The day before...

A bit of backblipage...

This is the view from the back of the "Kurhaus" in Wiesbaden, taken during the English language race-briefing (the head race referee scared the Bejesus out of most competitors with the focus on the various punishable offences one could commit!). We packed up our stuff this morning and drove the 50km or so from Loreley to Wiesbaden, pitching up in time to locate the (very lovely) hotel, grab some brecky at Extrablatt (wonderful buffet breakfast!) and wander across to the expo and race office. After registering and collecting my race pack, we had a bit of a womble around Wiesbaden, which is a VERY lovely city. We had timed it well, with there being loads going on: monster trucking and a wine festival in addition to all the activity surrounding the triathlon.

It all seemed very unfair that there were so many lovely bars and restaurants to sample and yet I was forced to abstain from the usual Murray excesses because of the following day's torture! Rubbish! A bit of pondering over an orange juice at a very pleasant little bar and the decision was made to stay another night in Wiesbaden and we had booked a hotel.

By 4 o'clock it was time to head back to the hotel and prepare the transition bags. I eventually left C to have a nap whilst I drove the 20 odd km to Raunheim, the swim start and T1. Parked up and shambled the 2km to T1 with seemingly hundreds of other athletes - yes, I know I am taking a liberty referring to myself as an "athlete", but there we go! :-)

Got the bike racked in the rain and hoofed it back to Wiesbaden so we could head out for some grub at a little Italian place we had spotted earlier in the day. Returned to the hotel to find that C had slumbered well and also to the prospect of having a go at deflating C's hanger-on, Ms Boyle. Attempts to do this, alas, proved fruitless, much to C's disappointment.

We had a most excellent meal of pizza and salad. Couldn't help noticing the number of other gaunt looking triathletes doing similar. Had a chuckle at the guy wearing his timing chip to dinner and then immediately regretted it when I realised that I had left mine at T1 with my kit...or had I...?...oh God, where was it? Cue much fretting and a sleepless night...