December 15, 2024, Taupo, NZ: Wow. What a day. This is a race report of my 5th World Championship, my 2nd 70.3WC after St. George, Utah. Today in Taupo, New Zealand on the north island, I completed what I may consider my best ever 70.3. Here we go.

3:45am alarm. Timing chip on, USA Tri Kit on, HR monitor on. Shorts and a top over that. I had 2 pieces of multigrain bread with fake butter (not my first choice but we had a bunch leftover), a banana, and regular RedBull, the first of 629mg of caffeine during the race (6.5 cups of coffee). I grabbed my stuff and we left at 4:15am and 3 minutes from the house going through my mental checklist “shit, where is my Garmin?” It’s really the Wahoo Bolt which is far better than Garmin. We drove back and there it was on the floor tucked right next to my suitcase. Mum let me back in, she wasn’t feeling good so bowed out. We headed back out for the 50min drive north to Taupo. I finished my 2nd RedBull enroute and was amazed by the full orange moon over the lake hugging the curvy road on this pristine lake. I love this country. After checking in my bags the day before, parking lot empty, and shuttle service terrible, we parked on a street within minutes of transition, definitely the way to go.

I pumped up my tires to 80PSI in the front that had sealent and was tubeless, and 100 in the rear disc that had a tube. It’s a love hate for me but mostly hate for tubeless right now. I put in my 3 bottles: all 3 had Maurten 320cal and 2 had 100mg of Caffeine. I also had LMNT with 1G salt, Immortal Extra salty in Berry and Margarita both with 1G salt. I had four 100cal Maurten gels but only had 2 on the bike; I passed every aid station, not slowing down. I also turned on my Bolt on top of my Argon 18 E119 Tri+. And shoutout to my old program at Raytheon named after my bike Argon18 🙂

Fiona and I walked the mile to the swim start and Fi got a coffee. She loves coffee. I hate it with a passion. We stood on the knoll overlooking the pro men warming up and the swim start. We were unable to see the Maori ceremonial blessing but we saw them come in on the traditional boat (Waka). I walked around the other side to watch and Fiona secured her spot. I finished off a package of Powerbar gel blasts with 75g caffeine 175 calories. Around 725 calories so far.

A goodbye thank you and kiss, off to battle. I checked my gear in, went into the holding pen and moved my arms to get the arms loose. I had a 100 cal Maurten Gel with 20min to go. I also tested my Garmin in triathlon mode and tried to discard the activity. It kept spinning for several minutes and I was worried trying to reset but it finally went to normal mode.  We cheered on the pro men, got pumped and I was able to wave to Fi on the knoll. I seeded myself maybe half way back of the 443 large M40-44 A/G. And we were going off in groups of 8 every 10 seconds I think it was. Then it was my time.

Swim 1.9M, 29:29, 88 A/G, 789 Overall, 68F, 4th fastest 70.3 swim.
I started in 2nd lane to the left since turns were left and people were losing a lot of time going far to the right. Bouys were amazingly marked and every 100meters, switching color at the 1KM. I used a sailboat to sight since at first since I couldn’t see the bouys, and I was already passing a lot of people. Gamin says 1,877 meters so I had great lines and sighted great. At the 300m turn I saw 4:34. Right on 1:31/100m pace and where I expected to be around. I had gone 3x100m without wetsuit in a 30minute swim the day before in Turangi at 1:28/100m so slowing down 3sec/100m in a wetsuit with no flip turns and waves made sense. It was wavy walking to the start but nothing like Ironman New Zealand 2017 where the Legend Cam Brown said it was the worst swim he ever had. That race had huge swells and our friend Duncan puked twice during the crazy waves. At 600m I saw 9:04 so I was still on the 1:31 pace. The water crystal clear, bottom visble up to 80′ below (of the Volcanic Caldera created only 26,500 years ago and last blew 1,800 years ago) and I continued passing people the whole time wondering if this was a World Championship race.

With 400m to go my sub 29min goal was in reach but it would depend on the distance and getting out of the water. I swam all the way till my hands touched the sand, up, and out. Just over my goal but my 4th fastest of 70.3 swims over 15 years. I attribute it to working on technique, being consistent with 3-4 swims per week and recently finding the cadence had a dramatic impact on my speed. I had a high turnover of 35SPM which was 4SPM higher than my 1.9K test in a 25m pool in 30:58 without aids 2 weeks ago.

I was slower than St George by 16 seconds but I am now consistently a sub 30minute swimmer with seconds faster in cold water 63F water in St George and salty Santa Cruz but 68F in Taupo.

Transition 5:23, 125′ Ascend, 71F Air
Always long ones in Taupo and climbing out of the lake. Today it was 0.43miles long. I skipped the wetsuit strippers, didn’t walk one step up the climb, and coming down the ramp saw wifey 🙂 I sat and pulled wetsuit down which I should have done standing up. I put helmet on, glasses on (which the official had to put in during the morning check-in) and then grabbed my cleates and ran to my bike. I dont have the skill anymore to mount bike with cleates on bike and its safer. But in 2012 Ironman 70.3 New Zealand, the soaked grounds clumped in my cleates and I had to stop 500m into the bike to pull out chunks of earth because I couldnt clip in. It was dry but still a risk. Bike run, mount and missed seeing fi but she got these great shits. Thanks Fiona! Press lap on the watch and start to the Bolt.

Bike 56miles. 2:24:56, 23.2MPH, 2,051′ Ascend, 55.8m, 172TSS, 85%IF, 129HR Avg, 263NP, 251avg, 1.05VI, 52/48 Power distro, 63F avg, 5th fastest 70.3 bike.
The exit is on a hill and you climb this out of town. I tried to keep it under 300watts for this piece with goal of 270-280 for the ride. I looked over at the volcanic thermal vents but didnt see the steam like 2017. I held 288 NP watts the first 12minutes to the top of this hill, right on target.

Once past the raceway I knew the course from 2012 and 2017, it felt good to be back. The bike was very green, quite hilly with some steep descents hitting 49.0MPH which I rode with one hand aero and 1 hand on the break that I wish I had remained aero for. I again was passing tons of people with no one passing me. Again, is this a World Championship? What is going on here? Having done Kona 2016, 2019, and St George 2022, this didn’t make sense; whatever. I went though 24miles in 1 hour flat but didn’t know what to expect because I didn’t drive the course or pay too much to the guide. I felt like it was a false flat half the time. I also didn’t know how close to the 270-280 goal I could hit.

At times there were groups of 10-20 that I picked off thanks to my massive 56-10 gearing but at 1hr15min into the ride, I came up on someone that was clearly cheating, sucking wheel. I was going to yell “You’re Drafting” I made moves here and then he came right back. There was a moto near and I was cautious not to get suckered here. After a quick turn the ass made the move with the group and sucked more wheel. The moto comes up and I see him hit his timer. “This is going to be awesome, screw this guy!” Bingo. Of course the dick then complained and tried to argue. I passed and that was the last I saw of him! Next up was a guy coming out of the penalty tent who then decided to pass me in a nonpassing zone. The last penalty tent was filled. Awesome.

I drank all 3 bottles, had the 2 gels, but power did weaken over the 2nd half. (279NP, 90%IF, 132HR goal first half, 246NP, 79%IF, 126HR the second half). I didnt feel bad at any time, the caffiene and salt did their job but of course the legs were feeling it and I hadnt trained to sustain my taget watts for 2hr20min. The roads are notoriously rough in NZ and I did my best. My left cockpit handlebar was slipping a little bit, not thoroughly secured but it held up and the right part was secured. HR was also good and able to maintain. The back half was more consistent with less passing due to me slowing down by 12%. Had I hung on to that power for a little bit longer I could have made up 30spots in my placing.

The hills coming back in town were slow but not as bad as I remember with little headwind. Back in 2017 I did a Strava Segment coming into town: I was 2 watts slower than 7 years ago but went 5:20 Faster over 3.8miles. On another segment, I was 16watts lower than 2017 but went 9:11 Faster in 70.3 over 12.9miles!! I came down the final hill with feet on shoes coming to a full stop and dismounting for safety. Because in IMAZ’22  twisted the cleat amd crashed right iver the gandlebars at the dismount line, NOT saving the 5 seconds by running off the bike.

T2 2:34

I handed off my bike to one of the 3,000 volunteers from a town of 25,000. I grabbed my run bag and put on my camelpak waist belt. I think I was the only one wearing one but i had another Maurten 320 with 100mg caffeine and 1G salt of LMNT. I cant get enough fluids in at the aid stations and at 183 pounds, I am big compared to those at the front. I put 70.3WC St George visor on to keep head cool and pour water on head, sunglasses now, and my $250 Hoka Carbon Fiber plate shoes Cielo X . I slipped my run belt strap over my head. Pack gear in bag, hand off to another volunteer. Run out, lap watch for the run.

Run 13.1mile half marathon 1:38:10, 13.11m, 7:28/mile, 134HR, 146Max, 1700 calories, 174 cadence, 416′ 5th fastest 70.3 run

I had no idea what to expect but wanted sub 1:40. The first mile in 7:04 felt effortless and I kept knocking off miles quickly. I wasn’t going to slow my pace, just go with it, this was only a half; I shouldn’t blow up too badly. 7:04, 7:26, 7:19, 7:22, 7:27, 7:30, 7:37, 7:35, 7:28, 7:34, 7:37, 7:40, 7:38. HR was also solid with goal of 133-135: 131, 132, 131, 133, 133, 134, 132, 132, 134, 136, 135, 136, 137, 145. The HR definitely climbed in the 2nd half and pace slowed so I definitely have some decoupling there which could be due to the heat, the toll of the day, and not being fit at this pace. It was the 2nd fastest half marathon this year and I didnt walk a single step till kissing Fiona in the finishers shoot.

The highlights were seeing Fiona multiple times on the run and once knowing I was NOT going to break 4:40 snagged a kiss. I guess we’ll never know if it was closer.

Another highlight was coming out of T2 onto the run. I felt like I was on Alii Drive in Kona. The road was packed with runners and fans. It was amazing. On the way out I saw the pros running in and saw Harry Palmer who I met the other day, Braden Currie, and others. Also on the run on the first loop I saw the legend and 12X IMNZ winner Cam Brown. I said Hey Cam! And he responded and waved 🙂 I once was emailing him to try and come to Alice Springs, Australia where I lived 2011-2017.

I nearly finished my bottle and had another Maurten caffeine 100 half way through. I had little water, other than my bottle which could also be why I slowed down. I put a lot of ice down my chest, water on the head and had a lot of Go USA cheers. The athletes were very quite. We are all Type A in a world championship; whatever. I got burnt. High UV in NZ.

I ran 2:49 faster than St George on a hillier course in 2022. But this was the fastest run for me since my 1:34 at 70.3 Arizona in 2017, 7 years ago!

4:40:19, 121/443 M40-44 A/G, 800/3,086 Overall, I went 6:22 faster than St George, 4th fastest 70.3

I was so happy with my times when I finished and super stoked to have such a great day. Probably because I love this country so much and cant wait to retire here in 20 years. Turangi was incredible and defintely a place to consider. This place is just unreal and this trip made me fall in love with it pushing Italy to 2nd and taking my favourite country award. I always loved NZ with a massive tattoo of the flag and country outline on my calf but now my 6th time here and currently a Permanent Resident of Australia, I look forward to Fiona and I easily choosing NZ in the future.

We headed back after sausage rolls, meat pies, chocolate milk, pizza, and coke in the recovery tent. I brought some chips (french fries) for Fiona, her favourite.

Run 9.85 Miles, 1:40:06, 10:10/mile, 114HR, 623′ climb
Back at home we quickly went to the lake for Fiona to go knee deep and mum to have a swim around. I picked up more of the volcanic pumas dotted all around the beach. Then, we went for a run….

I had a RedBull and a bottle of Maurten with LMNT salt. We headed out on the trails we had been running that Fiona did 3 hours on the other day. I was dying to run this trail along the Tangariro River and it was so worth the pain which turned in to a run walk after 4 miles.

Next Up: 2 more nights in NZ, 2 weeks in Adelaide, Stawell, Lorne, Melbourne seeing family friends and connecting with Raytheon Australia.

Then we have the Buckeye Marathon Jan 11 in Phoenix, Arizona Marathon 51 where I will attempt a BQ and marathon PB sub 3:03. The day after my 41st birthday February 8th in Mesa, Arizona marathon 52 where I will pace Fiona to a BQ 3:25

2025 will also see me at Musselman 70.3 in NYS, and T100 Las Vegas. Otherwise back to the books to become a CPA. Stay tun. Thanks for reading and thanks to the amaIng volunteers in Taupo.