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