Oct 26, 2020
Epic Camp — Length of South Island — Day Three
Run: 500m Handicap Elimination based on 5km Time Trial race effort, with minimum of 8km
Swim: 50m Handicap Elimination based on 400m Time Trial race effort
Bike: Westport to Greymouth 112km, past scenic Punakaiki (Pancake) Rocks
5am rise for 6am run racing. Knew in warm-up it wasn’t going to happen with Glute/Ham strain as couldn’t do stride accelerations, and pace was over 50% slower than target. Sure enough, only passed one, so in last three and eliminated on first 500m. Continued on running up and down “race track” on quiet road watching the action/eliminations, and completed minimum of 8km. However, there was a sign perhaps I am not meant to run any more on this camp as my left shoe delaminated with the toe coming detached and folding back under my foot becoming a tripping hazard on three occasions. Maybe I’m walking from now on.
8am swim elimination on 6th repetition, thinking I saw one behind me, but apparently not as photo finish on the touch, which I mistakenly took leisurely having been lured into a false sense of security and not swimming hard to the wall. WarmUp 200m, Racing 300m, CoolDown 250m.
Pack bags, quick breakfast with a second piece of Vogel’s toast with butter and nut butter that I shouldn’t have had, just like yesterday, so will learn and won’t tomorrow.
10am bike, telling legs to wake up for the first 20 minutes, with cross wind, and rain getting heavier, that was forecast at 12mm per hour 10–11am (which is an inch in two hours), so although I thought I was being smart in putting plastic bags between my cycling shoes and outer booties, as everything got wet to the skin yesterday, that didn’t work either as rain just ran down my legs into my shoes and socks in the first half hour. Next time I will also pull my rain jacket over my gloves so rain doesn’t run off into my gloves, but that would only delay the inevitable in conditions like today. Limited visibility meant views of the coast less than desired, and thick cloud meant bike computer didn’t record ascent fully, apart from the fact the battery on my power meter was flat from the outset. Great to pass through Charleston enroute Punakaiki (Aid Station 67km) and then Barrytown being the origin of my Best Man’s Whanau, Strongman Mine Memorial, and Runanga.
We made good time for the 45km from Punakaiki, often 40–45km/h and some 50km/h which made the rain on the face feel a lot harder than high pressure shower heads. The rain was heavy with water flowing across the road surface, rivers in full flow, and so many waterfalls beside the road I lost count.
Dropped my chain twice on the outer, shifting from small chain ring to big, and second time bent a link so chain was slipping on cogs approaching Greymouth.
Didn’t need any hydration, as there was plenty of water coming from the sky to drink. Only nutrition one tube of Pic’s peanut butter (30g) at aid station in Punakaiki. Tight fitting shorts kept everything in place, and chamois cream meant no further deterioration downstairs, and likely improvement, which is most appreciated as experience from France is it can develop to the point you cannot sit on your saddle.
Tacked on 8km to 120km for an extra point.
Pleased to get into a hot shower. Yesterday discovered another use for a hairdryer — direct into opening of wet gloves to dry rapidly.
