Taupo Half Ironman

Location Lake Taupo.

Website http://www.halfironmantaupo.co.nz/

Type Half Ironman Triathlon.

Distances 2 km swim, 90 km cycle, 21.1 km run.

Time of Year December

Goodie Bag Pretty decent. Cycle arm warmers, race number holder (for use during the cycle and run), cap.

Course refreshments Water and Balance at the 30 and 60 km points on the cycle. (Standard bottle swap). Water and Balance at two aid stations on the run which are encountered 4 times each - effectively 8 stations on the run.

Post-race refreshments Water and Balance.

Post race details Throw your weary body into the ice cold waters of Lake Taupo to aid recovery.

Prizegiving Takes place later in the afternoon once everyone has had a shower and lunch. Reasonably decent prizes. Average number of spot prizes.

Finisher's medal Yes, and it is very nice - a different shape to the usual circular medals.

Competed in 2009.

Details

Bike needs to be checked and racked the evening prior to the event and stays on site overnight guarded by security. Wetsuit needs to be cleaned from the risk of Didymo at the same time. If it is going to be wet overnight, some large plastic rubbish bags to cover the fiddly elements of your bike may be worth using.

Tri boxes are not allowed - need to take a minimalist approach to your gear. Use plastic bags if it is wet.

Swim - not as cold as expected. Lake Taupo is very clear and the bottom of the lake can be seen right around the entire course. The course markings are excellent and it is very easy to stay on course as the next bouy is never more than 100 metres from the last. Teams start later then individuals, so if you are a slow individual swimmer, expect to be swum over by team competitors.

Cycle - 7 metre drafting rule is enforced. The easy way to judge 7 metres is the length of the pain strips on the road. The cycle route starts with a long hill, then undulating to Reporoa. There is a long stretch of uphill between the 70 and 80 km marks on the return journey, but the last 10 km is mostly downhill and fast. Motor traffic is pretty light.

Run - Long flat sections with the odd rise here and there, but nothing to worry about really. The course is two laps. Much of it is on pavement and can get a bit narrow with spectators very close, but with a bit of care should not be an issue.

Overall, a good course and reasonably fast. Probably not as fast as the Port of Tauranga half Ironman, but not far off it.