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.....
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
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
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
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| Packing Car |
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| Random Dead Snake on Farm |
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| Close up |
Thursday, June 9, 2011
A few photos from Brasil
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| On the Orbea |
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| On the run |
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| On the podium |
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| With Dad, Bia and winner Sturla |
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| Kiwis in Rio |
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| Timex, Tracy, Dad and I at beach |
Thursday, June 2, 2011
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!
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!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Brasil
Tracy and I arrived in Brasil a couple of days ago. It was a 30hr door to door trip, drive to Auckland Airport, fly to Santiago - Chile, then onto San Paulo - Brasil, then the final flight to Goaina and a little drive to my dads house. We where pretty lucky to arrive at 11.30pm at night so as soon as we where home it was straight to bed for a good sleep.
My first day was a little interesting, my bearing where obviously not working as a 45min run turned into a 90min effort! and getting used to cycling on the right always takes a little while to get used to.
Day two and we went out to visit the farm my dad has helped to convert into a New Zealand style dairy farm. They have approximately 750 cows at the moment and two central pivot irragators so everything is very green. They have a man made lake to feed the irragators so I had a swim in the lake in my new Orca wetsuit.
Today I ran, swam and biked and tonight is Bevan's stag do so it should be a big one! dinner at 8.30 then off for some shenanigans......
My first day was a little interesting, my bearing where obviously not working as a 45min run turned into a 90min effort! and getting used to cycling on the right always takes a little while to get used to.
Day two and we went out to visit the farm my dad has helped to convert into a New Zealand style dairy farm. They have approximately 750 cows at the moment and two central pivot irragators so everything is very green. They have a man made lake to feed the irragators so I had a swim in the lake in my new Orca wetsuit.
Today I ran, swam and biked and tonight is Bevan's stag do so it should be a big one! dinner at 8.30 then off for some shenanigans......
Friday, May 13, 2011
Noumea International Olympic - Race Report
Time flies fast, I have been home 3 days, and the race was nearly 5 days ago!
So back to the start, Friday afternoon, Tracy, Graham and I drove to Auckland and stayed at the Madgwicks house for the night. Azelda and Tracy made us a great dinner and I got introduced to chocolate eclair ice cream, I still prefer my vanilla though.
5am Saturday morning off to Auckland airport, arrive, plane delayed 1hr so we have a lot of time to kill. Get on the plane, and its a old school version, no inflight entertainment. I was looking forward to catching up on some movies. Arrive in Noumea at 12pm, wait for the bus shuttle, and get unloaded at the hotel at 2.30pm. Quick spin to check out the bike and run course and a little swim and its bed time.
Next morning rolls around and we wake to very pleasant race conditions, nice and warm so good preparation for IM Brasil. I have a very average start to the swim and lost contact with the race from the start, on to the bike and I have ok sensations in the legs but make no time on the leaders, Vernay, Ogrady, Farlow and a few others who are riding strong. Then comes the run, I get held up in transition with a lot of yelling in french at me, realise they want to see my number and I am let out of the gate :)
My legs get better as the run goes on and I end up in 6th place. A nice little hit out. I should really do these races a lot more, as I struggle with the top end speed (compared to IM pace) so they are really beneficial. The last time I raced a olympic distance was over 2 yrs ago!
Graham gets third, and we go off for a 40min run to get some volume in to the legs. Aaron Farlow gets a good win, with Vernay 2nd.
So by 11am we are all finished and then spend the rest of the day looking around Noumea and doing the tourist thing. Monday morning Graham and I finish the legs of with a 2hr run and a cycle. Tuesday we have a quick swim then back to the airport and home again.
Tracy and I are back to the airport this Tuesday, off to Brasil for Bevan and Dayanny wedding and then IM Brasil. Looking forward to punishing myself there :)
So back to the start, Friday afternoon, Tracy, Graham and I drove to Auckland and stayed at the Madgwicks house for the night. Azelda and Tracy made us a great dinner and I got introduced to chocolate eclair ice cream, I still prefer my vanilla though.
5am Saturday morning off to Auckland airport, arrive, plane delayed 1hr so we have a lot of time to kill. Get on the plane, and its a old school version, no inflight entertainment. I was looking forward to catching up on some movies. Arrive in Noumea at 12pm, wait for the bus shuttle, and get unloaded at the hotel at 2.30pm. Quick spin to check out the bike and run course and a little swim and its bed time.
Next morning rolls around and we wake to very pleasant race conditions, nice and warm so good preparation for IM Brasil. I have a very average start to the swim and lost contact with the race from the start, on to the bike and I have ok sensations in the legs but make no time on the leaders, Vernay, Ogrady, Farlow and a few others who are riding strong. Then comes the run, I get held up in transition with a lot of yelling in french at me, realise they want to see my number and I am let out of the gate :)
My legs get better as the run goes on and I end up in 6th place. A nice little hit out. I should really do these races a lot more, as I struggle with the top end speed (compared to IM pace) so they are really beneficial. The last time I raced a olympic distance was over 2 yrs ago!
Graham gets third, and we go off for a 40min run to get some volume in to the legs. Aaron Farlow gets a good win, with Vernay 2nd.
So by 11am we are all finished and then spend the rest of the day looking around Noumea and doing the tourist thing. Monday morning Graham and I finish the legs of with a 2hr run and a cycle. Tuesday we have a quick swim then back to the airport and home again.
Tracy and I are back to the airport this Tuesday, off to Brasil for Bevan and Dayanny wedding and then IM Brasil. Looking forward to punishing myself there :)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Noumea International Triathlon
This saturday I am off with Ogrady to a race in Noumea on Sunday, a olympic distance triathlon which should put some speed into the legs. Its perfect timing coming 3 weeks out from Ironman Brasil, in a hot climate with a strong field predicted. Thanks to Graham Park for organising the trip for me and GOG.
The training has been ticking along, I have been doing some acclimatisation training on the indoor erg and dressing up super warm for some run and bike sessions outdoors. I haven't raced since Ironman New Zealand which is nearly 8 weeks ago, so it will be good to feel some adrenalin and race day nerves... Otherwise its training as usual, building on the week before, and the week before that and making sure all the systems are trained in each training cycle.
Once I get to Brazil it will be all on for a couple of months, with a trip home for a couple of weeks then off to Europe for Challenge Roth and Challenge Copenhagen.
I also just had a interview with Brazilian Magazine Mundotri, you can check out the article here, page 33
The training has been ticking along, I have been doing some acclimatisation training on the indoor erg and dressing up super warm for some run and bike sessions outdoors. I haven't raced since Ironman New Zealand which is nearly 8 weeks ago, so it will be good to feel some adrenalin and race day nerves... Otherwise its training as usual, building on the week before, and the week before that and making sure all the systems are trained in each training cycle.
Once I get to Brazil it will be all on for a couple of months, with a trip home for a couple of weeks then off to Europe for Challenge Roth and Challenge Copenhagen.
I also just had a interview with Brazilian Magazine Mundotri, you can check out the article here, page 33
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