| Todays Tri Update is courtesy of Manukau Croc (formerly blond now Mr Chrome Dome) Shane Hooks.
For those who have not yet had the chance to explore the new Air New Zealand Ironman Taupo course this story provides very interesting
reading. Thanks Shane for the time you took to write this up
Here is a rather lengthy review of a recent training weekend undertaken by members of the Manukau Croc's Triathlon club on the new Ironman course in Taupo. A rather interesting collection of triathletes turned up in Taupo the weekend before Christmas to experience the new Ironman course. We had a German who has been in New Zealand for the last month, 17 time Ironman finisher Karen Williams, a dairy farmer from Pokeno, two members of the new Clydesdale division and three or four other triathletes that actually looked like triathletes. We started with dinner at Pizza Hutt on the Friday night. The food is definitely not recommended. Here, this was the first opportunity for everyone to meet each other and decide our plans for training. Early start Saturday morning saw the wind reasonably brisk, blowing a North easterly. We started with a 30-minute swim over to the hole in one pontoon and back to the Yacht club. The swim is an absolute gem. The water would have been 15 feet deep but was crystal clear. You could make out the ripples in the sand below you. I cannot remember ever swimming in such crystal clear water. Clearer even than the water in Hawaii. The water was as smooth as swimming in a pool. Even with the wind, the swim was sheltered and had no effect on the water. The water was cold though. Not freezing, more fresh than anything. Basically, the minute you hit the water, you start swimming. A couple of the group wore to swim caps and found this beneficial. In terms of buoyancy or the supposed lack of buoyancy, nobody in our group noticed it. I can honestly say it was the most enjoyable swimming conditions I have experienced. Being a Kiwi, we are used to swimming in the sea. The fact that you are not swimming in salt water I think is a huge bonus because the fresh water just feels nicer to swim in. The fact that you will be able to swim in a dead straight line for 1500 metres is also a huge bonus in that you will not get the crap kicked out of you as you navigate your way around buoys. Not to mention, also that navigation will be heaps easier to swim straight because you are so close to shore and I am reliably informed that you will be able to see plenty of buoys the whole way along. Expect good conditions for the swim. From there, it was of for breakfast followed by a complete 180 km ride over the complete course. Around Half the group only went half way [I wish I had!]. Here is my impression of the course. Out of transition, you fly for about 3 km. The road surface is dead smooth and slightly down hill. You turn away from the lake for a nasty little climb no more than 500 meters. You turn left and wiggle your way mainly up hill through houses and some factories before you clear the built up areas of Taupo. All mainly up hill, nothing particularly harsh. To be honest, we didn't notice we were climbing. We turn back on ourselves and have a small down hill before turning right and then right again and at this point onwards there is nothing but countryside. As stated earlier, we had a tail wind right through this section. Logic would suggest that we would get a tail wind all the way out to the turnaround. It was not to be. Once we had cleared town, we were on to the fastest section of the course. And I mean fast. We flew for about 10 km it seemed always down hill with a big tail wind behind you. Once this section ended, the course was basically flat all the way out to the turnaround. We would be lucky if the last 25 km would have had any elevation variation bigger than 10 meters. Problem was though, for some reason, these 25 km were into a head wind. So, a bit like Hawaii, we experienced both tail and head winds in the same direction. The road surface, by New Zealand standards was superb. The road is wide, plenty of run off on either side and the traffic volume was extremely light. Except for the logging trucks. My God, when a logging truck comes past you in the opposite direction, hang on. I have never experienced such a gush of wind. Don't ride on your bars when these things are heading towards you. It felt like they were trying to suck you into them. Don't worry, there won't be any logging trucks on race day. But in training, remember, we do ride through a forest and that is why you need to be careful when the trucks go by. No problems navigating your way around the course, marking were clear on the road, we had no problems at all. Upon reaching the turnaround, we then had 25 km of tail wind on the flattest part of the course. We flew. The wind turned to a head wind for the, well you can't really call it a climb, but for the next seven km you gently ascend followed by the only decent climb of the course which lasts for around 3 km. Into a head wind, this was an honest climb. This completed, is the long descent back into Taupo. We rode the first lap in around three hours and five minutes to around three hours 15 minutes. We stopped in Taupo for some food and fuel and five of us headed of for the second lap. It was around 22 degrees, definitely sunblock material. Wind conditions remained the same for the second lap as for the first. Me personally, I had the worst bonk I have experienced in years with about 40 km to go. It was huge. I have a lot more respect for this course now. 180 km is still 180 km, regardless of whether it is flat, hilly or down hill. The fact that you have to do a lot more peddling on this course means that those that try and go out and smash the course may be in for a very unpleasant surprise. One thing is for certain. I will make sure that my bike setup is spot on. Over this distance, the correct setup is crucial. My tip for the course. Respect it and save yourself for the last 45 km. Chances are you will have a head wind and a bit of a hill to finish. In training, there is very little chance of getting water or drink on the course. I suggest carrying at least three bottles for each lap. I understand a sympathetic farmer will be supplying drink at is gate. Keep an eye on your iron filings. Dinner on Saturday evening was superb and everyone was in good spirits. Sunday morning started again with a swim with a compulsory golf ball to be collected and returned to the finish. This was followed by a one-lap run of the course. Sadly, the course was not marked, I understand it is now though and we got a little bit lost. We certainly got a feel for the course though. First surprise. The run course is not flat. You start with a nice gentle section and then you reach the rolling section. The hills are very short and gentle and the best description is of gentle undulations with some very short sharp hills thrown in. There is one long uphill just after the first turnaround, just by the airport. Again, there are not a lot of opportunities to get water and fuel on the run course. Be prepared to carry some form of liquid with you. Me personally, I don't like running, never have but I quite liked this course. I think it is way superior to the old run along the water in Auckland. Following the run we all sat down to a huge breakfast of pancakes and blueberries. I could not think of a better way to spend a weekend. If anyone, especially those from overseas would like to know more, give me an email and I will happily answer any questions. Our next training weekend is Friday the 29th of January. If you would like to join us, please feel free. We would love to have you along. What better way to learn the course and meet new friends at the same time.
Shane Hooks. |