Karen writes: Tidying up bits and pieces with 3 days to go

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It's raining heavily.  The forecast (from several sources) says rain for Saturday, but that is ok, we are USED to rain.  At least there are no thunderstorms predicted and hopefully rain will flatten off and warm up the lake?

Lots to organise, I'm at university tomorrow so that cuts the preparation time down a bit, will I really be concentrating on 'health economics' though?  I guess since the first assignment is due in 2 weeks I can spend that 8 hours on the bike thinking about assignment topics...yeah right...tui moment!  So on the to-do list is... paperwork, event equipment, linen, clothing, food, supplements, spares, other bits and pieces, and safely transporting and keeping the whanau fed/clothed and entertained for several days in rainy Taupo.  Dog to kennel.

Apparently there is live screening of parts of the course available at ironman.com, we wont have internet access in Taupo so that might not be so useful for the family on the day, but I can sign them up for the text alerts to be sent when I pass ten different points around the course. This will be handy so if the kids have to go out in the rain to see their mum they can at least pick times I am likely to be in the vicinity.  Anyone who does want to check up on us, my race number is 1226, Kate's is 1445.

Kate has brought in the newly branded cycle shirt, it looks terrific.  She has also got supporter shirts for the girls (pink) which look pretty cool.
Well, onward...it is only 3 days to survive without falling off my high heels, running over some essential piece of equipment with the car, catching the dreaded lurgy, or having an acute attack of paralysing anxiety!  And please don't forget that one of our reasons for doing this is to raise funds for the care of people with diabetes in earthquake recovering Christchurch.  Donations can be made at this link, and it sure will be a motivation to keep putting one foot in front of another to know that our efforts are going to help our friends and colleagues down there.  Thanks hugely to those who already have!

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