Ironman Australia

Ironman Australia

Leading into Ironman Australia i had put together a pretty good summer of training behind me in Sydney, things seemed to be going well.

I also entered Ironman Melbourne as i thought that i might have a chance to sneak in a good race down there to put me in good stance to qualify for Ironman Hawaii.

Now looking back at that first move to race Melbourne, i was probably about 3 weeks shy of being race ready, and with a field like melbourne i should of really known better. 

So onwards and upwards, unfortunately i didn't finish Melbourne suffering bad cramps in my hip flexors and quads so i had to pull the pin, this gave me some adequate time to work on some kinks to polish me off and to get me ready for Ironman Australia.

Ironman Australia, everything seemed to be on track, so i approached the race with some confidence and a different race plan to Melbourne. 

My plan was to stick to a constant pace, don't worry so much about the factors around like the other athletes, just put together a race without any spikes in my threshold.

Problem with spiking, surging pushing myself outside the comfort zone, is that in a full ironman you can pay for it later down the track, and pay big! 

I felt like this was my problem with a race like Melbourne that i got so caught up with athletes around that i lost focus of my race plan ahead.

Ironman Australia; Everything looked like it was going ok, Bell and the french guy got a lead out of the swim on me, with Bell extending his lead even more on the bike.

I wasn't too concerned by the closing stages of the bike, i had kept to my race plan which was staying at an even threshold and i'd passed the french athlete so i was in 2nd with Bell having a considerable lead on the bike.

Starting the marathon in 2nd i wasn't too concerned about Bells lead, i knew he was racing 'scared' so to speak, not so much scared of us athletes, I think he was pushing too hard as he wasn't confident with his back end marathon trying to give himself a big buffer over the rest of us.

Unfortunately for him, it didn't pay off and he was reduced to walking.

My marathon started off a little shaky, my back had seized up for the first 15km of the run (i believe from sleeping on a bad hotel bed) which now looking back at the end result probably cost me the win at the end of the day.

The canadian guy who won, was a relatively unknown athlete to me, though it didn't matter if i knew him or not as i raced the way i raced despite my competition.

I eventually caught bell like i thought in the early stages of the 2nd half marathon, but unfortunately for me running so slow in the first half marathon till by back loosed up, i had lost quite some considerable time to the fast running canadian, so as i was just getting into first place, this would only be for a matter of seconds as the canadian was already shoulder-shoulder to take the lead for himself. 

By the closing stages of the marathon, the race looked like it was set in stone, the canadian was running well, but only slightly quicker than me, but it was enough for him to take the win.

I am still pleased with my race, as allot of my own analysis into my race, was mostly "cosmetic work" like having a good bed to sleep on, which could've been a 5min advantage enough to be the difference from winning to 2nd place.

Another bonus is that i was the first Australian, so technically that's my 2nd Australian title ;)

       

 

Australia, summer & Ironman

At the airport, about to embark on my US summer and race season ahead.
Before i do so, i thought i would update what's been happening in my Australian summer and recap on a epic day at Ironman Australia.
Since January my new years resolution was to take my next Ironman distance seriously, i've been a bit obnoxious with my last Ironman distance events, taking for granter the distance and preparations needed to perform well at the event.
I decided early that Ironman Australia would be the next Ironman that i would do, for 2 reasons. One it's been one of the most iconic races growing up in Australia for the past 20years and i could experience the race & prep with some of my closest friends and training partners.
Leading into the race, Sydney has been throwing a usually wet summer at us, but instead of doing what i usually do (complain and whinge) i just felt i inner calm, knowing what i got to do.
And i did it, from start to finish as i planned i went for it, i think watching the Australian swim trails i tried to channel "James Magnussen" (100m world record holder) and funny enough Port Macquarie local.
I got a nice lead and continued to push on the bike, but i felt really relaxed at the same time, was a great experience soaking in the crowed and seeing my mates cheering and racing at the same time.

Lastly the run was feeling good for the most part, till i managed to get the worse blisters i've ever felt about half way through the run. I was in so much pain as every foot stroke was landing right on the sweet spot of the blisters. And cheesy enough i had that old fashion saying in my mind "pain is temporary, regret is forever", that in the back of my head, i ignored the pain and enjoyed such a satisfying win.         

Abu Dhabi

I am starting enjoy this time of the year, getting over the proverbial hump of being out of shape and getting into a good rhythm/ routine in training. I am finally getting fit again, knocking out key sessions and recovering well.

After a good 4 weeks in Sydney, i have met up with my team (Tri Abu Dhabi) with some welcome new additions to the team this year.

The camp has been great so far, the weather has been ideal with perfect hot sunny days and for this time of year not as windy as it has been in the past.

The team and i are based in a hotel in Al Ain another emirate in the UAE about 2hrs inland from Abu dhabi, the hotel has a 33m swimming pool and a dried up river bed for great soft running adjacent.

The team trains in Al Ain as to Abu Dhabi as the roads are much quieter here for bike riding and has a more convenient variety of training options.

I will be here for a total of 2 weeks before i head back to Sydney to finish my final training for the Abu Dhabi international triathlon.

A New Year

Ok, so it's been awhile since my last blog and instead of reminiscing on what i've missed in racing/training and what not i thought i would just go on from the present and let you know where im at.

2012 has just begun, which means back too training. I have just come out of my typical end of year break enjoying the month off in december, i really enjoy this time of the year unwinding and getting caught up with the "silly season".

I make a effort every December to take the entire month off to enjoy myself catching up with friends and family and trying to take my mind away from triathlon as it can get overwhelming racing/ training all year.

Due to the time off this month is always the most painful for me, my body clock is all out of wak and my fitness rivals a contestant on the biggest looser.

Starting back into training I always think of one of my favorite movies (Rocky I) where "Rocky" the out of shape bum (boxer) tries to get fit when he excepts the challenge from the heavy weight champ of the world (Apolo Creed). I love to relate different blocks of training to some of my favorite movies.

With that said, this out of shape bum, needs to get fit. Who's knows i might have a race with the champion of the world soon....

What Happened....

'What Happened' is one of the most dreaded things i hate to answer when your race doesn't go to plan, or doesn't live up to other peoples expectations of yourself.

I think i am my most harshest critic, so when i am already down in the dumps for myself not living up to my ideal performance, explaining to everyone else just makes it that little more difficult.

Well i have been referring to most races in general, but for this instance i am talking about my resent performance at Ironman Louisville.

Well before the race i had a friend bike mechanic look over my bike for a quick check up, only to find a crack in my rear race wheel.

I was lucky enough to have a mate that runs a race day wheel hire company to lend me a disc wheel for the race.

When it came to 'race day' (the next day) I guess it was just bad luck during the race, as the wheel kept buckling against my bike frame, the problem was the gap was very narrow in the bike frame and then the added flex from a disc at high speeds making the buckle a constant. I had to stop a few times to try and correct the problem, but ultimately it felt like i was riding with my brakes on for the entire duration of the bike leg.

After the bike leg i was still in-contact with 1st place, and i tried to stay focused and hoped to pull together a strong run, after about 6 miles i started to feel sick and started to fade fast.

I tried to stay positive and ran too the 14 mile mark, but i found that it was just not my day and with Vegas worlds only 2 weeks away I had to make the decision to pull out and save my legs and recover in time for the World champs.

It's been a busy year and an even busier race season, i plan to have fun in Vegas but still take it seriously.

See ya then

Ambrose

Next challenge lies ahead

Lake Stevens was my next and probably final back to back race of the year.

The race went quite well, after racing boulder 70.3 the week before i was hoping to back up another solid race.

The race was quite close with myself making a break away at the start of the bike leg with Luke Bell following myself and ended up sitting behind me for the entire portion of the bike.

We had a few minutes lead over everyone else after the bike leg, which by the run stage of the race Bell's legs looked fresher than mine and proved it running away for 1st position.

I was happy to receive another 2nd place and my 4th podium in a row this season, it has really given me some confidence with my abilities so far testing them to the challenge of a long race season.

My next challenge will be Ironman louisville which is now less than 2 weeks away. I've had some dilemmas of recent, whether i should go back and defend my title as the race is only 2 weeks before the 70.3 world champs.

I have had a soft spot for my first Ironman title and the Louisville course itself, so with much deliberation i've decided to return.

It's going to take a massive effort on my behalf to firstly defend my title successfully and secondly get fresh enough and ready to compete well in the 70.3 world champs.

I am about to embark on a journey now, to see how my body can respond to the challenge or not.

See you on the other side

Paul

Racing in my own backyard.

Well 3 weeks after by last 2 back to back races i am at in again.

I decided to race the Ironman Boulder 70.3, mostly just because it's in my "own back yard" so to speak. I really don't like the process of traveling so much anymore, so the opportunity to race without traveling was too hard for me to pass up.

Every year it's the same with the Boulder 70.3 event, i always say i don't want to race it ever again as i don't like racing at altitude and the course doesn't really suit me. But every time it's the same argument that wins, it's right there and worse come to worse just use it as a training day.

Its a hard day at the office to use as a training day, but if you know me i do enjoy to race.

Race day had some up's and down's but my biggest optical was that i found i just couldn't put that little bit extra as i do in sea level, which i found it is very difficult to breath.

The race was pretty much won and lost on the bike it seemed, with Gambles and Frasier making a decisive break away on the bike, and Gambles finishing off with a stella run.

I found myself battling it out, with what it seemed to be everyone else together on the run leg of the race. I lost some considerable ground after the first lap of the run falling back into 6th position, i was able to settle down and compose myself to bring back a stronger 2nd lap.

I was lucky in the end to get onto the podium for 3rd place and was happy to do so on a course that didn't suit my strengths.

Now the challenge is to recover quickly again to back up in Ironman Lake Stevens 70.3.

Speedy recovery

Paul