WEEK 8 - Another week...Another Blog

For this week's blog I have decided to put my "serious" hat on and blog about something that is actually relevant to everyday life.

This week I did 72% of my training on my own...therefore giving me a large chunk of time to think random thoughts. For the majority of the time when out training I just sing the same song over and over and over in my head, or repeat lines from The Hangover. However on the odd occasion I do in fact think intelligent thoughts relating to issues facing the world...who would've thought!

After seeing the images of pain and suffering that all New Zealander's are currently experiencing as a result of the earthquake, got me to thinking of the power that mother nature possesses and the impact she has had on society in the past 6 months. It's as though mother nature has gone "screw you world, I'm going to belt you with blow after blow after blow and see how you stand up." Beginning with the floods in QLD, NSW and VIC, Cyclone Yasi in northern QLD, bush fires in WA and most recently the earthquake in NZ.

Each time I watch, listen or read about one of these disasters I have to think how lucky I am. I often think that if I were to fall off my bike tomorrow and break a leg then my world would fall apart. However after seeing what these people are going through and the hardship they are facing really puts life into perspective and makes me realise that I am so lucky to be where I am and doing what I am doing. It is so easy to get caught up and forget that there is more to life than swimming up and down following a black line, or riding endless km's, but when it comes down to it, what I am doing in triathlon is all just fun and games. If I were to have a shocker of a race or roll an ankle, then I would still wake up the next morning and life would go on as normal. However for all the thousands of people who have been affected by the recent disasters, they are the one's who will wake up and their world is changed forever. They are the people who will have to fight everyday and will go "screw you mother nature, we will fight back."

So the moral to the story is don't take things for granted. Be thankful for what you have, and don't take life too seriously!


Until next time,

Spread the love...

(Phew that was deep!)

WEEK 7 - Website Launch

After countless weeks of slave labour on Sam's behalf I decided to announce on radio tonight (SEN 1116 AM) that my website would be launched at that precise moment...giving Sam all of 10 minutes to work his magic and make it live, pronto!! So check it out at www.madeleineoldfield.com - it includes schedule, results, media, sponsors, pics and latest racing news.

All is still on track for reaching the milestone 52 blogs in 52 weeks!

Until next time,


Sam is the MAN!!

WEEK 6 - Falls Creek Long Course Triathlon

When I crossed the finish line in my first Half Ironman at Shepparton in November I swore I would never do one again! However I soon forgot about the pain and managed to find myself on the start line of the inaugural Falls Creek Long Course Triathlon this morning.



I was really excited to be competing in a race at such an amazing location. For those that don't know, Falls Creek is located in the Victorian Alps, 1600m above sea level. It truly is one of the greatest places on earth and we were all so lucky to be competing there.

I had been up to Falls Creek a month earlier and had done some training over the course, so I had a fair idea of what I was in for come race day. The course is brutal, starting off with a 2km swim in 15 degree water, followed by a super hilly 80km on the bike, and finishing off with a 20km trail/cross country run. The course alone is tough enough, however we had the added bonus of altitude to contend with. This was not your average race, and I knew that the strongest athlete would come home with the goods at the end of the day. I love tough racing, so couldn't wait to get started.

I had a great swim and came out of the water in 2nd place, about 2min down from ITU racing specialist Liz Blachford. Close behind me were Michelle Wu and Nicole Ward. I managed to have a super fast transition and went about trying to catch Liz, which I did by the end of the first lap (of three) on the bike. We were soon accompanied by Wu and stayed together for the remaining 2 laps. Coming into T2 I knew that I would have to have one of my best ever runs if I were to beat these girls, as they are both amazing athletes and have a number of titles to their names.

I managed to get out on the run course first and just focused on holding a constant pace and getting my nutrition right. As the k's ticked over I started to feel stronger and stronger and knew that if I let my lead slip now then I had missed a great opportunity, so I put all I had into getting to that finish line in the top position. I was super excited when it finally came around and I crossed the line in First Place Elite Female and Victorian Long Course Champion.

This was a breakthrough race for me. I was really looking at giving it my all out there today and putting in 110% effort. I knew that it was time to step it up and I had to start mixing it with the big girls, especially if I want to have success in the USA this year.

This would have to be one of the greatest triathlons I have competed in and congratulations must go to SuperSprint and Falls Creek for putting on such a fantastic event. If anyone is looking for a challenging race in one of the best locations in the world, then Falls Creek Long Course is a must for the 2012 racing calendar. Also, well done to all the other competitors out there today, just to get to the finish was a huge achievement!



I must say a massive thanks to Mum, Dad, Sam, Barb, Colin, Susannah and Coop for their race day support. Also to my amazing sponsors in Malvern Star, Peak Bike Hub, Brooks Running, Selle SMP Saddles and Team Barefoot.

The biggest thanks must go to my coach Joshua Rix, the support, belief and advice he has provided me with is second to none and the future is exciting!

Until next time,

Take it easy...

Tri Zone Race Report

Click Here

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