Since Challenge Wanaka I had the first week pretty cruisy, as even though my legs were not that sore after having a long walk home the immune system needs a little rest.
So these past few days I have had good legs, freddie fresh to be exact, like they have been on taper again. But I am sure the feeling will not last to much longer :)
I am in the process of finalising my race schedule this year, but Ironman New Zealand then Ironman Brazil are next up. My twin brother Bevan is marrying his Brazilan girlfriend the week before IM so that works in well. It will be my second time to South America, my last time was to visit Dad when he was working in Equador, so I got to have a look around Equador and a little bit of Colombia.
The highlight of that trip was buying a old school Balsa wood surfboard, getting access into the local point break which was inside a Army base! and then the surfing with no wetsuit, only boardshorts, good times...
My surfboard was worse for wear when I got home though, the US customs had decided to drill about 5 small pencil diameter holes through it to check if I was importing cocaine to NZ, I wasnt impressed.
I only realised what the holes were from when I was watching a Border Security program a few months later, and it showed them drilling holes in Timber products (they didnt tell me they drilled it, I got home, unwrapped my board to find these holes for the first time!)
Time to work the legs over
K
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Wanaka
Challenge Wanaka is done and dusted for 2011. It ended up being a super tough day for everyone involved from the spectators, volunteers and athletes. All down to one factor the WIND, it was super strong, I got woken in the middle of the night before the race with it hammering the roof. Race morning dawned and it was still blowing very hard creating some good chop in the lake.
I think I swallowed a good proportion of the lake in the swim and came out of the water a couple minutes down on the front group. On the bike and out to the first turn around and myself, Thompson, Mckinnon, and Johnsen ended up in a small group chasing the front guys. We were moving along at a decent rate with a big tailwind on the downward leg to Cromwell, some sections we were moving along on the flat at close to 60km/hr. I never really felt the comfortable on the bike, my stomach quesy and for some reason my eyes felt like they where going to explode out of my face. Turning at Cromwell and back up the other side of the lake the speed dropped alot, with a massive headwind we were crawling, probably around 20km/hr for quite a few sections. Belinda Granger told me after she was down to 14km/hr on this flat section!
At about 40km to go Bevin started to put the pressure on and our group split and we all ended up riding solo to T2. I rolled in to transition, took my helmet off, felt my head for some reason, I am not sure why, and I still had my SWIM CAP on! 180km with my swim cap on, thats a definite first for me. I think thats why my eyes felt like they where exploding all day, the heat was coming out through them!
Out on to the run and I still felt pretty confident of laying down a good marathon and challenging for the win even though I was 9min down on Jamie. My stomach was quite unsettled running, getting really sore every time I drunk or ate something, but nothing I couldnt work through. Running up Gunn Road I could see Courtney Ogden just ahead and I caught him running up Plantation road, then Bevin come into sight only 1min up the road and I was about 4min down on Jamie at the half way point. Normally my second half of the marathon is my best part of the race, but not on this day. I got back down close to the single track section and my stomach started getting really bad, next thing I new I was spewing quite badly and lying in the grass. I got up started jogging again but felt really really weak so was reduced to the long walk home. I was very tempted to DNF but was determined to finish the day even though I was not in the race anymore. After a bit of a walk Tracy came along the track the other way, Courtney had let her know that I was not in a good state as he had a pretty good view of my dramas which was really nice as he was still fighting for second.
So we had a walk home, and I crossed the line a few hours later.
Congrats to everyone who finised the day, the winds where like nothing I have ever raced in before, it was definetly a testing day. And good to see the Kiwi boys taking the number 1 and 3 spot in Jamie and Bevin. Thanks to Victoria and her team for putting on another great event, it gets bigger and better every year, but still has that relaxed yet exciting kiwi atmosphere.
Obviously the day was pretty dissapointing for me as training had been going really well, posting my best numbers in training I have ever seen before, but all I need to remember is there is plenty more races!
I think I swallowed a good proportion of the lake in the swim and came out of the water a couple minutes down on the front group. On the bike and out to the first turn around and myself, Thompson, Mckinnon, and Johnsen ended up in a small group chasing the front guys. We were moving along at a decent rate with a big tailwind on the downward leg to Cromwell, some sections we were moving along on the flat at close to 60km/hr. I never really felt the comfortable on the bike, my stomach quesy and for some reason my eyes felt like they where going to explode out of my face. Turning at Cromwell and back up the other side of the lake the speed dropped alot, with a massive headwind we were crawling, probably around 20km/hr for quite a few sections. Belinda Granger told me after she was down to 14km/hr on this flat section!
At about 40km to go Bevin started to put the pressure on and our group split and we all ended up riding solo to T2. I rolled in to transition, took my helmet off, felt my head for some reason, I am not sure why, and I still had my SWIM CAP on! 180km with my swim cap on, thats a definite first for me. I think thats why my eyes felt like they where exploding all day, the heat was coming out through them!
Out on to the run and I still felt pretty confident of laying down a good marathon and challenging for the win even though I was 9min down on Jamie. My stomach was quite unsettled running, getting really sore every time I drunk or ate something, but nothing I couldnt work through. Running up Gunn Road I could see Courtney Ogden just ahead and I caught him running up Plantation road, then Bevin come into sight only 1min up the road and I was about 4min down on Jamie at the half way point. Normally my second half of the marathon is my best part of the race, but not on this day. I got back down close to the single track section and my stomach started getting really bad, next thing I new I was spewing quite badly and lying in the grass. I got up started jogging again but felt really really weak so was reduced to the long walk home. I was very tempted to DNF but was determined to finish the day even though I was not in the race anymore. After a bit of a walk Tracy came along the track the other way, Courtney had let her know that I was not in a good state as he had a pretty good view of my dramas which was really nice as he was still fighting for second.
So we had a walk home, and I crossed the line a few hours later.
Congrats to everyone who finised the day, the winds where like nothing I have ever raced in before, it was definetly a testing day. And good to see the Kiwi boys taking the number 1 and 3 spot in Jamie and Bevin. Thanks to Victoria and her team for putting on another great event, it gets bigger and better every year, but still has that relaxed yet exciting kiwi atmosphere.
Obviously the day was pretty dissapointing for me as training had been going really well, posting my best numbers in training I have ever seen before, but all I need to remember is there is plenty more races!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Wanaka Countdown
Well, about 10 days to go to Challenge Wanaka, the body is feeling pretty good and I am looking forward to another Ironman distance race. I haven't raced a full distance race since September so I have been getting some itchy feet......
One more two hour run and long ride to tick off in training, then its alot of couch time :)
Below are some photos of my previous races in Wanaka
One more two hour run and long ride to tick off in training, then its alot of couch time :)
Below are some photos of my previous races in Wanaka
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year, New Team
I am pleased to annouce that I am joining the Timex multisport team for the 2011 year. TeamTimex is different from other triathlon teams in that is has a amateur and professional component. With athletes male and female from around the world ranging from spring chickens to old men. This means I get some exciting new teammates from all walks of life, it also means some exciting new sponsors and equipment changes.
So in 2011 I will be using the below products, keep an eye on my blog as I review the gear throughout the year:
So my next race at Challenge Wanaka will be in the new red blue and white Timex kit, I have had a 2nd, 3rd and 5th placing in the past at Wanaka, so you know what I am aiming for this year :)
Training has been ticking along well, I have been helping out Graham Ogrady and doing quite a few sessions with him aswell as a local Cambridge girl who has the potential to go far, so watch this space. "She has the time, now she just has to give it" as one well known aussie coach says
Over and out
Keegan
So in 2011 I will be using the below products, keep an eye on my blog as I review the gear throughout the year:
- Timex Timepieces
- Orbea bikes
- Orca Wetsuits
- Shimano groupset and wheel set
- Powerbar nutrition products
- Native Eyewear Optics
- Nathan hydration belt
- Compressport compression socks
So my next race at Challenge Wanaka will be in the new red blue and white Timex kit, I have had a 2nd, 3rd and 5th placing in the past at Wanaka, so you know what I am aiming for this year :)
Training has been ticking along well, I have been helping out Graham Ogrady and doing quite a few sessions with him aswell as a local Cambridge girl who has the potential to go far, so watch this space. "She has the time, now she just has to give it" as one well known aussie coach says
Over and out
Keegan
Monday, December 20, 2010
Team TBB Reflections
Well, the past two years have gone pretty quick, this past season has been alot better with some constant improvements as coach and I have figured out what I need.
Before I joined TeamTBB I was in 9hr IM shape, and had never
Some of highlights with the team for me where
but I am really pleased I got not only the chance to be coached by Brett but be able to watch him motivate and train the others in the team. I am not sure how he did it with the Dogs and Horses as I don't think his talks (some people call them "rants") would work as well on them :) Also a big thanks to all the sponsors who helped out over the last two years
So next year, training wise, I just need to keep on doing what I have been doing, increasing my speeds and trying to hit some better numbers in training. I am getting a little tired of 2nds, 3rds and 4ths so hopefully 2011 I will change the numbers!
Before I joined TeamTBB I was in 9hr IM shape, and had never
- Run on a track (well maybe twice when I was 13 and 14 for the yearly school athletics meet)
- Used my paddles for more than 1k in a session
- Split my sessions in two
- Raced overseas
- Trained at altitude
Some of highlights with the team for me where
- Watching Bella turn up and win something like 4 or 5 Ironmans in a row, each time coming back to training quietly contented, but wanting to and giving it to herself in training again and again
- Watching the Filipino boys do some 400's on the track, coach asks for 70sec laps, first one is a 58, next one a 68, then a 90sec!....... bad pacing = angry coach :)
- Getting called Sheep F#$%&r until I had a decent race by coach, thankfully it didnt take to long
- 4hr run day in the Phillipines with the Zach attack
- Meeting some really nice team mates/people along the way
but I am really pleased I got not only the chance to be coached by Brett but be able to watch him motivate and train the others in the team. I am not sure how he did it with the Dogs and Horses as I don't think his talks (some people call them "rants") would work as well on them :) Also a big thanks to all the sponsors who helped out over the last two years
So next year, training wise, I just need to keep on doing what I have been doing, increasing my speeds and trying to hit some better numbers in training. I am getting a little tired of 2nds, 3rds and 4ths so hopefully 2011 I will change the numbers!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Taupo Half Ironman Race Report
Yesterday I competed in the Taupo Half Ironman, I have done this race every year since it started with a win, 2 seconds and a DNF crash out last year.
This year was a slightly new course because of the huge growth with over 1200 particpants, so they shifted the transition upto the same location as IMNZ, so this meant a 400m run after the swim and a slightly different run and bike course.
Race day dawned, got up, had some breakfast, went back to sleep for another hour then drove down the start. The wind was already blowing at 5.30 in the morning so I new it was going to get pretty wild later on in the day and it did :)
I had a good swim and came out in the front group with Bozzone, Burgess and a few others with Andrew Mackay off the front by about 1min. Through the run and transition I lost contact, and wouldnt see the above two for the rest of the day. They had a good battle with each other, with it coming down to the last couple of kilometers of the run the deciding factor, Terrenzo using his experience to take the win.
Jamie Whyte soon rode upto me, and Bevan Mckinnon also, Jamie then dropped off about 10k later. It was getting very windy, and once we hit the turnaround back into town you could really feel it, I dont have a speedo but I am pretty sure I would of been under 30km/hr in some sections on the flat battling into the wind. Bevan got a gap going through t2 and good friend Brodie arrived in T2 not long after. I was down about 3min on the lead two going into the run.
Out on to the 2 lap run and I was really struggling on the first lap to get going, near the end of the 1st lap I took a pit stop and then the legs came right. Brodie closed to with in 10sec, and I was waiting for him to run up beside me but thankfully I started running strongly and opened up a nice little lead which I held to the end for 3rd place.
So a good day training for my next IM distance race at Challenge Wanaka
This was my last race for TeamTBB
I will write a blog shortly to explain what I am up to next year.... keep tuned in
This year was a slightly new course because of the huge growth with over 1200 particpants, so they shifted the transition upto the same location as IMNZ, so this meant a 400m run after the swim and a slightly different run and bike course.
Race day dawned, got up, had some breakfast, went back to sleep for another hour then drove down the start. The wind was already blowing at 5.30 in the morning so I new it was going to get pretty wild later on in the day and it did :)
I had a good swim and came out in the front group with Bozzone, Burgess and a few others with Andrew Mackay off the front by about 1min. Through the run and transition I lost contact, and wouldnt see the above two for the rest of the day. They had a good battle with each other, with it coming down to the last couple of kilometers of the run the deciding factor, Terrenzo using his experience to take the win.
Jamie Whyte soon rode upto me, and Bevan Mckinnon also, Jamie then dropped off about 10k later. It was getting very windy, and once we hit the turnaround back into town you could really feel it, I dont have a speedo but I am pretty sure I would of been under 30km/hr in some sections on the flat battling into the wind. Bevan got a gap going through t2 and good friend Brodie arrived in T2 not long after. I was down about 3min on the lead two going into the run.
Out on to the 2 lap run and I was really struggling on the first lap to get going, near the end of the 1st lap I took a pit stop and then the legs came right. Brodie closed to with in 10sec, and I was waiting for him to run up beside me but thankfully I started running strongly and opened up a nice little lead which I held to the end for 3rd place.
So a good day training for my next IM distance race at Challenge Wanaka
This was my last race for TeamTBB
I will write a blog shortly to explain what I am up to next year.... keep tuned in
Monday, December 6, 2010
Taupo Half Ironman
This weekend is the first hit out since Rev3 back in September, so its been awhile, at the Taupo Half Ironman. This year they have a new course, with a massive increase in numbers they have had to shift the transition upto where Ironman NZ is situated
Training has been ticking along with the major focus this summer being Challenge Wanaka in January then IMNZ in March. I have been doing a bit of training with Gog (Graham Ogrady) which has been good, as the past year I have essentially done 95% of my training solo.
The solo training is good, as Coach Brett Sutton says, "the more boring the better" but it is nice to have some one to push you along sometimes
Now I think this blog must be a record for the number of links per words written.....
Over and out
Training has been ticking along with the major focus this summer being Challenge Wanaka in January then IMNZ in March. I have been doing a bit of training with Gog (Graham Ogrady) which has been good, as the past year I have essentially done 95% of my training solo.
The solo training is good, as Coach Brett Sutton says, "the more boring the better" but it is nice to have some one to push you along sometimes
Now I think this blog must be a record for the number of links per words written.....
Over and out
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