Very soon into the bike course there is the big hill. It's not that steep or that long, but it is close to the beginning. As I climb the big hill I am kicking myself for wearing my stupid jacket. I am burning up!. Why did I waste my time running back into the tent to get something that's going to make me miserable unless I ditch it? I should have just dressed like the other guys and left this damn thing behind.

Soon it starts to rain. Now it's cold! I feel great! My body is comfy and my face is cool. Man was I smart to run back in and put this jacket on. The entire time it rains I commend myself on my intelligent decision.

I think my lack of sleep is starting to affect me. I'm feeling nauseous. I do not want to eat or drink anything. After about half an hour I am still nauseous, but decide to sip on some of my Fierce Grape Gatorade (thank you Mike for hauling this from Sydney to Taupo). This makes me feel better, so I eat a piece of Powerbar. This makes me feel even better. I decide to eat a powerbar piece every half hour and drink Gatorade every half hour (on the 15 and 45) and drink water whenever I feel like it. Nothing like formulating a race nutrition plan while racing.

Each half hour about 5 minutes before my scheduled Powerbar eating I start to feel nauseous. The Powerbar alleviates this, then it starts all over again. This goes on for 7+ hours.

One thing I like about IMNZ is the 2-lap out-and-back-ish bike course. You get to see friends two or three times. It's fun to search the oncoming cyclists for familiar faces and yell out to them just as they pass. It's nice to see what order everyone has fallen into - first Mike, then Frank , then Steve, then Simon (or maybe Stuart ), then Judy, then Cathy. Cathy chugs along, not far behind me. Go Cathy.

Finally reach bike special needs station. I no longer need my jacket or arm warmers. It's warm and it appears the rain is gone for good. I take the liberty of ditching these unwanted items and hoping I see them again tomorrow.

Take my normal extended break, eating cheese crackers and drinking ice cold Diet Coke. This gives many more people an opportunity to pass me, but so what.

I hit the turnaround in lap 2 and there are few people left on the course. We are the stragglers. As I pass the last aid station I see them hauling parts of it away in a truck.

I have to go to the bathroom so bad it is painful, but I refuse to make a bathroom stop. I've already stopped once on the first lap and I am determined to hold it until I got to transition. This causes me great physical pain for the last hour or so of the bike, but I am determined not to make another stop.

Bike time - 7:20, 20 minutes slower than last year.