Docherty, who was born and educated in Taupo, spends most of his time in Santa Cruz, San Diego, these days. Photo / Steven McNicholl
Bevan Docherty hopes the familiar surroundings of his hometown, Taupo, will help calm his nerves as he counts down to his first Ironman.
Docherty admits he is apprehensive about the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand race which starts for the elite athletes at 6.45am tomorrow.
The 35-year-old has proven his
credentials in shorter triathlons - winning Olympic silver and bronze and regularly making the podium in half-ironman events - but he remains an unknown prospect over the full distance.
"I'm a little apprehensive because I've never done one of these before so I really don't know what to expect, but I am looking forward to it," he said. "For me, nutrition and pacing are going to be probably the hardest things - knowing how hard to go and how hard to push myself. That's something I'll have to figure out and be smart about. I've done my research and hopefully I've done it right. We'll see."
Docherty, who was born and educated in Taupo, spends most of his time in Santa Cruz, San Diego, these days. He said he had talked at length about what to expect with his training partner Paul Matthews, an Australian, who is an Ironman veteran.
