When it comes to swimming in Lake Taupo, Rotorua athlete Louise Rickard cannot catch a break.
Rickard participated in the 70.3 race at Ironman New Zealand in Taupo in March, but wild conditions on the lake saw her finish the swim after the cut-off time and pulled from the race.
Desperate for redemption she entered today's Ironman 70.3 Taupo and had been training hard for the swim, only to be dealt another cruel blow as the swimming leg was cancelled due to toxic algae in the lake.
However, when talking to Rickard, you get the impression she does not let much get her down and will approach the modified race with the same vigour.
"I was disappointed, but I'm over it now - it is what it is," Rickard said.
"In March, I went for a swim the day before [the event] in the lake and it was a beautiful day. The morning of the race I woke up and I could feel the wind, I thought 'that's not good'. The waves were rough, I'm not a strong swimmer, I can do endurance but I don't swim well in rough water. I finished the swim but I was seven minutes over the time limit so they pulled me out."
Rotorua athlete Louise Rickard with some of the many race numbers she has collected in the last two decades. Photo / Ben Fraser
She was happy to cheer on her Rotorua Association of Triathlon and Multisport (RATS) teammates, but was determined to return and finish off what she had started.
"I entered this weekend's one because I wanted to conquer what I hadn't finished ... I really wanted to do the swim but I'll just have to do it next year."
In 1994 Rickard signed up to do the Rotorua Marathon, her first major athletic event. She had intended for it to be a "one-off".
However, as often happens, she became "hooked" and has since completed multiple marathons, including New York in 2013 and Paris in 2016, triathlons and half and full Ironman events.
She is no stranger to the weather disrupting events either. She was in the 1999 Rotorua Marathon, which was cancelled due to flooding, and was originally signed up for the 2012 New York Marathon but was forced to return the following year amid growing concerns that holding the event would divert resources from clean-up efforts in the wake of super storm Sandy.
"I enjoy doing events, it's good for your mental and physical well being. The weather is just part of it. Crossing the finish line gives you satisfaction and it's just a relief when you've done all that training and you finish it. Next year my son and I are doing the London Marathon.
"The 1994 marathon I did was the best, because it was my first one. My next favourite would have to be New York and then my first full Ironman, which was in 2014.
"I just focus on one bit at a time. The swim, then the bike, then the run. I don't think of the full distance I just think about each lap," she said.
She is never short of motivation during events as she has a photo of her dad taped to the frame of her bike.
"He is my inspiration. He was just a hard working man and if I'm having a hard time I just look at him and keep going."
