2018 has been a special year so far with my first 50k ultra trail run in Feb and now a half ironman in Japan, the only one of 2018. Sarah is unfortunately not with me this time, at home resting, no more travel until the D day.

This ironman event is quite unique as it is literally based inside the Nagoya Airport off the east coast of japan. The ironman expo (shopping for triathletes) is in the terminal, the briefing is in the departure area and as a triathlete I walk around in running shoes and ironman t-shirt surrounded by travellers with suitcases, it’s quite a ‘saugrenue’ idea to feature a triathlon inside an airport ;). The course is outside the Airport grounds though but twisty and technical on the bike apparently.

Today’s weather is phenomenal. 21-24 degrees, sunny, lovely!

The routine of prep day is almost over, it goes like this:

8am: breakfast – after being forced to wake up due to mainland Chinese literally yelling in the hallway. I thought that after 8 years in mainland China i would be used to this, but no.

9am: mini-Tri to test the bike and run. No swimming allowed anywhere. Bike is fine, Run is fine, garmin is fine, aero bottle is fine. Surprising, normally there is always an issue, oh yes, I forgot my salt tabs in hong kong.

10am: athlete check in. My AWA credentials gets me in in front of 50 people, first time I actually appreciate the value of being ‘all world athlete’.

11am: finish assembly of the bike, stickers on the bike. Only allowed to do it downstairs (Japanese rules) but my French blood takes over and I bring the bike in my bedroom, bad boy…

12pm: briefing by the usual ironman asia commentator, he loves the Tritons.

1pm: quick lunch of healthy soup and rice in the Airport. I am trying out a ‘meatless race’ for the first time. No meat for the past few days.

2pm: in the bus with bike headed for bike check in, transition 1 – where swim and hike unite. A bit hectic as we have to give out our transition 2 bag as well today since organisers will transport them to T2 themselves.

Bike is racked, transition bags are hung, ready for the race.

I walk around and attend ironkids 8 year old girls race: 50m swim + 1k run. Emotional thinking of our future little one who might one day enjoy trying ironkids.

back to hotel and rest, and possibly dinner wih Hiro (my Tokyo friend Maiko’s husband).