D minus One

Weather was surprising HOT than expected. Hurricane have hit Hainan Island yesterday and leave. Phew!

Internet wasn't good in the hotel. Pictures aren't able to be uplate after various attempts sigh.

In case I can't get into the system later, my race ID is 191.

Yesterday the weather wasn't that bad, strong winds and not that heavy rain throughout the day.

We head to Sheraton hotel where the main hotel cum start point is for a swim. Due to the weather, the official swim was cancelled, but I did proceed with our swim in the "washing machine" condition. Shiok! The water is tougher than desaru! Wave is more than a meter height and keep throwing me back. It is quite fun actually.

Register and I am disappointed with the goodies quality and race expo. Compare to busselton this is way down the end of the scale machiam like MY races!

Took a ride through the bike course.
As long is highway, it is generally ok. Once it hit the village, the road is narrow, hilly and treacherous! A few hairpin turns, sandy terrain across villages are going to be a challenge. Very difficult to speed. The speed for the chicken, cow dung, scene from padi field is going to be good for the experience as long as I don't crash into the animal or a dive into padi field!

We have many IM finishers from various events. Comment like, this slope feel like langkawi, that terrain look like France, this is Swiss. Welcome to IM, the way it should be! Challenging is good! :)

The run route, is going to be demoralising straight. The only hump is a climb up the highway at around 35km mark which look like sheares bridge.

It is going to be tough and long day tomorrow as today weather will hit 35 deg cel. It is damn hot now!

Wet suit is optional for tomorrow swim due to 'political' reason, otherwise I think wet suit should not be allow. Technically the rule states 25 deg and below, wet suit is optional! At 7am, I don't think it will be lower than 25.

Went for race briefing. Check in the bike and bags. So many good and fierce looking bikes. ZIP wheels are a norm. My should be consider a china uncle in trishaw with a "deng li gene" singing theme. Hehe.

From the briefing, can feel it is going to be a challenge for the organiser to get things in place. I have to be self independent for tomorrow. It will be fun.