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9:45am, Sunday March 4
It's the morning after the day before and there's still a buzz around Taupo as the Ironman athletes proudly sport their Ironman finisher's t-sheets and fill up on much needed fuel – the cafes are doing a roaring trade in big breakfasts.
As I mentioned yesterday, the real Ironman stories are made well after the elite athletes are tucked up in bed. As the sun went down over Lake Taupo the silhouettes moved as a rush of runners on the marathon trailed to a trickle as the hours ticked by. One of the big things to look forward to for these age-group athletes is getting their glow stick. Despite the fact that they're edging towards that all important 17 hour cut-off mark they get very inventive in how to wear the glow stick. Some sported glowing halos not dissimilar to a the Statue of Liberty, others carried them proudly like an Olympic flame, but they all moved slowly towards the finish line, some never made it.
But for those who did, it was party time! Veteran Ironman commentator Mike Riley has tremendous stamina, he was there before most of the athletes donned their wet suits and he was still there when the last, weary athlete staggered home, all the time whipping the crowd into a frenzy as yet another exhausted body came to life as they entered the Ironman shute. It really was a privilege to be able to stand at the finish line and watch humanity in action. There were tears, there was laughter, there were collapses and proposals of marriage, but in the hours since Cameron Brown fell to the ground some eight and a half hours earlier every human emotion passed under the ticking clock.
And those stories, well, one guy sat hunched over at the media stand after pulling out on the run with foot problems which were exacerbated by the fact that his partner, a former Kona qualifier was now well over two hours behind her expected arrival time – she eventually turned up and was taken in to the medical tent, not a good day for them. But his parting words to my colleague, a self-confessed Ironman nut was, "See you in WA in December!". Then there was the couple who half way down the finishing shute piggy-back to the finish line, the crowd went wild! Couples were definitely in this year, I spotted at least three proposals! And what about the athlete who pre-race had decided that elite athlete Hillary Biscay was to be his future wife, well, as in all romances the course of true love never runs smoothly. Hillary finished at least three hours before him – better luck next year mate!
So that's it until next year, several hundred Ironman virgins are no more, many athletes are already planning their next race and this morning the glow of success and the pride in their achievements is in abundance.
7.00pm, Saturday March 3
So there we have it, a double win for the Kiwi Ironman favourites Jo Lawn and Cameron Brown and just over 12 hours of my first Ironman experience. You can't help but wonder what goes through the mind of the elite athletes with their faces edged in pain and their every fibre pumping away to push to even further depths of endurance. Whilst the victory is truly sweet as they run down the finishing shute showered with streamers, crowd cheering wildly and family waiting anxiously, the aftermath is often not so pretty.
The air of excitement soon changes to one of concern as Cameron Brown, Ironman collapses on the ground, and despite having his kids all over him doesn't seem to have an ounce of energy left to give them the hug they want from dad. Jo Lawn manages to look like she's just finished a stroll in the park and performs once more for the crowd, although what most can't see, is that veteran Ironman commentator Mike Riley has a very firm hand around Jo's waist, holding her in position like a ventriloquists dummy – minutes later Jo's also carried off to the medical tent.
And then there's the real athletes – the age-groupers. The crowds are still out on the streets of Taupo cheering their loved ones, some only just making it through the bike cut-off time of 5.30pm. Most are now on the final stretch, the marathon, but cruelly on the double lap course find themselves circling the finishing shute before heading out once again on State Highway One for the final 20 kilometers. The real Ironman stories are made once the pros have gone. Out on the course will be 61 year old Sharyn Holmes who after competing in Ironman competitions for 11 years recently won her place to Kona, but even with that prize under her belt last night was predicting she might not finish. Her mate Miriam a mere strippling in the 55 – 59 age group will no doubt be donning her winter woollies, "it's real cold here in New Zealand" she said, I'll be wrapped up warm on my final leg, around 11pm. And so the stories unfold – apparently, however, competitive you might be, some even consider going slow because coming in late in the day at Ironman is just fantastic – I'll let you know in a few hours.
7.30am, Saturday March 3
The New Zealand Ironman is well underway now with the elite swimmers already approaching the first transition area.
It was a frantic start to the morning with athletes anxiously preparing their bikes then rushing down to the start line to get a good position. However, this atmosphere then changed to one of calmness and excitement as everyone anticipated the start. With helicopters circling above, a waka crossed the swimmers path signalling the start was near. And with a huge boom from the cannon the calm Lake Taupo turned into a raging sea of white as the race got underway.
8:30pm, Friday March 2
Ironman has definitely arrived in Taupo. The lakeside city is buzzing with ironman fever as the remaining athletes and supporters arrived in town today. Homemade placards with individual messages for participants line the main road, every second car you see has a bike rack and all across the city people with pink wrist bands try to ease the nerves by getting in some last-minute training.
Talking to some of the competitors you hear some really hard case stories. One guy, who shall remain nameless, froths at the armpits when he runs - very appealing. Let's hope that doesn't happen to another person I spoke with who plans to keep up with the extremely attractive American pro Hillary Biscay for the entire race. Biscay completed six ironman races last year and finished in the top five of every one of them, so something tells me this "Ironman virgin" won't have a problem.
Much has been made of last year's race which was severely reduced because of poor weather conditions. Many were left disappointed after organisers had to cancel the swim and halve the bike leg but despite some early morning showers today the weather has been good and is forecast to be fine for tomorrow, so fingers crossed.
With the weather fine, the city amped and the athletes raring to go all is set for a classic New Zealand Ironman. To any competitors reading, good luck - you will definitely need it - and I'll see you at the finish line.
10.50pm, Thursday March 1
About 1000 people packed into the Taupo events centre for the Carbo Loading Party to cram in as much bread, pasta and potatoes before Saturday's big race.
With much of the discussion on my table focusing on how many Ironman races people have competed in or how nervous people are before their first race, I can't help but feel slightly embarrassed when I reply, after devouring a mouthful of free food, that I'm not here to compete - especially after discovering there are three people aged 70 who are racing on Saturday.
My first impression of the Ironman is that you must have to be slightly mad to want to swim 3.8km, cycle 180km and run 42km all in one day. So you can probably imagine my reaction when Mike Ramsey and Tony Jackson are honoured for competing in every single New Zealand Ironman that has been raced. That's 22 in all and both make no mention of stopping any time soon.
However, from the "Ironman virgins" to the Elite Pros, you have to admire the ability of these people to put themselves through immense pain and come out the other side, all to become a part of the exclusive Ironman club.
Aided by the humour of veteran commentator Mike Riley, who is hosting the party, the room is relatively calm - surprising, considering what these people are about to go through. But attention is then drawn to the big screens, where an introductory video describes the clamour of the start, despair of the middle stages and ecstacy of finishing, which has everyone on edge waiting for Saturday to arrive.
And with the comfort of knowing I'm not competing - I can't wait.
