Duane Braithwaite training for Ironman New Zealand in Taupo. PHOTO/FILE
One of the toughest ultramarathon events in the world begins in Kona, Hawaii, on Sunday morning (NZ time).
More than 2000 are taking on this year's Ironman World Championship that since 1978 has set the standard for the ultimate test between nature's fierce terrain and the limits of human spirit.
The 3.86km swim, 180.25km cycle and 42.20km marathon to finish has tested some of the greatest athletes in the fierce heat, humidity and volcanic atmosphere. Black lava rock dominates the landscape, with athletes battling the infamous crosswinds of up to 72km/h and temperatures of about 35C.
There are 37 New Zealanders in the field this weekend who have qualified by their performances at key events or through the Ironman Legacy Programme.
Each year 100 athletes worldwide are given a chance to compete at Kona through the programme. To meet the criteria athletes must have completed 12 full-distance Ironman races by the end of last year and never competed at Kona before.
One lucky recipient this year is Papamoa's Duane Braithwaite.
The 45-year-old has completed 14 Ironman New Zealand events in Taupo with every one a massive effort to get to the finish line.
Many hours after the likes of multiple champion Cameron Brown have finished there are hundreds still out on the course like Braithwaite. They finish in the dark, in physical distress but with the personal satisfaction of making it that only those who go through it can imagine.
In 2012, Braithwaite went into the race unwell. He crossed the finish line and collapsed, was rushed to Taupo Hospital and then transferred to Rotorua Hospital with acute renal failure. He spent three days in hospital but was back on the start line 12 months later.
Throughout all the years of painstaking effort the one goal that never went away was Kona. It is Braithwaite's Holy Grail. Earlier this year he finally got the news he had longed for, with his place in the field confirmed.
The days in Hawaii training this week have been emotional for Braithwaite and his wife Andrea, who is with him as she has been on the last 10 years of his journey. But the emotion is nothing like he will feel on the start line.
"I am like a little kid on Christmas Eve. You can't wipe the smile off my face. I have had a few tears already here and it has been such a long-held dream for me. Dreams can come true. I truly believe it but they take a lot of hard work, blood and sweat," Braithwaite said.
"I have trained my guts out this winter and it has been a bit of a battle with the weather. It is not the sort of race you can turn up half-assed for, that's for sure. When the weather was okay, I was able to get out on the road and just rug up but spent most of the time in my garage with the heater on, on my wind trainer.
"Over the last three or four weeks, after training I have gone down to the gym and jumped in the sauna for 20 or 30 minutes and try and get some heat adaptation work. It seems to have worked and I feel okay training here. I am in some of the best shape of my life."
This week Braithwaite has trained on the bike with elite athletes like Australia's Craig Alexander and Germany's Normann Stadler, both multiple winners at Kona. How athletes of all levels, from all over the world, mix together is a special part of the Kona experience.
"My attitude is to enjoy the day. This is a 20-year dream of mine to be here. I can honestly say I just want to have a smile on my face the whole day," Braithwaite said.
"You go through your ups and downs, it is hot and windy yes, but you can't control that. All you can control is what you're doing and how you're doing it. If I go in with the right attitude, I will have a magic day. Time is irrelevant. I have a time I would like to achieve but I just want to try and enjoy the hell out of it."
His wife Andrea is equally excited to be in Hawaii.
"It was a very cool experience to watch Duane in the parade of nations. I'm so proud of him. He never gave up on his dream and I'm loving being able to share his dream with him.
"Our kids Logan, 8, and Sophie, 5, are Skyping daily and proud of their dad too. Logan has done his first Weet-Bix tri and wants to do an Ironman one day with his dad."