The official model event was organised for today at Caravasi. I decided that this wasn't going to be so relevant and very hot in midday. It was coastal dunes (similar area to JWOC 2002) with some steep slopes and terraces. I went for a run around the university campus in the cool morning air at 7.30am and it was still super hot and sweaty. The university campus is large with a quiet road around the outside and a few gravel tracks at the far end. I ran for 30min, including 7 x2min intervals. It was great to push myself running again, as technical training can be slow due to vegetation. I know feel confident I have time to recover going into the castle on Tuesday.
The model event was fun for everyone though, I ran 24min around most of the course (missing 4-7). The terraces in the final section were most interesting and fast forest. Everyone cooled off in the ocean before returning for lunch- paella and pasta with lettuce salad and bread. Then siesta was relaxing with most of us sleeping a hour- what else can you do in this heat (-;
In the evening we walked to town 15min for the opening ceremony. The usual gathering of teams and photographs was followed by a parade onto the stage in a small round stadium. First time NZ representative, Imogene, was our gracious flag bearer. The speeches of official were followed by a dramatic dance performance of demons vs beauty, and included destroyed teddy bears, fire throwing/art, a girl dancing in a ring held up above the concrete stage by a crane, a fabric rope dancer held by a crane, a stilt walking monster and a huge monster/transformer on wheels. It was unusual but skillful.
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