It’s becoming a routine: waking up at 4:00 am, taking a little over an hour to get ready, and driving through still-empty streets. Arriving at 6:00 am, an hour and a half before the start. That’s plenty of time to look around, hit the restrooms, adjust my gear, and warm up before the race.
The entire route follows paved roads closed off for the event. The first two kilometres are on a relatively flat section, followed by a view of Kim Dotcom’s mansion and a solid two-kilometre climb. From there to the turnaround point, it’s rolling hills – uphills alternating with downhills. Hit the turnaround, and it’s the same thing in reverse. Although, on the way back, it feels like there are way more uphills. The final two kilometres are all downhill, perfect for a finishing sprint!
