Auckland: Triathletes' heaven

After a very long and uncomfortable cattle class flight, a multitude of plastic meals and rom coms, my teammate and support crew (boyfriend) arrived in NZ via noodles and ginger tea in Hong Kong, and were greeted by high winds, bursts of sunshine and frequent downpours on a beautiful city skyline and harbour of Auckland. 

Auckland before the ITU world champs is a glimpse into the future if triathletes were to rule;
Road signs indicating 'cyclists in training', fancy TT bikes filling every road and junction, runners pounding the shopping street pavements and relaxing in their Lycra outside street side coffee shops. It's an amazing atmosphere and it's the norm to chat to complete strangers about whether or not to use disc wheels, where to get the best muesli or how cold the sea will be at any junction or cafe you hang out in. The blue transition carpet is down, the stands are built and everyone is parading around in their national colours. I now regret only investing in a tri suit...

Despite our upside down body clocks, we quickly got back into training and I welcomed back that lovely 5.30am alarm. A silver wristband granted us access to lovely local outside pools and we started regular recces of the hilly/seaside cycle (fighting 50 knot winds) and industrial harbour run course, making us all more prepared (and filled with more nervous anticipation) than ever before. Yesterday was the swim course familiarisation, mainly very salty and buoyant, but goofing around with your team mates and stopping to chat around the harbour loop is far from race day s&@t fight it will be. 

After a car park transition practise tonight (with complete kit including swim hat, goggles and 'mock' wetsuit), it's the final stages of preparation- checking the weather forecast, eating loads of carbs, saturating my body with water, sleeping, raising my legs and checking the forecast again. We have been briefed, photographed and paraded around the city, racking tomorrow and spending the next 2 days getting inspired by the ridiculously fast talents of the elite men, women and juniors which all us age groupers desire to be. So, here it is, after 32 weeks of training, it all boils down to 2 hours and (around) 25 minutes. I am excited, nervous but most of all I want to make my boyfriend, family, friends and coaches proud.