We flew on Thursday evening from Heathrow to Hong Kong, the flight time was approx 11:30 hours, a non event. Managed to do 4 glasses of champagne, in the first 30 minutes, then preceeded to work my way through the wine list, i lost count a 9 glasses, felt pretty crap, then drifted off.
We managed to sleep most of the way, which was a result. But felt rubbish when i woke up, lou felt fine, must have been something i ate!
We were staying over night at the Airport hotel in Hong Kong, and as we had slept on the Journey, did we manage to sleep in the hotel. No. We did however get up at 3:30am and watch some movies until 7am for breakfast.
Arrived at Haikou on the Saturday got to the hotel at 12:30ish incredibly tired, our body clocks are all over the place. Built the bikes and made a list of the things i had forgot to pack....

1st Profile Design Aero bottle, absolute necessary out here.
2nd A small pump for use during training rides (The bike support don’t arrive until Wednesday so IF we get a puncture between now and then i have no way of inflating on the go). I did bring a track pump, but, too big to take out with us.

So a quick email and phone call to the bike support crew, sorts everything.
Nothing significant happened up until now, only a few people mulling around the hotel, it will get busier though.

Sunday 12th April.

Went for a 40 Minute Run today, headed up towards town, the humidity is really high, as it rained earlier, sweating like a good un, ran through a rural market, it was pandemonium, we were the only westerners here, got lots of strange looks and shouts of Hello, or Nee Haw (Hello in Chinese, excuse the spelling), Everything feels ok, although HR was 10 beats or so higher, still acclimatizing. Food at the hotel is Ok, 4 restaurants, Chinese, Noodle Bar, Asian Buffet and an Al a carte serving Pizza’s and Hot Dogs! Still managing to steer clear of Beer, but the temptation is hard to resist.

Monday 13th April.

This morning we got up early at 6am and went out to recce the bike course. The Hotel whilst really nice, is in the middle of nowhere, so we rode to the Swim start along pretty crap roads, passing paddy fields with Water Buffalo in, You really know your in China!
Location wise the start has moved from last year. The swim previously was in the south China Sea, the Hotel has also changed from the Sheraton to the Crown Spa Resort. It was really convienient last year as we stayed at the Sherton, the swim was right outside the hotel as was the Transistion area. This year were not so spoilt, the swim start is 5 miles or so away, as is T1 and T2.
So we rode as best we could to navigate to the swim start, our Navigation skills are not the best so we ended up getting completly lost, the upshot was we managed to cross over a 500m wide river without even noticing it, luckily Lou saw a sign for the hotel, so we did get back eventually.
The roads are pretty flat and wide, and seem really fast, more than half the bike course is as last year, only the start and end are different. So no real concerns there. Ate at the Chinese restaurant, pleny of Vegge stuff for Lou, only had 1 Beer!

Tuesday 14th April.

Weve given up on trying to acclimatise, by not using the air con, it’s so hot and stuffy at night, we are just not sleeping, so were going to bite the bullit and opt for a good nights sleep instead. See if that improves things.
Trying to keep things as normal as poessible, but difficult when were so used to being so busy all the time, arriving and having so much time on our hands and not being able to train is sooo hard. But you have to bite the bullitt and rest as best you can.
Today did some Yoga, and went for another run just 30 mins this time, Lou’s running well, our HR usually start off with mine 10 beats lower and during the run they get closer. I end up covered in sweat, Lou just get’s redder in the face, By the end i’m soaked, Lou’s Rosey.
Opt for the Al a Carte menu tonight of Vege Pizza and Seafood for me, Really good Pizza’s actually. 1 More Beer to wash it down. Finish off the evening with the last 2 Episodes of Lost and asleep for 10pm.

Wednesday 15th April

Up early at 6:15am again, Much better sleep today, mostly uninterrupted. Today all the fun begins, as the Official swim start opens for practice, on the bus for 7:10 in the water for 7:30. The swim is a large square in the Nandu River. From the shore it looks very brown with not much current, we don our Orca wetsuits and make our way to the river bank. Under foot it’s very squidgy, we see one competitor with a cut foot, the organisors are asking everyone if they have plasters, we were warned to avoid the sharp stone, i try not to sound too sarcastic when i ask if there's only the one sharp stone in the river, i don't think he got the humour!

The water seems warm, not at all cold when you get in, off we set, we arrange to meet at the first bouy which is 500m offshore. The bouys are really small only 12” high so sighting is not easy, added to the fact theres, some mist on the river.

I make the first bouy and turn round to wait for Lou’ wait a minute or so and she arrives, she seems Happy as the water’s nice and warm. I turn round and the Bouy that i was by is now 100m or so away, in the time i waited for Lou i had drifted that far, there’s obviously quite a current. We take our bearings and set off on the second leg of the swim. Which again is a 500m swim. This leg, seems to go by very fast. Again i wait a minute or so for Lou, then we set off this time towards the shore for the third leg, This time the current is pushing us towards our Right, so we need to constantly check our bearings. Again meet up and swim towards the start. This time into the current. I get there and wait, all the other competitors are saying how strong ht e current is, it is quite strong.
We meet up and swim towards the shore and exit the mud.
No cuts so all good get changed and make our way back to the hotel for some breakfast.