I finished my last race report with the words Trust the process and your time will come. That was at the conclusion of Ironman 70.3 Bolton where I qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupō, New Zealand. Well, this was my time!
I say ‘qualified’ in the loosest possible sense. The reality was that I took a roll down slot in 13th place. As I said in my last report, the dice just rolled in my favour. I’m not ashamed to say or embarrassed that I took a roll down slot and didn’t actually earn the ‘Q’ through a podium finish. If no one else wanted it I wasn’t going to give up the opportunity of a lifetime to compete in an Ironman World Championship event! On the other side of the world, in a place that you can only dream of visiting in a lifetime. My time had come!
2024 had been kind to me, I married my life partner and we needed a honeymoon location. I was able to retire from working after 40 years, so needed to do something to celebrate that milestone.
Where better than New Zealand. Really, where better? Lady M had previously said she wanted a normal holiday, one that didn’t involve a Triathlon. For this one, she made an exception.
New Zealand was an amazing experience, one I’ll never forget and one I’d like to repeat again in the future, you can only cover a fraction of the country in the one month we were there. I could go on and on about our experiences there but I am conscious that this report should be about the race experience, so here goes.
The 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupō, New Zealand, was an incredible experience from start to finish. Taupō, with its stunning lakefront and welcoming atmosphere, was a perfect venue for this world-class event. Ironman really know how to put on a show at their WC events, as some of you already know. The town’s breathtaking natural beauty and vibrant energy created the ideal backdrop for a challenging yet rewarding race day. The town with buzzing with athletes, spectators and in particular Motorhomes! Definitely the best way to travel and explore New Zealand.
I’d been following some pro athletes on Instagram whom had the benefit of being in Taupō some weeks before the event. The weather, although warm, had been a little unpredictable with some heavy rain showers and winds. The day before my race, the Ladies raced. It was hot, approaching 30*C. I’d wanted to be out on the course to support our team mate Remi Simpson, but as a result I ended up with sunburn and dehydration. Not the best pre-race preparation! On the day of my race the weather was warm, sitting at 28°C, which added an extra layer of complexity to the race. Staying hydrated and managing heat during the bike and run became crucial, but the stunning scenery around Lake Taupō kept spirits high and helped to take my mind of the intricacies of Triathlon racing.
The pro men went off at 7am. I wasn’t due to start until 8.29am. The swim leg, in the crystal-clear waters of Lake Taupō, was a fantastic start to the day. Official water temperature was 19*C. The water was calm and refreshing providing a great opportunity to find a rhythm early on. My plan was to swim with effort, not to over exert myself and enjoy the view of the lake. The Ironman rolling starts are very forgiving, I found my own water from the off. Even the first turn didn’t have the washing machine effect that can be experienced in races. After the first turn, I found some ‘feet’ moving at the same rhythm. I jumped on and enjoyed a tow right up to the last turn. The ‘feet’ helped me keep things together and not go too fast. They lasted until the last turn, I jumped off and swam past! Cheers mate! I exited the water in good shape, not too out of breath and started on the c.500m run into transition which included a steep uphill off the beach and road crossing over a temporary scaffold bridge. A quick exchange with Lady M gave me a boost before entry into transition.
Transition (T1 ramp; T2) was in a huge grassed area, with everything in the open, no tents. The heat from the sun could be felt as soon as I’d removed my wet suit. Apparently, New Zealand experiences high levels of Ultra Violet radiation due to its comparatively clean atmosphere and lack of pollution, making the rays from the sun more intense. As a result, sun screen is a must. After a not too shabby time in T1, I grabbed my trusty TT bike and then took advantage of the vats of sun lotion at transition exit, lathering myself around head and neck mostly to protect the sunburn I’d already acquired on the previous day. An immediate uphill out of T1 and a thumbs up to Lady M. Six miles out and already the pro men were nailing it back to T2!
Transitioning onto the bike, the course took us through the rolling terrain of the region. The scenery was epic. The North Island is much like the hills and peaks of Yorkshire, but with more sheep and a surprisingly large amount of cattle. The climbs were tough, lengthier than steep, but the support from the crowd along the way was incredible and gave me a boost when I needed it most. The people of Taupō and the surrounding area certainly embrace the event and welcome the influx of tourists to their towns. I’d anticipated it being windy, and it was. It helped to cool the heat from the tarmac, but hampered progress. Just when I thought I could make up some time on the straights, the wind was there to hold me back. It was akin to doing the ‘two bridges’ loop where it’s always a head wind! I overcooked it a little on the bike and had to dig deep in the last 10 miles. The heat of the sun on my back made it a desperate final few miles. I finished the bike with an average 19.2 mph, so not too shabby, but was relived to get back into transition.
The run was where the real test began. Billed as a flat course, it was nothing but! Continuous up or down slopes with a short flat section alongside Lake Taupō. The warmth of the day was in full force, touching 30*C by this point. I’d like to say that pacing was key and I had it under control, but with the heat taking it’s toll, my pacing was just based upon what I could do. I used the ‘aid station’ technique! Run between the stations, walk, recover, hydrate and fuel through the aid stations. At every 2.5km, it nicely broke down the run. Taupō’s lakeside run course offered spectacular views, and the cheers from spectators were electrifying. I was able to see Lady M at regular points as the course was multi laps, each time passing that luring red carpet finish area. Taupō was buzzing, the noise immense, I’ve never experienced a race quite like the experience in Taupō, it even topped the atmosphere in Tenby, and as a spectator, I’d even say Kona. Maybe it was just because I was racing
and therefore more emotional about it, but that’s how I found it.
I crossed the finish line feeling exhausted, nothing left in the tank. At the start of the race, I wished for two things – don’t embarrass yourself and please let Paul Kaye be the announcer shouting me over the line! I managed one of those! The race had been an effort, mainly due to the heat. My time almost matched the time I’d done when ‘qualifying’. I was way down the finishing list in my age group, but I was proud to have competed alongside such an outstanding field of athletes. This was my time, my once in a lifetime experience and I’m so pleased that I took that slot in Bolton.
A huge thank you goes to my wife, Lindsay, for her unwavering support throughout this journey. She was there cheering me on every step of the way and made this experience even more meaningful. Forever my no.1 supporter.
After the race, we spent three amazing weeks touring both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. From the geothermal wonders of Rotorua to the majestic fjords of Milford Sound, the trip was an unforgettable adventure that perfectly complemented the high of race day.
Competing in Taupō, at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, was truly a once-in-a-lifetime
experience, and New Zealand proved to be a dream destination for racing and exploring. This was more than just a race—it was a celebration of perseverance, support, the joy of discovering new places, but moreover the rolling of the dice!
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