Hi there from NZ

Hi Steve! Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment, and thanks for introducing yourself!

I, too, have found many wonderful hands and hearts that have helped me along the way. BT is full of such people and so glad you are on board to share your experience and thoughts with those here, too.

Hey Steve - I've been hanging out here for the last couple of months and learning heaps. I'm signed up for IMNZ 09 and it will be my first IM. Would love to read your race report (if you can be arsed writing one) or any other tips you have from being a first timer at Taupo.

Are you coming back again in 09 and what do you plan to do differently seeing as it will be your second time round?

Gerrard 

Thanks for your welcome note and congratulations on your triathlete of the month award. I look forward to seeing your progress!

Cheers Steve

Hi Gerrard

Thanks for your message.

I just looked at the race report format and it is really detailed. Keen to do one though because it would be cool to reflect on the day!

Too right I'll be back in 2009.... it is soooo addictive!!! The key for me for my first IM was to finish, so it was all about preservation and hoping that my legs would be OK to run after getting off the bike. We had shocking conditions for bike and run... wet, windy and miserable but it didn't matter because I was out there doing it! Next time I think I could push a bit harder on the bike and still have the legs for the run. My advice is to do all you can to ensure that you nail the 1st IM (maybe a little more conservative to make it happen) and enjoy the day! The hard work has all been done by the time you reach the start line and so you really can enjoy it (as strange as that may seem).

Also, I celebrated the end of the swim and the end of the bike as if they were separate events! I suggest that you take the time to reflect on each success as you go - they really are monumental achievements in their own right!!!

Cheers Steve 

Yeah, the weather didn't look like much fun but I guess it's just another thing to deal with on the day.

Completion and loving the experience (and remembering this during the tough times) is my goal for the event. I've been reading and listening to podcasts that say how you have to take it really easy and pace yourself to make the distance - that's going to be a big thing to work out in training.

Great idea!

Gerrard