Koh Samui Long Distance triathlon

HOT, HOT and HOTTER

We all new when signing up for the Koh Sumai Long distance triathlon it would be a hot one, much hotter and humid than Hawaii. Conditions more reminiscent of the later Ironman China. There where a few other "local" issues to deal with also, such as the dogs, motorbikes and cars.

Up until race week when out training I was thinking the ride could be very interesting but the organisers did a much better job in controlling the traffic than I thought would occur. You still had to be super careful with cars but we basically had one blocked off lane to ourselves, saying that I did have one super close encounter, that had me fishtailing past about 20cm past the edge of a scooter.

Back to the race, a 4k non wetsuit swim two lap swim. I had a boomer start, was with the lead group of 4 until the 300m mark, then my arms exploded, I got real hot in the 30-32 degree water and started going backwards, the second group came past and I could only hang with them until the 1k mark before dropping some feet. I then ended up swimming with Armando and Justin for the remainder.

Out on to the 120k bike and the plan was for a steady ride and hopefully get to the run in good condition to be able to run through to a good finish position. I didn't feel the pace was too hot for the first 90k but then I really lost a lot of power in the last 30k. The 35degree + temps + high humidity had taken there toll.

Off on to the 30k run and I soon caught up to Guy Crawford, we where both out side the top 10 and feeling not to flash, so we jogged/walked for quite a few kilometers, drunk alot of ice cold coke at the aid stations and then about the 10k mark I got running properly again. Once I was going I was moving along quite well but the gaps to the guys in front where to big and I ended up rolling home for 11th place.

So I am reasonably happy with the race, after a short 4 week build up after a break following IMNZ and the conditions it was good to get through it relatively unscathed. Even though the ride home after (about 15k) took about 2hrs as I had a massive bonk and had to stop at the first restaurant I came across and guzzle down some food. I am looking forward to a good period of training and getting back to Challenge Roth and Copenhagen.

Koh Samui Photos, resorts, dogs and bikes

So Candice and I have moved to the race hotel for the inaugural Samui Triathlon, we have basically went from 1 star to 5 star plus at the Hansar resort :)
I am also looking forward to racing on my new QuintanaRoo and Challenge Tubular tyres.  

Check out some photos below

Challenge Tri Tyre

New Roo at Nids

Big fish at Nids

After walk to town during new years

Nids Bungalows

Hansar Resort

Inside Hansar

View out room

Random dog asleep on restaurant table

Thailand - Koh Samui Triathlon

So I am writing this from my room at Nids Bungalows, Candice and I have been here two days getting ready to race in the inaugural Koh Samui International triathlon. Its raced over a distance I havent done before, a 4k non wetsuit swim, 120k bike or 1.5 laps of the island and then a 30k run. Gerald the orgainser also runs the Embrunman triathlon in France, which would have to be the toughest race around. He has put together a great prize purse, 30 thousand New Zealand dollars for the win and a super field is due to line up on the 22nd, Faris, Bockel, Brown, Farlow, Dellow, Zamora just to name a few are on the start list.

The training has been interesting compared to back in New Zealand, quite similar to what I experienced in the Phillipines. Its quite humid and hot, lots of scooters, quite a few dogs and some water buffalos to keep things interesting. Definetly no wetsuits here, as the water temperature must be 27 odd degrees.

Today is the start of Songkran, which is the Thai new years, which means one big water fight. We rode this afternoon but it was a little pointless, we probably covered 20k in about 1hr15min and got water bombed 1000+ times. Check out some photos below of what it is like

Video with Waikato times

Ironman 70.3 New Zealand

As most people will already know and saw, Taupo turned on some wild weather for the Saturday so the ironman was cancelled and we got to race over the Ironman 70.3 distance on Sunday. Not exactly what I wanted or probably about 1500 other athletes, but I know there where some pros who where smiling as the shorter distance obviously suits some athletes more than others.

So the pros where in the water at 7.45 with the age group men off at 7.55 and the age group women at 8am. I had a super start which ended up being the best part of my day and ended up sitting on Tim Reed hip for the first 500m but then the arms started to fatigue, got quite a few mouthfuls of water and then next thing I know I am going backwards which pretty much summed up my day.
Onto the bike and there was not much power going down, and the turn around confirmed what I was feeling as the lead group having a big gap. It was quite disappointing on the return leg to see some of the pro women having some very easy rides to T2, there really needs to be a 30min gap between the pro women and age groupers to have a fair race.
I got the run done and quite enjoyed seeing Tim taking it to the other guys in the race, unfortunately he got a little too excited at the start of the run.

I am sure some of you are wondering what has happened to my form over the Kiwi summer, well I had been doing some experimenting on myself and it obviously didn't work and the legs ended up getting very tired! the body feels pretty similar to when I got back from Switzerland in 2010. Once I got over Swiss I came back even stronger so some rest time for me now and then I will be back!
Or as Cerutty said, I will be back, and better than ever! 

Some highlights from my athletes racing was Erin getting her first Kona spot and on the podium, and Dave going under 5hrs for the first time. Graham also had a Kona qualifier and some PBs

We had a great stay at the Baywater, check out some photos of the weather from our deck

Also some photos of my first surf in quite a while

The Calm before the storm

Storm arrives

Guys surfing on lake Taupo

Ruapuke, a little fast for me

Ruapuke rocks

Ironman NZ countdown

Just about 1 week until Ironman New Zealand, it definitely doesn't seem like it was a year ago I was on the start line. The last two years I have ended up number 4 on the day, so hopefully something different this year with a smaller number :)
The field is looking like a good one, but with the way the rules are we will see who turns up on race day, I think Brown scares off a lot of guys :) and with Ironman Melbourne being in a few weeks with a lot more points there are a few scenarios for the guys chasing Hawaii points.

My race plan is pretty simple, have a good swim, ride well, then run strong and get to the finish line with nothing left in the tank. I am going to be using the new Saucony Fastwitch, see the photo below. I have been using them for the last couple of weeks and have found them really comfortable, lightweight and with a good amount of flexibilty.

Tracy and I are also looking forward to staying again at the Baywater Motor Inn. We where super lucky last year when our orginal accomodation double booked us and they took us in, check out my blog from last year with the extras they go to for their guests

Challenge Wanaka - update

So I am back from the my annual trip to Challenge Wanaka, Its two for two in the last two years so I still have unfinished business :)

Some big positives with my athletes preforming well, Tamsyn having a great race taking 50min off last years time and a 7th overall place after a her first podium at the national half ironman championships two weeks previously. And Candice getting another 4th but getting closer to the podium being run down in the last 2k.

The orgainsers again put on a great race, its definetly a race I would recommend to anyone considering a long distance race. Its a little smaller than a race like Roth but has its own special atmosphere.

I am back on the horse now, and will line up at the New Plymouth half ironman in 2 weeks time, then Ironman New Zealand on the 4th March.

Some photos below of the trip