I'm finally home....
After on and off racing since January 08.
2008 has been my longest season away from Australia and also my largest year of racing; with 2 X Olympic distance / 11 X 70.3's / 1 X ITU Long Course World champs and a Ironman debut it has been quite a hectic and jam packed season.
What i have learned from this is that it's just too many racers in one season.
To get the most out of myself as an athlete and a competitor is to pick my battles, as training then traveling to all these racers can mentally and physically burn you out.
So now its a long overdue break for me, i need to get my head out of triathlon and go hang out with my old mates.
For me racing and travelling for the last 9 months has been tuff, as all i seem to do is think about triathlon, i have had fun too don't get me wrong, but for myself after a hard year of training and racing theirs nothing better to get fat and go out drinking and partying with ya mates.
So its time to get fat, unfit and wait for the new year to come, so i can come back mentally fresh and ready to shed those Christmas weight off.
cheers Paul
Season Over
Well theirs allot that have happened since my last blog, which was like months ago.
Here is abit of catching up;
I raced Monaco 70.3 which i crashed on the wet technical roads.
Got Back to Boulder, trained with some of the guys in the preparations for Hawaii.
Went to longhorn Texas to race another 70.3 for my lead up to clearwater, which i felt terrible all day and had to bow out on the run.
Moved back to Florida for my preparations for Clearwater.
Raced Clearwater, which later i believe now that my preparations for training in Florida wasn't ideal.
Which lead me to try my 1st Ironman Debut in Arizona, also didn't go that great, i don't believe i was conditioned enough, which lead to my marathon falling apart and having to walk and shuffle the last 8 miles of the marathon.
I know this posting is brief, but i just thought i would write a few cliff notes of my racers and where I'm at, at the moment.
Now I'm officially done for the season, i should have some interesting posts to follow.
cheers Paul
Here is abit of catching up;
I raced Monaco 70.3 which i crashed on the wet technical roads.
Got Back to Boulder, trained with some of the guys in the preparations for Hawaii.
Went to longhorn Texas to race another 70.3 for my lead up to clearwater, which i felt terrible all day and had to bow out on the run.
Moved back to Florida for my preparations for Clearwater.
Raced Clearwater, which later i believe now that my preparations for training in Florida wasn't ideal.
Which lead me to try my 1st Ironman Debut in Arizona, also didn't go that great, i don't believe i was conditioned enough, which lead to my marathon falling apart and having to walk and shuffle the last 8 miles of the marathon.
I know this posting is brief, but i just thought i would write a few cliff notes of my racers and where I'm at, at the moment.
Now I'm officially done for the season, i should have some interesting posts to follow.
cheers Paul
Europe
G'day. i have been quite lazy with my recent updates of my blog.
So again like many of my past posts, ill give you the cliff notes of what I've been up too.
After my last race in Vineman 70.3, i decided to have a break for 2 weeks. No training just relaxing and some partying. i decided i needed some mid season RnR after a already quite jam packed race calender.
After 2 weeks off, i had to do a 3 week cram session to get fit quick as i hastily put my hand up to race the ITU long course world champs in Almere Holland.
It was a challenging obstacle for myself as i was struggling for fitness after my 2 weeks break. I was also competing in the unknown, As this would be the longest distance event i have yet to compete in.
Almere - i turned out to receive a respectable 9th place, in my first ITU long course world champs. I was happy with my race, and the best part was that i took from the race :- experience in racing against to best in the world and a great stepping stone to move to the Ironman distance.
Next top Monaco
So again like many of my past posts, ill give you the cliff notes of what I've been up too.
After my last race in Vineman 70.3, i decided to have a break for 2 weeks. No training just relaxing and some partying. i decided i needed some mid season RnR after a already quite jam packed race calender.
After 2 weeks off, i had to do a 3 week cram session to get fit quick as i hastily put my hand up to race the ITU long course world champs in Almere Holland.
It was a challenging obstacle for myself as i was struggling for fitness after my 2 weeks break. I was also competing in the unknown, As this would be the longest distance event i have yet to compete in.
Almere - i turned out to receive a respectable 9th place, in my first ITU long course world champs. I was happy with my race, and the best part was that i took from the race :- experience in racing against to best in the world and a great stepping stone to move to the Ironman distance.
Next top Monaco
Rhode Island rap up
Ok i thought i should post a quick run down of Rhode Island 70.3 as the race coverage and reports were less than poor.
Ok swim- So we went off and a crew with Rhodsey and a few ITU boys led out the swim like a bullet out of a gate, i followed with Richie and Griffen on my feet.
i was lucky enough to Use my old surf skill to catch what was left of a small wave into the beach.
The bike- it was on like donkey kong and i went for it as soon as i pushed my first pedal, i soon caught race leader Brian Rhodes with Griffen and Richie still trialing behind.
We soon got past the half way point of the bike when the powerful man from Argentina (Oscar Galindaz) soon came flying by, i was able to go with him, but Giffen and Richie were not able.
Oscar and i soon established a good lead on the rest of the field, when the lead car sent us the wrong was and had to ride back a mile back on course (which we lost some time and momentum) frustrating enough.
The run- Oscar and i soon hit the run together , and for 7 miles we were shoulder - shoulder trying to break one another. soon on the 2nd lap we hit the big hill for the 2nd time and "the man" soon got away from me.
With 2 miles to go Richie soon appeared out of no where and i had nothing left to give so i gladly held onto 3rd in the end.
Next Stop Vineman 70.3 (back - back weekend)
Cheers Ambrose
Ok swim- So we went off and a crew with Rhodsey and a few ITU boys led out the swim like a bullet out of a gate, i followed with Richie and Griffen on my feet.
i was lucky enough to Use my old surf skill to catch what was left of a small wave into the beach.
The bike- it was on like donkey kong and i went for it as soon as i pushed my first pedal, i soon caught race leader Brian Rhodes with Griffen and Richie still trialing behind.
We soon got past the half way point of the bike when the powerful man from Argentina (Oscar Galindaz) soon came flying by, i was able to go with him, but Giffen and Richie were not able.
Oscar and i soon established a good lead on the rest of the field, when the lead car sent us the wrong was and had to ride back a mile back on course (which we lost some time and momentum) frustrating enough.
The run- Oscar and i soon hit the run together , and for 7 miles we were shoulder - shoulder trying to break one another. soon on the 2nd lap we hit the big hill for the 2nd time and "the man" soon got away from me.
With 2 miles to go Richie soon appeared out of no where and i had nothing left to give so i gladly held onto 3rd in the end.
Next Stop Vineman 70.3 (back - back weekend)
Cheers Ambrose
NO more Games
OK , sorry i haven't been updating my blog too often.
its been difficult doing it from my phone.
Anyways a brief catch up on my endeavours.
So i have been getting quite serious lately, trying to avoid the late nights out and "chasing the laddies" so to speak. That can be more tiring than training some times.
So i have tried to break away from my typical "old school" philosophy, i went to the boulder high performance lab and done all the testing from lactate to Vo2 max Jason covered everything, which was quite interesting to learn abit more about my own body.
Also i was a big fan of Zoot sports products and am pleased to mention that i will be racing the end of the season 'Zooted" up so to speak.
Now its time for business, i have been in the past be criticized for not taking triathlon too seriously, but that's not the case, yes i go out party and muck around but when it comes to my preparation for my racers i treat them with allot of seriousness.
So i have learned abit more about my body which theirs still more to learn, i have the right tools (race apparel), so now its time for business.
Next racers the "Double header" Rhode island 70.3 - Vineman 70.3
Ready to roll
Ambrose
its been difficult doing it from my phone.
Anyways a brief catch up on my endeavours.
So i have been getting quite serious lately, trying to avoid the late nights out and "chasing the laddies" so to speak. That can be more tiring than training some times.
So i have tried to break away from my typical "old school" philosophy, i went to the boulder high performance lab and done all the testing from lactate to Vo2 max Jason covered everything, which was quite interesting to learn abit more about my own body.
Also i was a big fan of Zoot sports products and am pleased to mention that i will be racing the end of the season 'Zooted" up so to speak.
Now its time for business, i have been in the past be criticized for not taking triathlon too seriously, but that's not the case, yes i go out party and muck around but when it comes to my preparation for my racers i treat them with allot of seriousness.
So i have learned abit more about my body which theirs still more to learn, i have the right tools (race apparel), so now its time for business.
Next racers the "Double header" Rhode island 70.3 - Vineman 70.3
Ready to roll
Ambrose
Passport Debarkel
ok well my luck over the last month hasn't been great. To be honest its been less than ordinary.
well my plans where to get ready for the uk 70.3 a goal race of mine since the start of the season.
so training and my prepartion was going well, I had a friend from out of town staying with me which made the past week leeding up to the debarkel fun and enjoyable.
so Monday night hits and we both had early flight out on Tuesday so we thought it would be easier to stay in a hotel room at the airport that night so we didn't have to get up so early.
My friend had a hire car so I said I would drop it off in the morning so he could just take the shuttle to the airport.
morning of: so I dropped the car off at 5am and was on the bus to the airport with plenty of time for my 7am flight, as when I just realised that I didn't have my passport. I thought I left it back at my appartment in boulder, so I went back to the renta car place and hired a car to go back to boulder and back, in the insane notion that I would still make my flight.
with the rushing home I was "lucky" enough to get pulled over by the police. Who "lucky" enough turned out to be a imagration officer as well. So I was held on the side of the free way for some time as I had no idenification (no passport) so it looked extra fishy.
the officer was cool in the end and let me off with a warning.
So I get back to the appartment and search head - toe of the place and still could not find my passport. So I had to go back and drop off the car at the airport and needless to say I missed my flight. And had to catch the bus back home with my head inbetweem my legs.
So the next day I had to file a missing passaport report at the police station and all the other forms for a new passport (very stressful)
last minute I booked a flight to Kansas for the 70.3 their (because you can still fly interstate with a drivers licence)
my Thursday afternoon a friend sore that their was a sign in the parking garage down town saying that their is a found passport. So with a bit of a rush I got it back, cancelled my other one(but too late to go to the uk)
well my plans where to get ready for the uk 70.3 a goal race of mine since the start of the season.
so training and my prepartion was going well, I had a friend from out of town staying with me which made the past week leeding up to the debarkel fun and enjoyable.
so Monday night hits and we both had early flight out on Tuesday so we thought it would be easier to stay in a hotel room at the airport that night so we didn't have to get up so early.
My friend had a hire car so I said I would drop it off in the morning so he could just take the shuttle to the airport.
morning of: so I dropped the car off at 5am and was on the bus to the airport with plenty of time for my 7am flight, as when I just realised that I didn't have my passport. I thought I left it back at my appartment in boulder, so I went back to the renta car place and hired a car to go back to boulder and back, in the insane notion that I would still make my flight.
with the rushing home I was "lucky" enough to get pulled over by the police. Who "lucky" enough turned out to be a imagration officer as well. So I was held on the side of the free way for some time as I had no idenification (no passport) so it looked extra fishy.
the officer was cool in the end and let me off with a warning.
So I get back to the appartment and search head - toe of the place and still could not find my passport. So I had to go back and drop off the car at the airport and needless to say I missed my flight. And had to catch the bus back home with my head inbetweem my legs.
So the next day I had to file a missing passaport report at the police station and all the other forms for a new passport (very stressful)
last minute I booked a flight to Kansas for the 70.3 their (because you can still fly interstate with a drivers licence)
my Thursday afternoon a friend sore that their was a sign in the parking garage down town saying that their is a found passport. So with a bit of a rush I got it back, cancelled my other one(but too late to go to the uk)
flat in Boise 70.3
so what can I say, I was feeling good leading up to the Boise 70.3.
alittle hesident with my approach to the swim as you swim in the reservoir which is basically snow melt run off that you swim in (so its really cold). But once you got going and numb, I didnt mind the swim at all.
I had a good swim, I came out with the leaders and was possitioned nicely for the bike. I was in 3rd taking 2nd place with 1st in my sites, but with a mile into the bike leg I frustratingly got a flat tire, I had no spares so I was forced to pull out of the race.
a very unlucky race today as I was confident on getting a podium in this event.
so I will be more deteimed now to prove myself in my next 70.3 in the uk.
I am excited to race as I was injured their last year and this year I will get my first dule off for the season with one of my training partners and previous winner of this event (Chris McCormack). I love racing against the best athletes in the sport as it pushes me to achieve my best within myself.
All guns blazing
next stop uk
alittle hesident with my approach to the swim as you swim in the reservoir which is basically snow melt run off that you swim in (so its really cold). But once you got going and numb, I didnt mind the swim at all.
I had a good swim, I came out with the leaders and was possitioned nicely for the bike. I was in 3rd taking 2nd place with 1st in my sites, but with a mile into the bike leg I frustratingly got a flat tire, I had no spares so I was forced to pull out of the race.
a very unlucky race today as I was confident on getting a podium in this event.
so I will be more deteimed now to prove myself in my next 70.3 in the uk.
I am excited to race as I was injured their last year and this year I will get my first dule off for the season with one of my training partners and previous winner of this event (Chris McCormack). I love racing against the best athletes in the sport as it pushes me to achieve my best within myself.
All guns blazing
next stop uk
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