Ironman NZ was a dream come true this year - and that was just the weather! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was by the prospect of 1). Sunshine and 2). Heat!!!!! These two factors alone had me very, very excited about race day.
Race day dawned promising to be a stunner of a day. The lake was flat and glassy, things were looking good!
The swim went well - aside from losing my transponder at some point. I was out the water in under an hour (a first for me) and got to experience first hand the joys of a much emptier transition. This is the first time I have ever had my very own volunteer (in fact, I had two....TWO!!) there to rip my wetsuit off me - usually I arrive in with the masses and resort to removing my own wetsuit.
Once I got over the excitement of my wetsuit removal, it was out on to the bike course. After spending months chasing (read: gasping, panting and getting black spots in my vision) Candice up hills the bike course felt almost too easy. Lap one went by quickly and comfortably, I rode on to lap two feeling very optimistic. Until just before Broadlands I heard the dreaded combination of a motorbike and a blast on the whistle - apparently I had taken more than 20 seconds to pass through the draft zone of a guy I was passing. I was gutted. I hadn't even been aware that it had taken me slightly longer to pass; add this to the fact that I would rather commit a felony than draft during a race. Those four minutes were some of the longest in my life. Back on to the bike I felt on the back foot (I gave up counting the number of girls who had passed in those four minutes), but soon worked my way back up the field, and back toward my favourite part of the race - the marathon!
The first 20km of the marathon flew by. I felt comfortable, and had managed to work my way up to first age grouper overall. The support out on the run course was phenomonal. I looked forward to the various spots where I knew my friends and family had stationed themselves. By 30km my run began to unravel a little - I began to feel slightly ill and let my pace drop. The last 7km my pace dropped even more and I felt like a first year uni student at the end of an O week filled with very cheap rum. Not good! With 1km to go, Kira Flanagan caught me, to get first age grouper in overall. I tried to put up a bit of a fight, but with not much left in the tank I had to settle for second age grouper overall and just had my lucky stars to thank that she was an age group below me.
I still walked (well, stumbled) away as an age group winner, setting a new course record for the 30-34 age group in 9:56:29. This put in me in 6th overall.
A huge thank you to the volunteers who were out on the course far longer than I was, you make this day possible for us. Thank you to my sponsors - Adidas Eyewear and TopMark nutrition, and a massive thank you to Bob's Bikes who do so much for me.
Thanks also to Ben and Fitness Locker MultiSport Club for all the support and pre-race pep talks! And to coach Keegan Williams for teaching me how much further I could go.
Lastly, a massive thank you to my family, my in-laws and Roger. The support, encouragement and belief in me that you provide is invaluable.
I have come out of the race feeling good, and a little wiser. I will be looking forward to my next challenge!
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Monday, 11 February 2013
New Plymouth Half
The weekend saw me and Roger head down to New Plymouth for the fantastic Wells Half Ironman. This is the second time I have done this race, and I have loved it both times. Amazing weather, the BEST race packs I have ever seen, a vibrant atmosphere, a hilly but beautiful bike course and a run along the ocean. What more could a girl want?
Friday saw me doing my usual pre-race ritual. That is, running around like a headless chicken as I always manage to fully book myself up with clients until our designated leaving time, and I like to leave things like packing and organising spare gels/drink until the very last minute. I then like to add to my stress levels by having to Fill Up The Car With Petrol, usually with no knowledge of how much money I actually possess (and some knowledge that like mortgages and 10 carat diamonds, petrol is hideously expensive). Once all of this is accomplished and we are on the road, I kind of feel like I have already just completed a Half Ironman.
Race day dawned a beautiful day, as only the Naki can put on. I have been really focussing on swimming a little better, so I was keen to see if I could stay within touching distance of the front group that would inevitably break away. I successfully did this all the way to the first buoy. While I was high fiving myself in my head, and thinking of how awesome I felt, I turned too close to the buoy and stuck my arm through the netting encasing it. Cue 3 seconds of frantic floundering (while I randomly thought "aaaah, so this is what poor dolphins feel like when they are caught in nets...."), and then common sense kicked in and I extracted my arm the same way it got in. Unfortunately the front girls were long gone, and it was a slower swim all by myself.
Out on to the bike it was hard work all the way. This bike course is honest. Which is a nice way of saying you will work your butt off on it no matter what. I managed to work my way up a few places, and rode back in to transition around the point that I began thinking "I would like to get off my bike now". Coming off the bike into the three lap run, I learnt I was 5-6min behind Hilary. I wasn't sure how fast she was running, but thought I would aim to gain ground on every lap (and hopefully not have a repeat of last year's performance of being 2 seconds too slow in the finish chute). Things panned out a little differently to that, with me catching and passing Hilary on lap 2, and then running scared on lap 3 as I imagined she was right behind me the entire way.
I crossed the finish line in 2nd place, behind training partner Candice Hammond who stamped her dominance on the course with a new course record. It was also good to see fellow VO2Coach'ed athlete Graham O'Grady winning with a new course record in the men's race.
A big thank you to Bob's Bikes for fitting my new Profile Design aerobars on in time to race, to replace the bars wrecked in the crash (and for constantly tuning my bike to my race wheels!).
Friday saw me doing my usual pre-race ritual. That is, running around like a headless chicken as I always manage to fully book myself up with clients until our designated leaving time, and I like to leave things like packing and organising spare gels/drink until the very last minute. I then like to add to my stress levels by having to Fill Up The Car With Petrol, usually with no knowledge of how much money I actually possess (and some knowledge that like mortgages and 10 carat diamonds, petrol is hideously expensive). Once all of this is accomplished and we are on the road, I kind of feel like I have already just completed a Half Ironman.
Race day dawned a beautiful day, as only the Naki can put on. I have been really focussing on swimming a little better, so I was keen to see if I could stay within touching distance of the front group that would inevitably break away. I successfully did this all the way to the first buoy. While I was high fiving myself in my head, and thinking of how awesome I felt, I turned too close to the buoy and stuck my arm through the netting encasing it. Cue 3 seconds of frantic floundering (while I randomly thought "aaaah, so this is what poor dolphins feel like when they are caught in nets...."), and then common sense kicked in and I extracted my arm the same way it got in. Unfortunately the front girls were long gone, and it was a slower swim all by myself.
Out on to the bike it was hard work all the way. This bike course is honest. Which is a nice way of saying you will work your butt off on it no matter what. I managed to work my way up a few places, and rode back in to transition around the point that I began thinking "I would like to get off my bike now". Coming off the bike into the three lap run, I learnt I was 5-6min behind Hilary. I wasn't sure how fast she was running, but thought I would aim to gain ground on every lap (and hopefully not have a repeat of last year's performance of being 2 seconds too slow in the finish chute). Things panned out a little differently to that, with me catching and passing Hilary on lap 2, and then running scared on lap 3 as I imagined she was right behind me the entire way.
I crossed the finish line in 2nd place, behind training partner Candice Hammond who stamped her dominance on the course with a new course record. It was also good to see fellow VO2Coach'ed athlete Graham O'Grady winning with a new course record in the men's race.
A big thank you to Bob's Bikes for fitting my new Profile Design aerobars on in time to race, to replace the bars wrecked in the crash (and for constantly tuning my bike to my race wheels!).
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Woohoo, 2013!! And another Ironman!
So 2013 is well and truly here, and this is going to be a great year! After ending 2012 with a bang (or more accurately, a crash) 2013 can only get better.
December was a pretty busy month, the end of the year flew by. Three weeks after racing Kona, I was on the start line for the Karapiro Half Ironman. My pre-race prep of sitting on a beach in Waikiki consuming my body weight in ice cream is obviously my secret weapon, as I walked away from the race with a win and some not very tired legs.
After this I joined the Other Side - as support crew and #1 spectator for Roger, doing his very first half ironman at IronMaori. This was a great event to watch, with so much encouragement and positive energy out on the course. It was great to see Rog smiling his way through the entire event (in fact, I think he is still smiling from it) to finish in a very respectable time of 5:25. Very proud of him for getting out there and giving it a good go!
After this it was back into business mode at the Rotorua Half Ironman. This was my very first triathlon a few years ago now - I remember being so nervous the night before I actually wanted to die. I had fantasies of cyclones hitting Rotorua resulting in a cancelled race...yup, that nervous!
This year I finished well over an hour faster than that day (and I wasn't the second to last person out the water this time due to my then philosophy of "why swim when you can surf"...yup, I was that slow!).
This has to be one of my favourite races. It is a tough, honest course but beautiful - made even more so by the new offroad run this year. A must do race on any triathlete's bucket list for sure.
I managed to snag second place behind the super speedy Anna Ross, and walked away with a life-sized stuffed dragon for my effort, which Roger now uses to terrify the dogs. Will race for soft toys :-)
The plan after Rotorua was to get back into some solid training. Three days later, riding back from my first really good training session with Keegan, Candice and a visiting Tamsyn, I got involved in a reluctant game of chicken with a truck. I would love to say that I flexed my muscles of titanium, and left an Erin-shaped dent in the side of the truck, but sadly this was not the case. Scotty the bike and I came off second best, while my anti-indicating, anti-giving way opponent made a speedy exit from the scene. I wish I knew where he lived, so I could have given him the Road Code for Christmas (well, that and something else that starts with black and ends with eye...).
A few very concerned motorists stopped, one lady even insisted on trying to put bandaids on my road rash - not an easy task, considering the size of a band aid, and then the size of my road rashed butt cheek. I am flattered that she thought my bum was that small.
Bob's Bikes did a great job of fixing Scotty up and getting me back out cycling in no time, despite the Christmas rush in the shop - thanks guys!
A couple of easy weeks later and I was ready to roll again (aside from an abnormal fear of trucks).
January saw some good quality miles go under the belt, all in preparation for IMNZ. I made the decision not to race this month to really focus on building some strength for Ironman. I finished off the month with a solo effort weekend down in Taupo which has left me feeling great.
The countdown for IMNZ is back on, with the wee matter of the New Plymouth Half next weekend just for fun :-)
December was a pretty busy month, the end of the year flew by. Three weeks after racing Kona, I was on the start line for the Karapiro Half Ironman. My pre-race prep of sitting on a beach in Waikiki consuming my body weight in ice cream is obviously my secret weapon, as I walked away from the race with a win and some not very tired legs.
After this I joined the Other Side - as support crew and #1 spectator for Roger, doing his very first half ironman at IronMaori. This was a great event to watch, with so much encouragement and positive energy out on the course. It was great to see Rog smiling his way through the entire event (in fact, I think he is still smiling from it) to finish in a very respectable time of 5:25. Very proud of him for getting out there and giving it a good go!
After this it was back into business mode at the Rotorua Half Ironman. This was my very first triathlon a few years ago now - I remember being so nervous the night before I actually wanted to die. I had fantasies of cyclones hitting Rotorua resulting in a cancelled race...yup, that nervous!
This year I finished well over an hour faster than that day (and I wasn't the second to last person out the water this time due to my then philosophy of "why swim when you can surf"...yup, I was that slow!).
This has to be one of my favourite races. It is a tough, honest course but beautiful - made even more so by the new offroad run this year. A must do race on any triathlete's bucket list for sure.
I managed to snag second place behind the super speedy Anna Ross, and walked away with a life-sized stuffed dragon for my effort, which Roger now uses to terrify the dogs. Will race for soft toys :-)
The plan after Rotorua was to get back into some solid training. Three days later, riding back from my first really good training session with Keegan, Candice and a visiting Tamsyn, I got involved in a reluctant game of chicken with a truck. I would love to say that I flexed my muscles of titanium, and left an Erin-shaped dent in the side of the truck, but sadly this was not the case. Scotty the bike and I came off second best, while my anti-indicating, anti-giving way opponent made a speedy exit from the scene. I wish I knew where he lived, so I could have given him the Road Code for Christmas (well, that and something else that starts with black and ends with eye...).
A few very concerned motorists stopped, one lady even insisted on trying to put bandaids on my road rash - not an easy task, considering the size of a band aid, and then the size of my road rashed butt cheek. I am flattered that she thought my bum was that small.
Bob's Bikes did a great job of fixing Scotty up and getting me back out cycling in no time, despite the Christmas rush in the shop - thanks guys!
A couple of easy weeks later and I was ready to roll again (aside from an abnormal fear of trucks).
January saw some good quality miles go under the belt, all in preparation for IMNZ. I made the decision not to race this month to really focus on building some strength for Ironman. I finished off the month with a solo effort weekend down in Taupo which has left me feeling great.
The countdown for IMNZ is back on, with the wee matter of the New Plymouth Half next weekend just for fun :-)
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Post Kona
I have finally arrived home after unsuccessfully trying to cancel my flight to "become" a permanent resident in Hawaii. Our honeymoon in Waikiki was an excellent way to wind down after the race and rejuvenate the mind before coming back to the NZ race season. It also gave me a little bit of time to realise that even though I had a disappointing race in Kona, it is not the end of the world, and ultimately those closest to you are so proud of you for just making it to the start line, regardless of your race result.
Race morning dawned warm and clear (like most mornings in Hawaii). Anna and I were up at 4:20am for breakfast before heading down to body marking and transition. As I usually do, I threw my Ipod on, and got on with the job of preparing for the race.
The swim went pretty much as I had expected. Not being incredibly fast in the water I anticipated swimming around the 1hr10 mark. I also anticipated the swim to be a bit of a washing machine, so was prepared for the watery chaos that ensued once we started. I managed to get on to the feet of a couple of guys, and for the most part of the swim sat pretty comfortably behind them.
Once out of the water it was through a very busy transition, and then on to the real business of making up some ground on the bike. Well, that was my plan - which didn't exactly pan out in reality the way it did in my head.
Once on the Queen K I got into a pretty good rhythm, and felt pretty strong. Remembering everyone's warnings of making sure I was hydrated, I also began drinking. A lot. Maybe too much.
Approaching Hawi the wind had picked up into a pretty decent headwind, with plenty of gusts hitting us from the side - very much like some of my training rides back home! At this point I began to feel a little ill, and was struggling to take on board any gels, but figured as long as I kept drinking I would be ok.
Coming back down from Hawi was still windy - although not the tail wind I was anticipating. Just more gusty crosswinds. Turning back on to the Queen K for the final 60km saw these crosswinds turn into a headwind. Mentally, this was tough!! I kept looking at my watch and saw my goal ride time slipping further and further out of my reach. Still struggling with my nutrition, I kept knocking back the Ironman Perform that was on course.
Once I hit transition, I was pretty happy to hand my bike to a volunteer - actually I probably would have handed my bike to just about anyone at that point. Through transition again, I almost made it out feeling good when I realised my race number belt (not needed in the cycle, but compulsary in the run) was still in my transition bag!! A mad dash back to the change tent I managed to locate my bag and dig it out and then hit the run course. Silly mistake as usually my bike/run transition is super quick.
Out on the run I stuck to Keegan's pacing plan and felt pretty good for the first 15km. Almost too easy! Closer to the 20km mark I began to feel pretty ill again, and from then on it was downhill (unfortunately not the course, just me!). I had slowed considerably, started walking the aid stations, and had fantasies about being able to pass out (i.e. "look at that bit of lava...I bet it would feel awesome to just pass out there...on the lava...just passed out..."). It felt like the run was never going to end. Pretty disappointing as I usually love running.
Running back into Kona and onto Ali'i Drive for the final 800m before the finish line was just incredible. The noise and energy coming from the crowd is just amazing. Even though I was pretty gutted running through the finish line and seeing the time I had raced, just finishing in Kona was pretty amazing.
Once through the finish, each athlete has a volunteer (or two) assigned to them to take them over to the post-race area. As I found out, if you retch when drinking a cup of water, they will also take you straight to the medic tent. An hour there on an IV and I was ready to ride my bike back to the condo for a shower.
Total race time was 10hrs31.
After catching up with Keegan, I think I can safely say I may have consumed a little too much (ok, a lot) of Ironman Perform on the day. Important lesson to learn!
I have to say the volunteers out on that course were amazing. They encouraged, yelled at, even threatened athletes - anything to keep them moving forward. Their energy and enthusiasm - through all the heat of the day - was just incredible.
I have to say a big thank you to Roger for allowing me to bring my bike and running shoes on our honeymoon; as well as to our families for helping us get there.
Also to Bob's Bikes for the support and advice they have given me, and keeping my bike in excellent riding condition.
Adidas Eyewear for my Evil Eye Pro's - these are by far the best glasses I have used racing. Super lightweight and comfortable, with the best lens technology out there.
TopMark Nutrition for my gels, bars and recovery formula. Fueling up for training and racing has never been tastier!
And Candice for letting me borrow her race wheels - I was kind of hoping they would magically make me as fast as her!
Race morning dawned warm and clear (like most mornings in Hawaii). Anna and I were up at 4:20am for breakfast before heading down to body marking and transition. As I usually do, I threw my Ipod on, and got on with the job of preparing for the race.
The swim went pretty much as I had expected. Not being incredibly fast in the water I anticipated swimming around the 1hr10 mark. I also anticipated the swim to be a bit of a washing machine, so was prepared for the watery chaos that ensued once we started. I managed to get on to the feet of a couple of guys, and for the most part of the swim sat pretty comfortably behind them.
Once out of the water it was through a very busy transition, and then on to the real business of making up some ground on the bike. Well, that was my plan - which didn't exactly pan out in reality the way it did in my head.
Once on the Queen K I got into a pretty good rhythm, and felt pretty strong. Remembering everyone's warnings of making sure I was hydrated, I also began drinking. A lot. Maybe too much.
Approaching Hawi the wind had picked up into a pretty decent headwind, with plenty of gusts hitting us from the side - very much like some of my training rides back home! At this point I began to feel a little ill, and was struggling to take on board any gels, but figured as long as I kept drinking I would be ok.
Coming back down from Hawi was still windy - although not the tail wind I was anticipating. Just more gusty crosswinds. Turning back on to the Queen K for the final 60km saw these crosswinds turn into a headwind. Mentally, this was tough!! I kept looking at my watch and saw my goal ride time slipping further and further out of my reach. Still struggling with my nutrition, I kept knocking back the Ironman Perform that was on course.
Once I hit transition, I was pretty happy to hand my bike to a volunteer - actually I probably would have handed my bike to just about anyone at that point. Through transition again, I almost made it out feeling good when I realised my race number belt (not needed in the cycle, but compulsary in the run) was still in my transition bag!! A mad dash back to the change tent I managed to locate my bag and dig it out and then hit the run course. Silly mistake as usually my bike/run transition is super quick.
Out on the run I stuck to Keegan's pacing plan and felt pretty good for the first 15km. Almost too easy! Closer to the 20km mark I began to feel pretty ill again, and from then on it was downhill (unfortunately not the course, just me!). I had slowed considerably, started walking the aid stations, and had fantasies about being able to pass out (i.e. "look at that bit of lava...I bet it would feel awesome to just pass out there...on the lava...just passed out..."). It felt like the run was never going to end. Pretty disappointing as I usually love running.
Running back into Kona and onto Ali'i Drive for the final 800m before the finish line was just incredible. The noise and energy coming from the crowd is just amazing. Even though I was pretty gutted running through the finish line and seeing the time I had raced, just finishing in Kona was pretty amazing.
Once through the finish, each athlete has a volunteer (or two) assigned to them to take them over to the post-race area. As I found out, if you retch when drinking a cup of water, they will also take you straight to the medic tent. An hour there on an IV and I was ready to ride my bike back to the condo for a shower.
Total race time was 10hrs31.
After catching up with Keegan, I think I can safely say I may have consumed a little too much (ok, a lot) of Ironman Perform on the day. Important lesson to learn!
I have to say the volunteers out on that course were amazing. They encouraged, yelled at, even threatened athletes - anything to keep them moving forward. Their energy and enthusiasm - through all the heat of the day - was just incredible.
I have to say a big thank you to Roger for allowing me to bring my bike and running shoes on our honeymoon; as well as to our families for helping us get there.
Also to Bob's Bikes for the support and advice they have given me, and keeping my bike in excellent riding condition.
Adidas Eyewear for my Evil Eye Pro's - these are by far the best glasses I have used racing. Super lightweight and comfortable, with the best lens technology out there.
TopMark Nutrition for my gels, bars and recovery formula. Fueling up for training and racing has never been tastier!
And Candice for letting me borrow her race wheels - I was kind of hoping they would magically make me as fast as her!
Thursday, 11 October 2012
Just Over a Day to Go!
Relaxing on the baloncy of our condo and hearing the waves crashing 100m from us, it is hard to believe that in just over a day I will be standing on the start line of the Ironman World Championship.
It is at this point when you can really sit back and review all the long hard miles you have put in training. Every early morning, every sub-zero cycle, every windy run. Those sessions in the wind and rain that you made yourself do when it would have been easier to give up. Those long weeks when fatigue really started to set in and you would become ever so slightly irrational about every little thing. Those lonely hours spent out riding and running when friends and family were socialising. Every session you ever questioned and truly tested yourself. They all count, as valuable miles in the bank - all to be cashed in on one big day.
Kona has been an amazing place for a taper. It is warm, which suits me perfectly. The water here is crystal clear, and you have miles and miles of coral reef, tropical fish and various other marine life to keep you entertained. So far I have managed to sight both a turtle and a manta ray out swimming (sadly no dolphin - yet!). The roads are smooth, and both the lava fields, and the coastal road up to Hawi are beautiful to ride on. The heat and barreness of the lava field is quite awe-inspiring, and riding up the coast is really amazing.
Fit and lean athletes are everywhere - I actually pity anyone who has unknowingly come here for a quiet holiday. I can imagine it would have started out as "wow, everyone in Kona is so fit and lean...all with really nice bikes..." to "oh dear, we are stuck in a village of geeks who just talk about aerodynamics, calories and timing splits....".
The locals are very friendly and so helpful.
The entire village has been overtaken by Ironman - signs and stalls everywhere, product samples, temporary aid stations on course - it really has a festival-type atmosphere. This morning we got to view (I am sure Roger will regret not competing in) the undie run through town. A nice sight at times...not so good at others!
A nervous tension seems to have settled on downtown Kona -although Kona room mate Anna and I have been unaffected by this and have wisely decided to do our last swim tomorrow just off the coast close to our condo instead of muscling our way through the (mostly anxious) hordes down at the pier. Also living in the same condo complex as us is Miranda Carfrae - it was very exciting to meet her (and snag a quick photo op) - she really is one compact, lean ball of energy, and super friendly.
One thing I have really learnt here is not to ever stress in a taper. I feel ready to race; anticipate when the hurt is going to set in, and trust that my muscles will just continue to do what they were trained for. Keegan's coaching - and sessions chasing Candice - has definately left me feeling very well prepared!
Off for the athlete welcome dinner and race briefing tonight, then tomorrow is rack-the-bike day!! Not long to go now!
It is at this point when you can really sit back and review all the long hard miles you have put in training. Every early morning, every sub-zero cycle, every windy run. Those sessions in the wind and rain that you made yourself do when it would have been easier to give up. Those long weeks when fatigue really started to set in and you would become ever so slightly irrational about every little thing. Those lonely hours spent out riding and running when friends and family were socialising. Every session you ever questioned and truly tested yourself. They all count, as valuable miles in the bank - all to be cashed in on one big day.
Kona has been an amazing place for a taper. It is warm, which suits me perfectly. The water here is crystal clear, and you have miles and miles of coral reef, tropical fish and various other marine life to keep you entertained. So far I have managed to sight both a turtle and a manta ray out swimming (sadly no dolphin - yet!). The roads are smooth, and both the lava fields, and the coastal road up to Hawi are beautiful to ride on. The heat and barreness of the lava field is quite awe-inspiring, and riding up the coast is really amazing.
Fit and lean athletes are everywhere - I actually pity anyone who has unknowingly come here for a quiet holiday. I can imagine it would have started out as "wow, everyone in Kona is so fit and lean...all with really nice bikes..." to "oh dear, we are stuck in a village of geeks who just talk about aerodynamics, calories and timing splits....".
The locals are very friendly and so helpful.
The entire village has been overtaken by Ironman - signs and stalls everywhere, product samples, temporary aid stations on course - it really has a festival-type atmosphere. This morning we got to view (I am sure Roger will regret not competing in) the undie run through town. A nice sight at times...not so good at others!
A nervous tension seems to have settled on downtown Kona -although Kona room mate Anna and I have been unaffected by this and have wisely decided to do our last swim tomorrow just off the coast close to our condo instead of muscling our way through the (mostly anxious) hordes down at the pier. Also living in the same condo complex as us is Miranda Carfrae - it was very exciting to meet her (and snag a quick photo op) - she really is one compact, lean ball of energy, and super friendly.
One thing I have really learnt here is not to ever stress in a taper. I feel ready to race; anticipate when the hurt is going to set in, and trust that my muscles will just continue to do what they were trained for. Keegan's coaching - and sessions chasing Candice - has definately left me feeling very well prepared!
Off for the athlete welcome dinner and race briefing tonight, then tomorrow is rack-the-bike day!! Not long to go now!
Saturday, 29 September 2012
The Kona Countdown is ON!!
With my wedding out the way, when people now ask me when the big day is, I can safely assume they are talking about racing in Kona (pre-wedding this caused a wee bit of confusion, followed by more confusion when I asked them to clarify WHICH big day...).
Energy levels and excitement levels are pretty high by now; the body is feeling good and ready to race.
The winter has seen many, many hours out cycling and running, with some pretty iconic sessions thrown in the mix. Riding around the K2 course in torrential rain and gale force winds; big run session in the Waitakeres (in the wind and rain); hill repeat sessions (in the wind and rain); more running on our regular training loop (mostly in the wind and rain); more hill work (again, with the wind and rain)...and well, luckily the pool is indoors, otherwise that would have been mostly in the wind and rain as well...
One session Dave and I even got to see the Police Swat team in action, raiding a rural property on one of our regular training hills. Made for some interesting viewing!
Many a session started out with Candice and I huddling around the heater in her house (usually while Candice is trying to dry her socks, in order to wear them outside in the rain) wondering why we repeatedly put ourselves through this. There was much soul searching done in front of that heater! But when you get closer to your race, feeling fitter and stronger than ever, it is easy to justify why you spent the whole winter out riding and running in freezing, wet conditions while everyone else you knew was hiding indoors.
Fellow triathletes have been super supportive, providing me with many hours of Ironman viewing pleasure in the form of past Kona races, and some pretty inspirational reading material. Makes for some pretty good couch time (directly under the heat pump) after training.
My wedding provided a brief interlude into what was some pretty solid training. I did entertain the idea of trying to fit in a quick session before the ceremony, but found out this day alone is actually up there with racing an Ironman (minus the lycra). It was a beautiful day which just reminded me I am very lucky to have a husband who is so supportive of everything I do.
Two weeks to go for race day; and just days until we fly out. The miles have all been done. The time to test the body out is almost here!
Energy levels and excitement levels are pretty high by now; the body is feeling good and ready to race.
The winter has seen many, many hours out cycling and running, with some pretty iconic sessions thrown in the mix. Riding around the K2 course in torrential rain and gale force winds; big run session in the Waitakeres (in the wind and rain); hill repeat sessions (in the wind and rain); more running on our regular training loop (mostly in the wind and rain); more hill work (again, with the wind and rain)...and well, luckily the pool is indoors, otherwise that would have been mostly in the wind and rain as well...
One session Dave and I even got to see the Police Swat team in action, raiding a rural property on one of our regular training hills. Made for some interesting viewing!
Many a session started out with Candice and I huddling around the heater in her house (usually while Candice is trying to dry her socks, in order to wear them outside in the rain) wondering why we repeatedly put ourselves through this. There was much soul searching done in front of that heater! But when you get closer to your race, feeling fitter and stronger than ever, it is easy to justify why you spent the whole winter out riding and running in freezing, wet conditions while everyone else you knew was hiding indoors.
Fellow triathletes have been super supportive, providing me with many hours of Ironman viewing pleasure in the form of past Kona races, and some pretty inspirational reading material. Makes for some pretty good couch time (directly under the heat pump) after training.
My wedding provided a brief interlude into what was some pretty solid training. I did entertain the idea of trying to fit in a quick session before the ceremony, but found out this day alone is actually up there with racing an Ironman (minus the lycra). It was a beautiful day which just reminded me I am very lucky to have a husband who is so supportive of everything I do.
Two weeks to go for race day; and just days until we fly out. The miles have all been done. The time to test the body out is almost here!
Saturday, 30 June 2012
The (cold) road to Kona...
So winter has finally hit! Good for chilly evenings infront of a movie with the heatpump on full blast; not so good for heading out for long ride or run sessions with rain clouds looming and air so cold your face feels about ready to fall off.
The beginning of May saw me getting back into training with a few run miles under my belt in the form of the Rotorua Marathon. I learnt a couple of valuable lessons here: 1). Love the wind in training - it gives you physical strength and mental toughness; and 2). Coach Keegan's pacing plan is a lot better than my usual haphazard plan of "run fast until you can't". Despite having a pretty good headwind to run into for the final 12km of the race I still managed to scrape in with a 2hr59 marathon time. Fourth place overall, a podium finish in my age group, and a new PB saw a very happy runner!
A couple of easy days after this then it was back into the training routine. Now anyone who knows me knows how much I hate the cold. I just never seem to warm up in winter. Even in summer, after bigger or harder races or sessions my body temperature seems to plummet. It is not abnormal to see me after a half Ironman wandering around in a big puffy jacket, clutching the hottest coffee I can find while other athletes cool off in the ocean. So winter and I never get on.
I have been turning up for ride sessions dressed like an eskimo. I try to fob off my cycling buddies mockery by claiming I am doing a bit of heat acclimation for Kona; the reality is my countless layers are barely keeping me warm enough!! Unfortunately my blue, chattering lips tend to give me away. The down time on the couch directly under the heat pump afterward is priceless!
I always tend to struggle a little through winter as well as racing is pretty minimal aside from the odd marathon. Racing always feels like my reward for training; I love it. Not racing much tends to leave me feeling a little bored. After the initial excitement of Kona wore off I took the time to really evaluate what I want out of this race. In racing, as in training, I will feel like I have failed if I haven't given 110%. So I have used the winter months to really try put myself in the hurt box when training; and developing a pretty good head space for it. As Chris McCormack says - the pain in racing is inevitable. You can either dread it or welcome it.
So the countdown is on! Just over three months to go, with a wedding in between before we hit the warm sunny shores of Hawaii! The body and the mind are getting in to great race shape; I just hope that shape still fits into my wedding dress...
The beginning of May saw me getting back into training with a few run miles under my belt in the form of the Rotorua Marathon. I learnt a couple of valuable lessons here: 1). Love the wind in training - it gives you physical strength and mental toughness; and 2). Coach Keegan's pacing plan is a lot better than my usual haphazard plan of "run fast until you can't". Despite having a pretty good headwind to run into for the final 12km of the race I still managed to scrape in with a 2hr59 marathon time. Fourth place overall, a podium finish in my age group, and a new PB saw a very happy runner!
A couple of easy days after this then it was back into the training routine. Now anyone who knows me knows how much I hate the cold. I just never seem to warm up in winter. Even in summer, after bigger or harder races or sessions my body temperature seems to plummet. It is not abnormal to see me after a half Ironman wandering around in a big puffy jacket, clutching the hottest coffee I can find while other athletes cool off in the ocean. So winter and I never get on.
I have been turning up for ride sessions dressed like an eskimo. I try to fob off my cycling buddies mockery by claiming I am doing a bit of heat acclimation for Kona; the reality is my countless layers are barely keeping me warm enough!! Unfortunately my blue, chattering lips tend to give me away. The down time on the couch directly under the heat pump afterward is priceless!
I always tend to struggle a little through winter as well as racing is pretty minimal aside from the odd marathon. Racing always feels like my reward for training; I love it. Not racing much tends to leave me feeling a little bored. After the initial excitement of Kona wore off I took the time to really evaluate what I want out of this race. In racing, as in training, I will feel like I have failed if I haven't given 110%. So I have used the winter months to really try put myself in the hurt box when training; and developing a pretty good head space for it. As Chris McCormack says - the pain in racing is inevitable. You can either dread it or welcome it.
So the countdown is on! Just over three months to go, with a wedding in between before we hit the warm sunny shores of Hawaii! The body and the mind are getting in to great race shape; I just hope that shape still fits into my wedding dress...
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