Day 1 - The Journey Begins

Day 1 of epic. We are back on the bus. A couple hour trip up to Cape Reinga to the top of new Zealand. I have never been to the most northern point before. I can not think of a better reason than starting a journey the length of my own country under my own power. OK that sounds slightly crazy, but ever since I have heard the tales and the experiences from those that took part in the first length of NZ race the Xerox 1990, I have wanted to do it.



The landscape has change to a sparse dry farmland Rolling !! and not to hilly for the bike back. We start with a 20km run. And have just been informed the last 10km will be a race for the competition points. Then onto the bike for 90km with the last 30k a time trail. Last a pool session to finish the day with a timed swim to find out the tour leaders. It will be interesting to see who races hard and who holds back for later in the camp.



Its now evening and Day 1 is over. A truly epic day to start the camp. Our final bus journey took us to the end of the road to the Cape Reinga Lighthouse. Everyone was pretty excited and nervous at actually getting to the start line. The reality of what lay ahead could no longer be ignored. It was time to start.



The morning cloud was burnt away by the hot sun so the scene was spectacular. With only 1 or two of the group having ever been there before it was tourist photo time with everyone getting photos. A team photo with our awesome epic jackets on then it was off.



It was really hot from the start as we started the first stage. It was just over 11k. I used my experience and made sure I was away with the first guys, did not want to have to make up any ground and wanted to run this as easy as possible. It was hilly on shingle road but a good chance to chat and find out more about the others. The camp has a film crew following us who are going to make a doco of Epic camp. So we had the cameras rolling! just like a reality show I am thinking there will be some interesting footage over the next two weeks.



We stop ed after 11k refuelled and started the 10k race to the finish. I enjoyed the run. Started steady and ran with Daniel McDonald and Scott for a while until Daniel moved ahead. I ended up picking it up in the last few K and finished with a sprint finish against Rip, which was fun but probably not so smart. I ran 48 something which I was very happy with.



Then after lunch. A great spread laid out by Mairs and Kaye. We biked back towards Kaitaia. Daniel and I both had helmet cams on. The film crew wanted some footage from the bikes during the TT. We had a nice tail wind and the hills weren't too bad. Daniel and I were ready so we rolled out before the main group and had an easy first 30k before the first group caught us. The next 30k was very steady at times with Andrew Charles hammering it at the front. Again I was thinking maybe a little too hard, but the draft was nice. After 60k we stopped and regrouped for the 30k TT. We started 30seconds apart in reverse order from the run result. I rode it pretty hard and felt ok until the last 5k where it got a bit tough. Ended up with a respectable time about 30 seconds behind Scott which is good for me.



Then we had a half hour to get ready to head to the pool for our swim session. Everyone was feeling it from the long run and the heat. The pool session was 1k warm up then a 1500m timed. It turned into a cramp fest with lots of us having bouts of cramp set in after the tumble turns. It must have looked amusing from the sidelines. I had a good bunch to swim with and we cut it out in 22:40. Again a very respectable time. 500m to finish the 3k requirement was as far as I and everyone else wanted to go.



It was a tough day and my legs are feeling sore. A lot of others feel the same so will see how it shapes up in the morning.



Tomorrow is a 175k bike over some very hilly roads, but with areas of native bush which looked really cool from the bus on the way up. The first 30k could be a hammer session with a KOM and points available at that point. It should be friendly!! riding from there until we hit Whangarei. Time to get some needed sleep now.