Half Ironman World Championships in New Zealand
Spokane Nutritionist on Triathlon Fueling and Endurance Nutrition
This adventure has been a long time coming, and I wanted to share my experience traveling to New Zealand for the Half Ironman World Championships from my perspective as a mom, athlete, and Spokane nutritionist. My husband Kevin and I both qualified, which was a dream come true. As a dietitian and endurance athlete, it was also an incredible opportunity to test everything I teach about Ironman nutrition, customized nutrition plans, and real-life triathlon fueling while juggling parenthood.
Traveling to New Zealand with a 14-Month-Old
We knew the trip would be a logistical puzzle—two races, all our gear, and a 14-month-old in tow! But we also knew we didn’t want to leave our daughter, Keely, behind. Between both of us racing, hauling bikes and baby gear across the globe, and exploring nearly the entire length of New Zealand, I started to wonder if we were completely crazy for attempting it. Spoiler: we were—but it was absolutely worth it.
Getting There and Exploring the Country
Traveling from Spokane to New Zealand was surprisingly manageable. We flew Spokane → San Francisco → Auckland, with one long overnight flight. Despite the 21-hour time difference, it felt like only a 3-hour shift, which helped our rhythms adjust fairly easily.
We rented a camper van (mainly to carry all of our stuff!) and spent time in:
Auckland
Waiheke Island
Coromandel and Hahei
Taupo (race location)
Kaikoura
Mt. Cook
Te Anau and Milford Sound
Queenstown
From Queenstown, we flew back to Spokane via Auckland and San Francisco.
The landscape was unlike anywhere else—starting like Hawaii and ending like Alaska. Every region offered something new. The people were warm and welcoming, the facilities spotless, and the playgrounds next-level. Everything felt family-friendly, which made the experience even better.
In three weeks, we slept in nine different beds, camped two nights, and became pros at entertaining a toddler while loading and unloading bikes and baby gear daily.
Prepping for the Race Abroad
As an endurance athlete and dietitian, I had to rethink my usual Ironman nutrition and triathlon fueling plan while adjusting to a new country. One of the best decisions we made was buying a used bike trainer off Facebook Marketplace for pre-race workouts. It made training much easier, especially with the opposite-side road setup and new environments.
Staying consistent with shorter workouts before the race helped us keep fitness up without overdoing it. We ran, biked, and even squeezed in a few swims leading up to race day.
Carb Loading Challenges in New Zealand
Carb loading for an endurance race abroad was unexpectedly tricky. Even though New Zealand is an English-speaking country, food labeling differs from the U.S.—serving sizes are based on weight, and familiar items like bagels were hard to find. It took effort to understand portion sizes and carbohydrate content. We did get to try some new and fun things for our carb-load including Gingernut Cookies and Sherbert Fizz Candy (both of which may be things we order for future carb-loading).
ABOUT US: SPOKANE NUTRITIONISTS
We are a group of registered Spokane dietitians and personal trainers who have a passion for helping you feel in control of your health.
We work mainly with athletes, those with chronic GI conditions, and women in perimenopause and menopause. We create customized nutrition plans to empower and educate you in your health journey.
Race Day: Half Ironman World Championships in Taupo
This was my third 70.3 World Championship, and it felt like the most relaxed by far—very on-brand for New Zealand! Unlike other races where you line up an hour early, we were playing at the park until 20 minutes before Kevin’s start time.
Swim: Lake Taupo was stunning. The clear, calm water helped me hit a swim PR thanks to perfect conditions.
Bike: The first half was fast, but the second half had a long, steady climb with headwind and chipseal roads that slowed everything down. It was tougher than expected.
Run: Advertised as flat—but it wasn’t! Between the unexpected hills and the thin ozone layer making 75°F feel like 90°F, it was a mental and physical grind. I had to dig deep, but I pulled out another PR on the run.
Overall, I was thrilled with my performance. Racing alongside world-class athletes and hearing cheers in multiple languages was inspiring. Fourteen months postpartum, I was proud to see how strong and capable my body felt again.
The toughest part? Waking up early the next day to support Kevin’s race with Keely in tow!
Final Thoughts
This experience reminded me why I love both racing and my work as a Spokane nutritionist. Balancing life as a mom, athlete, and dietitian gives me a unique perspective on creating customized nutrition plans for endurance athletes—whether you’re preparing for your first triathlon or your next Ironman.
If you’re training for a big race or planning your own triathlon fueling plan, remember: the best experiences often come from doing the hard, slightly crazy things.