Karen writes: Not going to be an Ironman in 2012
Well, most people (in New Zealand anyway), will have heard that Ironman NZ has been cancelled, something very rare in Ironman history. We made our way to the briefing at 4pm, the dramatically worsening weather was described (last night there were worries about 45km winds, now it is 140km winds), and this weather affects most of the country with Civil Defence on alert, power companies expecting power outages, and warnings for flooding and property damage. So 2012 Ironman has actually been cancelled. We all sort of expected to lose the swim, I don't think anyone really thought a whole event cancellation could possibly happen.
Imagine the room, the 1600 athletes, of whom around 500 are first timers like us, this is something we have all worked really hard for, our friends and families have made all sorts of efforts to get us here over the long period of preparation. We all have something to prove to ourselves and we have dreamed of that IM medal, but we also heard about the people who have traveled from overseas, transported equipment and they were meant to be going home Ironmen. And it's not going to happen, not this year.
So, the organisers with many expressions of sorrow announced that they 'may' be able to run a half ironman on Sunday when the weather is expected to be better. I'ts not quite what we wanted, but we are fizzing with built up anticipation, stuffed with fully fueled muscles, and going home with NOTHING would be just sooooo sad.
So collecting my bike in the rain with all the other athletes (organisers didn't want bikes outside exposed to the elements), I am sure I wasnt the only person hiding tears in the rain. I cried a bit when the kids came home and said they were sad for us, and then there were the texts saying how sorry people were for us which also made me overflow a bit but that was more about how lucky we are to get such support! Thankyou.
Kate sends her love to everyone, but she says she is too depressed to write now. Actually, don't worry about Kate too much, we are waiting for a delivery of chocolate (she has asked for caramel Whitakers and I want a whole box of continental dark) then we will BOTH feel better soon. We are also trying to figure out if we can manage a way to stick around for the Sunday half IM (we all have work on Monday, kids back to school), and if we do, I want to do 7 hours, Kate wants 7 hours 30.
Imagine the room, the 1600 athletes, of whom around 500 are first timers like us, this is something we have all worked really hard for, our friends and families have made all sorts of efforts to get us here over the long period of preparation. We all have something to prove to ourselves and we have dreamed of that IM medal, but we also heard about the people who have traveled from overseas, transported equipment and they were meant to be going home Ironmen. And it's not going to happen, not this year.
So, the organisers with many expressions of sorrow announced that they 'may' be able to run a half ironman on Sunday when the weather is expected to be better. I'ts not quite what we wanted, but we are fizzing with built up anticipation, stuffed with fully fueled muscles, and going home with NOTHING would be just sooooo sad.
So collecting my bike in the rain with all the other athletes (organisers didn't want bikes outside exposed to the elements), I am sure I wasnt the only person hiding tears in the rain. I cried a bit when the kids came home and said they were sad for us, and then there were the texts saying how sorry people were for us which also made me overflow a bit but that was more about how lucky we are to get such support! Thankyou.
Kate sends her love to everyone, but she says she is too depressed to write now. Actually, don't worry about Kate too much, we are waiting for a delivery of chocolate (she has asked for caramel Whitakers and I want a whole box of continental dark) then we will BOTH feel better soon. We are also trying to figure out if we can manage a way to stick around for the Sunday half IM (we all have work on Monday, kids back to school), and if we do, I want to do 7 hours, Kate wants 7 hours 30.
Comments