Challenge Wanaka and leading into Ironman NZ

Swim:  The swim was delayed by 15 minutes due to the high winds blowing the buoys off course.  Eventually the boats had to anchor and hold onto the buoys so the wind wouldn't blow them off course.  Due to the winds being very strong, Lake Wanaka looked like it was an ocean with the waves.  The start was a beach start with the men and women combined. Thankfully I was with the main swim pack of about 5 other guys and 3-4 other women.  We all exited the water in 54 minutes which was nearly 11 minutes behind the strongest swimmer in the sport, Dylan McNeice.

Getting out of the water in my BlueSeventy Helix wetsuit. Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac

Bike: On to the bike Dougal Allan and Joe Skipper took off.  I decided not to ride with them because they were holding a pace that I could not sustain. About 30k later I caught Joe Skipper and rode past him.  I asked if everything was ok and he acknowledged he was fine. A few kilometres after I was riding solo again on my Falco V.  Around 40k in the winds really picked up.  I was riding the Knight Composites 95s on front and back. I've been riding the wheels for about 6 months now and love how fast and responsive they are.  When the winds picked up, there were some big gusts. Gusts that nearly knocked me over.  From then on I decided to play it safe and I rode 50% of the course on my base bars.  I've raced Kona 4 times in a row and these winds were worse.  If I would have done anything different, it would have been to ride a smaller front Knight wheel. Surprisingly I still rode the 3rd fastest bike split behind Maik Twelsiek (fastest bike split at 2015 Kona) and Dougal Allan. I rode a 4:48 which was 12 minutes behind Allan and 11 minutes behind Maik.  I was surprised I didn't loose more time since I wasn't in aero position much at all.

Source: Hannah Peters/Getty Images AsiaPac

Run: Onto the run I felt great.  About 85% of the course is on dirt trails and my Skechers GoRun 4s responded well on this terrain.  Some of the trails are single track with little hills, turns, rocks and roots so the run course is certainly not a fast one. A little past the halfway point I passed Dylan McNeice (the previous three time winner) and moved into 3rd place. Thankfully on the second loop I felt great and maintained my pace.  I didn't go through any bad moments on the run and ended up finishing the 26.4 mile course in 2:54:29 in 3rd place.  Originally I thought I could run a sub 2:50 because of the old results but later found out the run course is a slightly new course.  I held an average pace of 6:37 which is a new run course record on the new course.

Source: Hagan Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac

Really want to thank the community of Wanaka.  The community is really involved and 10% of the community volunteers for this event.  I want to thank all of my sponsors for the support as well as my fiancé Gillian.

Blazeman ALS roll in memory of my mother and others. Source: Hagan Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac

Ironman New Zealand is exactly two weeks after Challenge Wanaka and my body feels great!  My body recovered really well from this.  In fact, I was out running after the race and the next day! It must have been because the course was mainly on dirt trails.  Typically I tend to race better my second back to back Iron distance so I'm looking forward to another podium finish at Ironman NZ!!