Champion prepared for anything

Gavin Champion is taking a "be prepared for anything" approach into the inaugural Hatsukaichi Oudan Miyajima International Power Triathlon to be held in Hatsukaichi City, Japan on June 17.
Champion, 37, from Masterton successfully applied for entry into the event just a matter of weeks ago and while he is excited about the opportunity to contest such a major sporting occasion in what is Masterton's sister city he has only limited knowledge of the course and the quality of the 300-strong opposition .
"Honestly, I don't really know what to expect," Champion said yesterday. "But it's obviously a big deal in Japan so I guess it's a matter of giving it the best shot and see what happens."
Starting with a 2.5km swim which starts from the sacred island of Miyajima, the course also includes a 55km cycle ride and a 20km run.
Some insight into the intricacies of the course were contained in an internet blog whose writer recently joined some locals to check out the cycle and run legs.
"Heading inland from the swim finish at Chichiyasu Park the only way is up," he wrote of the cycle ride. "You do, however, have a few kilometres to catch your breath before heading up past the impressive Imose Falls. From there it's a good run (cycle) through some small towns and around a lake before the final, and very steep 5-6km climb. The two long steep climbs make the bike a tough one, but overall it was not as hard as I had imagined."
The same writer, however, labelled the 20km run as a "real killer". It takes in a rollercoaster course centred around Mominoki Forest Park and he suggests it will see most of the triathletes having to walk at some point. "Anyone who hasn't kept plenty of energy in store and properly hydrated and fuelled during the bike will have a rough afternoon," he predicted.
Champion himself sees the toughness of the cycle ride and run as perhaps being in his favour as swimming is not his forte and endurance rather than speed is his strength on the other two disciplines.
"I don't mind hills, they can often bring the speedsters back to you," he said.
Since having his entry accepted Champion has been on a training programme which sees him spend up to three hours a day for at least five days a week in the water or on the roads and he hopes to benefit also from the stamina base built up in preparing for and competing in the New Zealand Ironman back in March.
There, he returned a very creditable time of 10hrs 36mins although the half-Ironman distance is more to his liking. Seven times he has competed in those events which involve a 2km swim, 90km bike ride and 20km run and his best time to date is 4hrs 35mins which won him 2005 Lake Karipiro half-Ironman title.
The last three years has also seen Champion, who is a member of Athletics Masterton, qualify to represent New Zealand in standard distance duathlon and long distance triathlon but a combination of things have yet to see him take up that opportunity.
In late 2004, for instance, he suffered from septic arthritis and in April 2006 he underwent a rotar cuff repair. Then there was the birth of his second daughter Tessa in October last year, plus a lack of the necessary funds required to make overseas trips viable. Champion will be one of only two subsidised participants for the Hatsukaichi event, the other being from Kona is Hawaii. A city of 120,000 people located some 20 minutes out of Hiroshima. Hausukaichi entered a sister city relationship with Masterton in 1998 after discussions prompted by owners of the JNL mill here.