, and I did on the 2nd lap. First 21km in around 1.47 then 2nd lap was a case of survival and having to walk through the aids stations. Had lost track of time and then realised that if I got a move on I could actually make my goal of sub 11hours. Run time 3.46 and finished in 10.57, a very happy bunny!!

Now for that next goal…….

Well done Valium. I'd be more than happy with any of those split times.
Enjoy your recovery time

Sensational result Valium - congratulations!

Great race Valium- sensational time! Sorry I didn't catch you over there. I looked for CR caps but i think mine was the only one there!

Thanks to everyone for their kind words - it was a tough day for me and a world of pain, but I made it. Now focused on Syd Marathon in Sept before heading back to Busso.

Will be at Port Mac on cheersquad duty, though!

Muz

Muzman and Valium

Awesoem race reports.

well done to you both.

Ill see you all for the IMOZ cheer squad

Thanks RD!


I am SO there - with my cowbell.

M