We then made our way to Switzerland via the German Autobahn on Thursday morning. Once again Leo started getting very irritable being stuck in the car, to make matters worse, as we got to Jona, we suffered a flat tire, thanx to driving over a hideous huge bolt that had snapped off a truck…ended up having to buy a new tire as it was beyond repair.
We got settled into our hotel, which also happened to be at the start of the race cycle route (good skills Sharon for some excellent booking skills), then went out to do one lap of the route. We where just getting ready to go when we met this girl and her bloke who had just come back from riding the route. As our map wasn’t too detailed, we asked her for some advice, she then went on to say that she got lost several times, it took her 4 hours to cycle the one lap route of 45 km. She complained the descents where really terrible, very steep and technical. She managed to put the fear of God into us. I thought for sure we’d be cycling back in the dark
Needless to say, Ryan (Holly’s other-half) was a master map reader and we made our way around just fine. The first 10km, nice and flat, then a 1,1km short sharp climb followed by the only bit of crappy road surface. Then a nice down hill and flat section to the next climb. The second climb was long (around 8km) but was broken up with the occasional flattish section. Then came the descents, the first was fast, we got up to 63km/h without trying. The second was a great straight flat section where we got up to 45km/ without too much effort. Then a short climb and some more down hill. All good!! There was only one section we missed, but as it was less then 4km of the route, we decided we could live without it.
Later I discovered that the girl we’d chatted to in the corridor was Alison Fitch from Australia, a professional on the long distance race circuit!!! She came 6th on Sunday in a time of 4:32:34, with a bike split of 2hr 40. I guess when you are on a flimsy timetrial bike going at that speed, then yes, those descents can be scary!!!
For Friday and Saturday the weather was really crap, it just rained continuously, but the weather report always looked ok for Sunday, so we held our thumbs. Friday morning I met up with Alex to hand over her bike, we took it down on the back of the car to save her from flying with it. As the weather was so crap, we offered to drive Alex around the course. We also managed to find the bit we missed the previous day so that was a bonus.
In the afternoon we made our way down to register, it was quick and simple, and we got really cool bags too!!! I love new kit, and these are great!!!
Saturday morning it was still raining…I was starting to think that their forcast for Sunday was one fat lie. Poor Leo was really getting annoyed at being locked in doors all the time, so we took him to the ‘Kinder Zoo’ (Children’s Zoo) that was next door to the race headquarters. Leo loved it, he rode on a pony, checked out all the animals and we got to see the seal and sea lion show.
After this, I met the others to go to the race briefing. The race briefing brought good and bad news for me…firstly the bike section was described as challenging with technical descent, and 950m of climbing. This was the good news, as having ridden the route on the Thursday, I thought it was pretty easy. Climbs were do-able, road surfaces great…hence no problem. I guess this is what happens when you train on a 90km route on crap roads with 1300m odd of climbing!!!
The bad news…there was a good chance the swim would be shortened as the lake temp was at 15 degrees. And to think that the previous week the temp had climbed a degree every day till 19 degrees and there was even talk that is would be a no wetsuit swim.
I also managed to bump into Chantal, who I met via my blog….she recognised my SA accent so introduced herself. Great meeting you Chantal!!!
I then set about racking my bike and checking out the transition area, run route and swim start. All nice and straight forward. Then it was time for the Pasta Party…yum yum. Bronson decided it would be too much for Leo so left me behind to get on with it. It was great, I quite liked these huge bells that the Swiss have, I forget what they called them but they where really cool.
We then headed home to get our stuff together before the big day. This was quite challenging as Leo was asleep in our room. So I had to drag everything out and down the corridor to Sharon’s room, get it all packed and ready, then pack it all back in our room. What a mission!!! The nervous were also setting in, the big day was only one sleep away.
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