Rough sea, low winds

Started first morning with a swim - rough sea, will be challenging if it's like this on Saturday.
In the warmest part of the day, I rode the last 80km of the bike leg with Per Morten (one of the other Norw participants). High speed, low winds and decent heat, just above 30 - but feels hotter on first day in the heat and high humidity.
I felt Ok at beginning, crucing in the tailwind at 50-65km/h, but after 2 hours I was empty. No power left...
I don't worry, guess it's because of first day after long travel and/or not taking care of my nutrition. Will be better prepared Saturday.

Nice view

We finally arrived to this beutiful flat on the beach. Lovely warm water, had a short swim before sunset, then I had a short run, needed some movement after so many hours just sitting. (While Bente just enjoyed the sunset - ref picture.)
More swimming and a bike ride tomorrow!

Breakfast in San Francisco

Total travel time is close to 30 hours,  we got a good night sleep close to the airport. Now just 2 flights to Kona, Hawaii.
(As you see on the picture, at least my hearcut is ready for a long day in the heat.)

Bike in a bag

No, it's never any problem to get it with me on the plain.
No, I never know before if or how much extra to pay for it.
Yes, I normally get it when arriving, sometimes next day.
Our trip starts tomorrow morning, Hawaii Saturday afternoon.

From my qualification race

        (Picture from IronMan Wales, where I qualified for the World Championship)

There are more than 30 qualifying races around the world, each of them has a fixed number of slots to be divided among the different age-groups according to number of participants.
IM Wales has 50 slots for the approx 2000 participants, 3 in my AG with 130 participants.

Since IM Wales is in September, it's to late for the same year's WC, then it is qualification for next year. (I qualified in Sept 2014).

The race in Wales:
- Swim: 3860m: Very rough sea - 2000 participants swimming, crashing into each other and difficult to see the markers. Needed to push harder than usual, and swallowing a lot of water. I managed quite well (as a poor swimmer I'm satified to be #20 in my AG and 375 totally). Then we had to run more than a km to the bikes. (Mainly due the rough swim, 12% of the starters did not make it to the finish.)
- Bike: 180,2km: As indicated in the picture I'm more confident (and aggressive) on the rough bike course. Rough road surface, hundreds of hills, turns and wind makes it a very slow bike course. Even with a flat (I had to fix myself) I managed to have my AG's second best bike leg and changed to running shoes as #2.
- Run: 42,2km: Injuries the last years have made my running suffer. And this marathon it though, up and down all the way. The time of truth - mostly a question about being "hard" in the head - continue to push despite pain in legs, stomach, head ....   Not my best run - but managed OK, only bypassed by one in my AG. Ending as number 3 in my AG, got my medal and qualification! (96 totally in the race)
Meaning that I again am among the 1600 qualified athletes for the World Championship (and not a part of the 100.000 that tried, but did not qualify.)

Click here for more details of IM Wales 2014.

Only 2 weeks left

                                          (Picture from one of the previous travels to Hawaii)

Getting closer!
Travel to Hawaii Oct 2nd, the Ironman Triathlon World Championship is on Oct 10th.
Have had some very hectic weeks at work, which of course have had impact on the preparations. On the other side I have managed to avoid new health problems or injuries, meaning I will survive....

More info and updates will follow...

Ødelagt sesong

Ny runde sykdom ser ut til å ødelegge for Axtri. Slik jeg er nå stiller jeg ikke, og må bli raskt bedre skal det være noen vits å reise opp.
Prøver å pushe på helsevesenet, dvs sjekker privat spesialist i stedet for å vente til november.
Satser på å være noe frisk innimellom, slik at jeg blir mer enn turist på Hawaii.