Training Log Archive: Vaala

From Arrowtown along the river with Michael. Both feeling absolutely shattered so we didn't get very far before turning back. Good timing though 'cause then it started to rain! Wrist was very sore :-(

Quite epic especially since I was feeling pretty crappy for so much of the race. Horrible wetsuit run then rather exciting raft where there was at least 1 flip behind us in the final rapid and we had to turn around to see if they needed rescuing (and apparently a few raft guides fell out as well which is rather amusing...as it wasn't us). A pretty slow transition as Neroli got stuck in her wetsuit and we had to enlist help to get her out then basically a run along a trail to the next transition. The boys got us out pretty quick and then it was off to go for a slippery ride in the mud. Emily had a few amusing skids but thankfully I had my nobby nicks on so I was pretty good! But then on the massive climb up Coal Pit Road I was dying really bad. Got a bit of a tow but mostly it was just one hell of a slog with Emily and Neroli carrying most of my gear! So good to see the guys at the saddle cheering us on. Then it was a hair raising descent down to TA2. The "rogaine" went pretty well (we couldn't find the control descriptions - which turned out to be on the clip card all along!) but Neroli's knee was getting bad so the descents were very slow. Then it was an easier ride back up to the saddle and down the road again but my wrist and whole arm was pretty over it by then. Had to stop a few times going down to let it settle down. The final trek was rough as I had been struggling to eat on the previous stuff so nearing the top of the climb I was almost on hands and knees. Another slow descent in the dark but we managed a limping jog! So good to get to the finish. Our mega-sized support crew were awesome. You know it's Spring Challenge when you have a whole group of guys waiting on you hand and foot!

The long slog to Queenstown.

I don't remember doing anything (other than racing round on errands)...?

Whizzing round on Mary Poppins at Bottle Lake putting out controls for NightNav. Those walking tracks make the best mtb tracks!

Bringing in controls in the dark. Good fun!

With Michael up Major Aiken and Huntsbury (with a fun little downhill diversion!) then along the road and down Rapaki. Bumped into Tim heading up so we had a nice little chat before continuing into the cold. Noticing I am slowly feeling more at home on the bike again (well, when it's easy riding anyway).