The Challenge series is a new series which has a combination of Ironman distances such as the famous race in Roth and now with a selection of half ironman distance racers which are starting to spread across the world.
Myself, i am a stronge supporter of other race organisers having a go to open a wide market and selection for triathletes who wish to race other events outside the stonghold which WTC Ironman has other the triathlon market.
Saying that i still love to race WTC Ironman event's, i just like that their are other events such as the Challenge series 'having a go', which i believe is good for the sport of triathlon to get more of a global presence and more opportunities for triathletes within the sport.
Challenge Spain - this was the first year for the event, so saying that everthing didn't go perfectly. But all in all a nice race and venue for hopefully many years to come.
The race for myself was a very tuff race, as in europe i find that the depth of the fields are always very stronge, and Challenge Spain did not disapoint in that regards.
The swim was in the ocean, with abit of choppy sea's making it hard to navigate during the race.
The bike was fast but very undulating, with rolling hills, and a field of stronge euro biker's who new how to stroke a peddle.
The run was hot but very nice along the coast on some softer service area's such as hard sand or dirt which i prefer over the pounding of pavement all the time.
The Finish was up a hill which felt longer than it was, but with a big croud finishing in a athletics track, which helped abit with the pain.
The after party, a perfect venue for party life, every night where the race was held was a party night, so it was very hard to sleep before the race, but after lots of fun.
Germany
Well after 25hrs of travel time and a serious dose a jet lag i'm finally in Germany.
Usually this time the previous years i'm in the States doing the usually 70.3 race season and getting settled in Colorado and getting used to the altitude.
Well this year i wanted a change, both a training change and a race season change. I believe the only way to get better is to keep 'mixing it up', keep your mind and body guessing and theirs nothing more different than coming from the states and staying out on the green farmlands of Germany.
It is a very different way of living a training here, the sessons start later, the food is fresh straight from the fields and the breads are too die for.
Myself not really knowing a word of German and not able to cruze down town to 'hang out' at a local star bucks, theirs really only one thing to do, and that is TO TRAIN.
With the fresh air and the quite roads it's no wonder why German triathletes are typically good bike riders, i hope to learn a thing or two ove here, whilst taking on some of the best athlete in the world in this very competitive boarded countries which is Europe.
Usually this time the previous years i'm in the States doing the usually 70.3 race season and getting settled in Colorado and getting used to the altitude.
Well this year i wanted a change, both a training change and a race season change. I believe the only way to get better is to keep 'mixing it up', keep your mind and body guessing and theirs nothing more different than coming from the states and staying out on the green farmlands of Germany.
It is a very different way of living a training here, the sessons start later, the food is fresh straight from the fields and the breads are too die for.
Myself not really knowing a word of German and not able to cruze down town to 'hang out' at a local star bucks, theirs really only one thing to do, and that is TO TRAIN.
With the fresh air and the quite roads it's no wonder why German triathletes are typically good bike riders, i hope to learn a thing or two ove here, whilst taking on some of the best athlete in the world in this very competitive boarded countries which is Europe.
From Noumea - Byron ( 2x podiums in 1 week )
Well after China i was pumped to race again.
Though catch twenty two is that i got sick for 2 weeks and struggled to get any sort of decent training together.
Noumea International: staged quite a strong field with a depth of talent in the field; from Ironman Champions, 70.3 Stars and some young fast ITU guys it seemed like the perfect venue to knock out my first season race back.
The race went well, as i was concerned that training for Ironman would of made me too slow to race these Olympic distance events.
Noumea and Byron seemed to have a similar unfolding of the race, myself placing a strong swim, then opening up a gap on the rest of the field on the bike and holding a strong run together for a podium finish.
Though the two racers were not identical, but in Black and white version that's my very shortened summery of the 2 Olympic event which were only a week apart.
I am very happy with these results so far, firstly i only meant to race these as (training racers) to sharpen myself up from the slow Ironman training, and secondly it shows that if i can mix it up in my not ideal distance of racing, that i should be in impressive for for my goal racers which are the longer Half Ironman distance and Ironman racers.
A good return to racing and ready for Europe
Paul
Though catch twenty two is that i got sick for 2 weeks and struggled to get any sort of decent training together.
Noumea International: staged quite a strong field with a depth of talent in the field; from Ironman Champions, 70.3 Stars and some young fast ITU guys it seemed like the perfect venue to knock out my first season race back.
The race went well, as i was concerned that training for Ironman would of made me too slow to race these Olympic distance events.
Noumea and Byron seemed to have a similar unfolding of the race, myself placing a strong swim, then opening up a gap on the rest of the field on the bike and holding a strong run together for a podium finish.
Though the two racers were not identical, but in Black and white version that's my very shortened summery of the 2 Olympic event which were only a week apart.
I am very happy with these results so far, firstly i only meant to race these as (training racers) to sharpen myself up from the slow Ironman training, and secondly it shows that if i can mix it up in my not ideal distance of racing, that i should be in impressive for for my goal racers which are the longer Half Ironman distance and Ironman racers.
A good return to racing and ready for Europe
Paul
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