For athletes that are use to putting their bodies through the pain of an eight to nine hour endurance event, having to adjust to a postponement is something they can probably take in their stride.
Ironman New Zealand will take place on Saturday, three weeks after the scheduled event was postponed because of the change in Covid-19 alert levels.
Cameron Brown Photo: PHOTOSPORT
12-time winner Cameron Brown is happy to be racing despite having to go back into full training again when the news came through of another lockdown in Auckland.
"I would have loved to have raced on March 6th but I think a lot of those people who may have been underdone or had an injury would have been quietly happy about having an extra couple of weeks under their belt," the 48 year old said.
Brown contested his first Ironman New Zealand back in 1997 and it's been a part of his routine every year since then.
"I wouldn't know what to do over a Kiwi summer if I didn't train for Ironman New Zealand," he said. "Part of the last 24 years has been about preparing for it, the love for the sport, the joy that the journey to March every year brings. It's just a normal summer, if I wasn't doing Ironman I'd be twiddling my thumbs and pretty bored I think, the motivation is still pretty high at the moment.
One of those quite happy with the delay was Hannah Wells who will be making her debut over the long distance.
"Can't complain it actually worked out pretty well for me (that is was postponed a couple of weeks) I was quite happy to have a few extra weeks of training."
Since turning professional in 2017 Wells has made her name in the 70.3 (half-Ironman) distance and goes into Taupo with victories in Rotorua and Wanaka and a second in Tauranga this summer.
Hannah Wells Photo: Jemma Wells Photography
The Tauranga athlete admits the pandemic left her looking for new challenges.
"Really good timing for me to have something new to aim for, it's going to be a big challenge for me but I feel very luck to have the opportunity and try and grow as an athlete at the full distance."
Wells isn't quite sure how she'll do and is putting faith in her training.
"In the 70.3 you're pretty much going as hard as you can, but in the full Ironman pacing and racing your own race and getting your nutrition right is even more important so you focus more on what you're doing rather than your competition."
"I think the run wil be my weapon on the day, hopefully my legs will be ready for the marathon and I'm excited to find out what time I can do."
Also making her Ironman debut is Wellington athlete Emily McNaughton who overcame blood clots on her lungs at the end of 2020 to make it to the start line.
"I thought I'd fractured my ribs because I had a lot of rib pain but I ended up in hospital with blood clots, luckily lungs heal really quickly. It wasn't ideal but everyone will have different challenges and that will be my one."
McNaughton, a former provincial hockey representative, has also specialized in the half distance since making her debut in the shorter distance in Taupo in 2018.
"The postponement has been a chance to add some extra weeks of solid training into my schedule," she said. "It was tough mentally at first, preparing for a new race date and getting back into the right headspace to train, but in the end it's turned out well and I'm really happy with the training I've been able to do."
Canterbury's Mike Phillips will be one of the favourites for the men's race, having won in 2019 and finishing second to Englishman Joe Skipper last year... an effort he was delighted with.
Mike Phillips Photo: Photosport
"Last year I wasn't going to race as I had a herniated disc in my back and had only managed to get three weeks of running in beforehand so I was probably more proud of that one than when I won for the condition I was in."
Phillips says despite this year's event being limited to local athletes, it won't make it any easier for him.
"The New Zealand contingent is growng and so I don't think it will be any less competive than it has been in the past and I wouldn't be suprised if the winning time is faster than its ever been."
Philips says he's looked back at his performances in recent years and tried to combine all the good parts he's had for the ultimate race this time.
He'll be challenged by the likes of 2017 winner Braden Currie, veteran Cameron Brown and debutants Kyle Smith and Jack Moody.
There are 1,800 athletes competing this weekend - around 700 in Ironman and 1,100 in Ironman 70.3.
