Challenge Roth Race Report

At the beginning of the day I knew my gold medal was going to be a podium finish and that’s exactly where I ended up, 3^rd place in the biggest race in Europe, Challenge Roth. I have never experienced a crowd like it, I thought Challenge Copenhagen was pretty special with over 100,000 people on the course last yr in the middle of town. But the German people, over 180,000 of them packing the climbs and run course made an unbelievable atmosphere. Turning the corner and approaching the Solaberg for the first time, I had goosebumps on my arms and couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. During the run I used a Ipod for the first 20k and numerous times, I couldn’t even hear the music for the crowd noise. I said during the press conference it was like been at a rock concert and that wasn’t a joke!

It’s a definite must do race if you are ever coming to Europe or want to experience something very special.

So to my race, I was pretty relaxed race morning and rode the 1km on a Cruiser bike to the start area. The swim is down one side of a canal and back up the other side. My swimming has been going really well and prior to the race that was what I was least worried about, but it ended up being my worst section of the race. I got a little pumped at the start and after 1500m or so found myself just of the back of the second bunch. From there the gap stretched and I ended up leading the rest of the swim with the 3^rd bunch. Out of the water in about 30^th position and there was not many bikes left in the Pro rack which was not the best start to the day. Time 51min30sec

Long distance races are all about keeping going and not giving in, so I knew I just had to quickly forget about it and get on with the bike. I slowly started picking off riders and formed a little group with two other athletes Rota and Fuches. I had no idea how far back from the main group I was and the German bike axes who where further of the front. Riding up the Greding climb I could see a large pack of men about 1min up the road. By time we had got to the Solaberg we had bridged the gap and I knew I was back in the race apart from Andreas Raelert who was doing a demolition ride. The rest of the ride I tried to keep the pace steady, look after the nutrition and get the legs ready for the run.  Riding up the Solaberg was insane with the noise and crowd. I think there must of been at least 20guys together at the top of the Solaberg, but by time I jumped off the bike the group was down to about 6 guys.

So I was off the bike in 11^th with a 4hr26min ride but had no idea of this during the race. My german is not the best, just a couple of words J so couldn’t understand any of the people yelling at me.

Into the run and the legs felt pretty good for the first 10k, by time I was at the first turn around I could see Raelart and Kienle where a long way up the road, but everyone else ahead was in striking distance. The legs started to feel pretty heavy after 15k but I was still catching/moving along ok. At the 27k mark I saw James on the side of the road, and was into 4^th with Ritter not far ahead. I then caught Ritter running through the forest and finally had a push bike with me, what I was wanting at the start of the day, meaning I was in third. The last couple of kilometres where through town and back on to the pavement, they where pretty tough but I knew I had third in the bag unless I blew pretty bad. So I tried to enjoy the last section, even if the photos don’t show it! So the run ended up being a 2hr54min and total time 8hr16min.

I have massive respect for Raelert  who absolutely smashed the course for the win, and has moved the bar so much higher and Kienle with another great race. Also Chrissie Wellington, she again showed what a amazing athlete she is.

 I am super stoked to get on the Podium, its definitely a career highlight so far. I am still waiting to lay down a really good run this year which I know is waiting in the legs, so some more work before Challenge Copenhagen in 4 weeks time and hopefully I can put together a complete performance.

A big thanks to my homestay family, it’s been so easy preparing for the race and to Felix and the Challenge crew, another great race in the Challenge family of events.

Also, check out the Utube video at the bottom of page, world famous table run after the prize giving between Felix and a young french pro 

Ritter, Schuman, Me, Kienle, Raelert

Running into finish

Pleased to be finished

Challenge Roth

Ok, the race report is coming, but I have some photos of the day, the atmosphere and crowd was like nothing I have ever experienced before

My homestay, Dominic, Joshua, Junea.
Junea told her dad tonight that I was the man that lives in the basement!

My Orbea ready to roll

Swim start

Transition 1, over 5000 athletes in total, big day!

Me on bike

Through the finish - happy to be home, 3rd place

Seb crushing bike

Big crowds, 180000 on the course, CRAZY!

Solaberg hill - Very VERY noisy

Dominic sun burn

Finish line

A few photos from Challenge Roth

My homestays road

On the race course

Small German Village

My Car for the week, thanks Challenge!

Local Pool - Stainless Steel 50m

Up close on the pool

Beer tent at Expo

Saucony tent

Random farm we drove past - had to stop for a photo, 30cows in total, this if for my famer friends....

Euro Travel + Jet Lag

So I am waiting at Auckland International Airport for my journey to Roth Germany. I will give you a little time line of whats going to happen

7pm NZ time - leave Cambridge for drive to Auckland

9pm - Arrive at airport, say goodbye to Tracy with a big hug :)
check in, bike box and my life checks in at 23.1kg - love it, no excess baggage charges with air NZ and its booked all the way through to Nuremberg, 3 flights

9.30pm - write this blog on a really small keyboard, there is free internet stations on the way to gate 6 and 8 which are about 30m from the pay ones! top secret

10pm - finish this blog

10.30 - Kill time by looking at the stars............

11.15 - Finally on plane and ready for lift off

11.30 - Check the movies, plan my next 3hrs before i hopefully passout for the rest of the 12hr flight to Shangai /china with the aid of a sleeping pill

12-3pm  - watch some movies, get annoyed with the snoring lady beside me who keeps falling asleep on me

Arrive in China some time, not sure on times now as in the ZONE

Go nuts as I have a 7hr layover, read a book, do some laps of the airport, write some programs, hopefully find a free wifi connection

1.15pm china time - Leave for 12hr to Frankfurt - Germany
Get cranky as getting a little tired and hungry, need some more airplane food.
Going to try and have a nap but not to long, as i want to get into Euro time asap.

8hrs into flight - been through all the decent movies, been to toilet 6 times, practising my ironman mental preparation of Switching off, ignoring the time.....

6.45pm Germany time - Arrive,sweaty, tired and most likely grumpy, stretch the legs for 3 hours and on to the final flight.

9.45pm - Fly out to Nuremberg, thankfully only a 40min trip!

10.25pm - Arrive, so so glad to get the flying done. Hopefully the bike has made it in one piece and my homestay is waiting for me.


11.30pm - Get to ROTH, crash and burn for a big sleep - Hopefully!

So 2 x 12hr flight + a 45min flight, about 10hrs of layovers and some driving. Love it.................


Next update soon.....

Packing for Europe + Dead Snake

Times flies and its just about time to head to Europe for Challenge Roth and Copenhagen.

I am really looking forward to my first time at Roth, I have heard so many good stories from the race, with the atmosphere and course, it should be a ripper.

Since I am flying through Asia, the baggage allowance is only 23kg so I have written a list of what I need and don't, as its always a struggle to stay under 23kg! I use a cardboard Orbea Box and carry on bag for laptop, book and any heavy stuff

• Orbea Bike
• Durace 75 Race Wheels
• Training Wheels - may have to leave at home and borrow some
• Saucony Kinvara's and Fastwitch shoes, one of each, I can save weight, wear one pair on plane
• Compressport Calf compression - wear on plane, save weight
• Orca wetsuit
• Sugoi Race kit
• Sugoi training kit, one kit
• Drink bottles - get in Europe
• Pair of jeans - wear on plane
• Jacket - wear on plane
• Undies - 3 pairs, wear one on plane
• Socks - 3 pairs, wear one on plane
• T shirts - 3
• Shorts - 1
• Laptop
• Bike Pump - borrow
• Timex Race Trainer Pro watch - wear on plane
• Aero Helmet
• Normal Helmet
• Cycling shoes
• Lydiard running book - always get me motivated
• Passport
• Wallet
• Toiletries, just take the tooth brush and get the rest there

That's about it, so if i get desperate I normally stuff all my smaller clothes in to my Jacket pockets and if I really need to put three t-shirts on at once. It does not sound like much but it all adds up.

Packing Car

Random Dead Snake on Farm

Close up

A few photos from Brasil

On the Orbea

On the run

On the podium

With Dad, Bia and winner Sturla

Kiwis in Rio

Timex, Tracy, Dad and I at beach

Ironman Brasil Race Report

Orca Swim, It was a beach start with the pros getting an approximately 5m head start on all the age groupers. I was a little nervous about this as my previous beach starts have not been the best. But I got a good start and settled into the front pack with a solo swimmer going off the front right from the early stages. It was a M shaped course, with 2 bouys, yes, two bouys, but luckily there was no real swell so navigation was not too much of a problem. After the first lap we had an approx. 100m run around/along the beach to start the 2nd lap. This was the hardest part of the swim. Exiting the water, I was still where I needed to be.


On to the Orbea bike course, and straight away the sensations in the legs didn’t feel that great. I got dropped from the front group and continued to loose time until the end. I was just hoping to come right, but never got going. Sturla had done a demolition on the rest of the field and I was now 20min down starting the run. The bike was two laps, with quite a few out and back sections and most of it was on the motorway with one lane closed off for the cyclists and the other used for the cars.

So out on to the Saucony / compressport run and I tried to get the engine revved up , I picked up previous winner Galendiz and a few others but the gap to Mcdonald who was in 5th at the half way stage was 9min. With Roth coming up soon I decided not to kill myself as there was no way I was going to run him down or the others close by unless they had some spectacular blow ups which they didn’t. The run course was one big lap of 21k then two smaller 10.5k laps.

So I rolled in to the finish in 8hr37min in 6th position on the Timex Race Trainer Watch. Not exactly what I wanted but I learnt some good lessons, and a solid 180k in the legs which will be good for me.

The last couple of days Tracy and I have been having a look around Rio De Janeiro and have now just arrived in Santiago for 2 nights before we fly back to NZ. The legs are pretty good, so I will be straight back into it on Monday J





Big thanks to our accommodation hosts Paulo and Lu. Some interesting conversations with gesturing, and a mixture on portugese / English words!