Walking: Breakfast, a nice walk, lots of water for Craig Barrett

By EUGENE BINGHAM

Craig Barrett's morning began with breakfast at 4:45 am.

By 8 am (Sydney time ) he will edge his toes up to the start line of one tough Olympic race.

And when he thinks of the thirst that has been his downfall before he will know he is in expert hands.

Athletics team coach Steve Hollings and manager Ken Simpson have been practising their vital role of handing drinks to Barrett as he loops the 50km walk circuit.

"Steve went out training with him during a 36k walk the other day just to get the drinks routine right," Simpson said yesterday.

"The drinks are calculated out right down to the last drop."

Barrett knows better than anyone the importance of fluid intake during the gruelling event in which he has an outside chance of a medal.

Nobody needs to remind him of his horror finish at the Commonwealth Games two years ago when he collapsed from dehydration.

He has learned a lot since then.

This year, he embarked on radical changes to his training under the guidance of new coach Kui Wang, the former head coach of the Chinese walking team.

Under Wang's advice, Barrett has not competed over the distance this year. The most recent guide to his form was at the world championships in Spain last year where he finished 8th.

The 28-year-old also came 13th in last year's World Walking Cup.

After dramatic disqualifications of Australian Jane Saville and Mexican Bernardo Segura for loss of continual contact with the ground during the women's and men's 20km walks, Barrett is more aware than ever of the dangers of slipping up at the Olympics.

He and Wang have been rigorous, making sure he maintains the pace without compromising technique.

"There are really no excuses for being disqualified because you get so many warnings," Barrett said.

He was aware that the pace would be on, with a top field assembled.

Atlanta gold medallist Robert Korzeniowski of Poland is back and has shown good form, as have two former world champions Jesus Angel Garcia of Spain and Valentin Kononen of Finland.

The Russians have the strongest team, including current holder of the world best time, Valeriy Spytsyn, who clocked 3hr 37min in May.

But Barrett is ready, says Simpson.

"He's raring to go. He has been very happy with his training here and has been in daily contact with his coach [who has stayed out of the village.]"

If his day goes to plan, Barrett will finish with New Zealand's second 50km walk gold medal, repeating Norm Read's 1956 victory in Melbourne.