WEEK 5 - Expect the Unexpected!

The one thing I have learnt during my four years of triathlon is that racing very rarely pans out as planned, and today was to be no exception on this theory (the day that I have that "perfect" race will be the day I walk away with the $250,000 winners cheque and a Hummer at the Hy-Vee Triathlon, Des Moines).

I had envisaged Gatorade #4 at Portarlington to be a good lead up race to next week's long course race at Falls Creek, where I could practice my nutrition strategy and have a good hit out.

The race was switched to a duathlon format (2km run/28km cycle/8km run) due to the downpour in Melbourne the day before. My race plan was to get a comfortable lead on the first run, get out of T1 first, have a smooth bike leg, then once I had secured the lead on the final run I could back off and save the legs for next week. However, of course this was not meant to be!

All was on track coming into T1 after the first 2km run. I had that lead I wanted and I was feeling good. Then things started to go a little pear-shaped. For some reason (who knows what) I decided to keep running PAST my bike out of transition and up the stair climb (thinking that this was still part of the first 2km run). No officials were directing me otherwise so I just kept on running. It was after about 1min that I realised no one was following me. I was looking around mighty confused asking officials where to go. No one had any real idea. That's when I saw all the girls head off out on the bike...not good I thought! Eventually finding my way back into transition I was now about 2-3min down on the lead girls and had run an extra km. I was mighty pissed off (to put it nicely) and thought momentarily about giving up and calling it a day. However, I've never had a DNF and don't plan on having one in the future so I had to make the split second decision to refocus, find my bike, have a smooth transition then get out on the cycle course and go as hard as I could for as long as I could.



As the kilometres passed by I managed to catch up to some of the Elite girls until I had caught the main group. I was pretty relieved to have caught them, however there were still a few girls up the road.

Coming into T2 I made sure I had a good position so I could have a fast transition and get out onto the run course as quickly as I could. The first 1km of the run felt pretty crappy, I couldn't catch my breath as I think I was just running on adrenaline. However I told myself to calm down, breath deeply, be patient and just "run how you know to run" - nice and relaxed. I managed to get the lead at the 2km mark. Then at about the 4km mark I made the decision to back it off and conserve as much energy as I could for next week. This probably cost me the overall win as top age-grouper Bev Thomas went flying past, however my goal was to secure the Elite win and get the pay check to pay next weeks rent!

In hindsight (all though I definitely wasn't thinking it at the time) this kind of race was what I needed, something to challenge me physically and mentally. These are the races I learn the most from about myself and it gives me the confidence to know that I can handle whatever is thrown at me during a race.

Thanks must got to Stephen and Robyn from Team Barefoot for providing fantastic team support over the weekend and also to my sponsors Peak Bike Hub and Malvern Star for providing me with a well oiled machine, Brooks Running for super fast shoes and my most recent sponsor Selle SMP for a super comfy saddle.

I will now be taking a fairly cruisey week this week in preparation for Falls Creek next Sunday.

Also, Kudos to my big sister Laura for coming 715th in her fun run today in Hobart...it must run in the family!

Until next time,
Don't get lost...read a map

WEEK 4 - The Life of a Nomad

As I sit here on the couch listening to a replay of Triple J Hottest 100 countdown, watching the tennis on tv and sweltering in 40 degree heat, I ponder what to blog about for week #4 of my Ultimate Challenge. This week has been a fairly stock-standard week of training and life in general. Life at the moment seems to be a constant revolving wheel composed of the never-ending search for a temporary place to live until I go back overseas, trying to find work that fits in around training AND pays the bills (have discovered that this actually doesn't exist), pondering if I should go back to Uni (one day in the very distant future), and trying to plan for the 2011 US Tri Season. The last point being the very reason of my nomadic lifestyle.

Training on the other hand has been going great guns and all is on track for a good race up at the Falls Creek Long Course in 2 weeks time. This week I completed my longest ever run (28.5km) and managed to pull up well, with even the extra ankle bone behaving! Following the run I managed to consume a copious amount of food at Sam's B'day/Aus Day Celebrations that sufficiently replaced my fuel stores. I also put in some really solid sessions on the bike. So all is on track training wise. Next week is Gatorade #4 at Portarlington which is always a fun race then the taper for Falls begins...woo!

I must apologise for the lack of excitement in this blog, but I feel that my sudden enthusiasm in blogging this past week has really caught up with me and as such I must rest, refuel and re energize in preparation for a rippa entry next week.

Until next time;
stay cool, sit under a tree...

WEEK 3 continued...

Sam managed to come through with the goods and helped me post this link to the SEN interview I did on Sunday night. Thanks!

Click Here: SEN Interview

WEEK 3 - The Wireless

This weeks blog is pending....

I did an interview on SEN 1116AM on Sunday night. I've been trying to upload it but have come to the conclusion that I'm really not tech savy, so have handballed it onto Sam. Hopefully he has more luck!

But I am good at pointless quick facts! Quick fact #1: when the numbers are added together, every AM radio frequency equals 18, eg. SEN 1116AM is 1+1+16 = 18!,
ABC 1026AM is 10+2+6 = 18!! ect. etc.

Stayed tuned...

WEEK 2 - VIC Champs

After getting home from Falls I was really looking forward to putting in some good training before the Victorian Olympic Distance Champs held on the following Sunday. However unfortunaelty I got sick on the Monday and had to spend the week trying to get better as quickly as possible. I did very little training that week and only started to feel good on the Saturday (day before race day). I was a bit worried as to how I'd go Sunday morning as I'd done no intense training that week, but I knew I had a strong base behind me and if I gave it my all then I should be in with a chance.



The race went pretty much to plan, and I came away with the win by about 3 minutes. This was my 3rd win in the 2010/11 Gatorade Tri Series and the 4th time I have won that race. Sandy is a good place!!

WEEK 1 - Fun in the Sun at Falls

Sam and I spent a few days up at Falls Creek over the New Year. During the summer months Falls is transformed from it's usual winter wonderland into a training hub for athletes. There were about 100 runners training when we were up there which was a pretty crazy sight!



As we weren't up there for too long I tried to keep the training fairly light since there wasn't enough time to get used to the altitude. I did a few rides, including the bike course of the Supersprint Falls Creek Long Course Champs (on in Feb), and some awesome runs along the aqueduct trails. The views from up the top of the mountain are amazing...I could run forever up there!!
We will be heading up there again in a few weeks for the Long Course race...cannot wait! Woo.

The Ultimate Challenge

I have decided to take on the ultimate blogging challenge. A challenge that will surpass all of my other one minute wonder ideas. This challenge will take all of my determination and commitment to achieve. I will blog every week for 52 weeks - the whole of 2011. Epic I know! (It's sort of like running 52 marathons in 52 weeks...well not really, but it could be just as brutal). And since I have put it out there in the cyber world...then yes I must stick to this obligation.

Seeing as we are already in week 3.5 then I must play catch up. Each week I shall blog on something I deem significant to have occurred. Now small things amuse small minds...so I'm not promising greatness or riveting reading for that matter. But I will try to make it as interesting as possible. Maybe a training session I did in a cool place, or a session that I smashed or got smashed in, or an awesome race I did.

For those that have no interest whatsoever, don't read. For those who do the occasional pass by read...kudos to you! And for those who want to check back weekly...welcome aboard!! Now I will keep the blogs short and sweet and try to put in some pics/vids once I get my hands on one of those devices called the digital camera (I seemed to have been left behind in this technology phase, and as such find myself camera-less).

To keep it regular and consistent (as all athletes know that consistency is the key) I shall blog on a Sunday night, unless Hawthorn is playing in a twilight match then I will have to reschedule to a Monday morning.

So to kick things off, my next blog will feature Weeks 1-3! Here goes...