Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Catch up

I'm going to fill in a few events and results so I can find them easier.

I'm now in the heart of Ironman training and it's going well. I really love the feeling of being and becoming Iron Fit.

I had almost a week off after the Squamish tri and began my return to cycling with another spin to the top of Cypress from here. The spin was cut a bit short about I got one flat and then when I blew one spare - there is a maximum amount of air that a tube will take.

I've also been adding more speed to my run workouts both outside and on the treadmill.

I'm looking forward to another solid spin - this time to Whistler and back this pending weekend. Before then I hope to fall into Brohm Lake for a swim or two.

I'm watching more carefully what I'm consuming - mostly not buying the food that I find far too tempting.

That's the update for now.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Lake Placid

Some superb news from Lake Placid .. my brother has signed up to race there in 2011. It will be his first Ironman.

John was there in Forster, Australia when Margreet and I finished our first Ironman in 2002 and we'll make every effort to be there to support him.

It's a decision you won't regret little brother. Ironman has changed my life. There's nothing that I can't fathom trying and that's what life is all about.

Believe in yourself and you can achieve greatness.

**

Another bit of good news from Lake Placid was that Lisa Marangon came in third overall and got a spot to Kona. She last raced there as an age grouper, this year will be her first appearance as a pro.

We've watched her develop as an athlete and the challenges of life that she's accepted with a fierce determination and endless enthusiasm.

Lisa is an inspirational athlete and mom. A very well grounded person who's worked very hard for her successes in the sport.

Here is a link to Lisa's site.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Inspiration

"You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind."

Dale Carnegie

****

"One difference between successful people and all the rest is that successful people take action."

Bob Proctor

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"Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days. What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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"Doubt, of whatever kind, can be ended by action alone."

Thomas Carlyle

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Recent articles

A profile that I wrote on Jordan Bryden can be found online at Triathlon Magazine Canada. I think it's a good read on an articulate athlete.

Here's the link.

I recently filed two other stories to the magazine - for future issues - including a Q&A with former Olympian Paul Tichelaar, a real ambassador for the sport.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Squamish Olympic

Solid day. I opted to enter this just last night - 10 minutes before entry closed. Ha.

The main reason I wanted to race is that I found at the Vancouver Half a week ago that I was a bit race rusty. I hadn't thought about it much but the warning I got for starting to take my helmet off before my bike was fully racked was a reminder.

In Australia, we used to race more and also we used to practice transitions. I definitely view transitions as free time and I want all of it.

I knew that today might be a challenge after having gone for a near 6 hour bike ride yesterday - Squamish to the top of Cypress, up 1/3 again, then back home. It was a superb spin on a spectacular summer day.

I was optimistic of winning my age group and while I was near the front after the swim and at about half way through the bike, two went past me on the steady uphill and I couldn't respond. Oh well.

I continued to spin as fast as I could and really hammered the downslope. I felt great.

My legs weren't turning over as fast as I'd hoped the first 2-3km - though after the race I was 'told' that was the uphill section. Sometimes the obvious isn't so.

In any event, I caught one guy just before the end of the first loop of the run. I didn't know he was in front. I felt good at that point and pushed it. And a little bit later, on the short out and back section, I saw the two who were in the lead. I was optimistic that I could catch at least one of them.

As it happened, both of them caught a second wind and I never saw them til the race was over.

It was a good day. My second third in two weeks. Margreet was out in the mix and helped pace her all-women relay team to second in their division.

one loop swim, four loops on the bike and two loops on the run
swim 25.56

bike 1.06.43

run 47.22

2.20.00

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Vancouver Half Iron

It's a great event and this was the second year in a row in which I have competed. I highly recommend it as it is well organized.

It was an even better day for racing than last year as the sun was hidden most of the day. The water temp was said to be 15.5C but I don't think it was quite so cold - there were some cold pockets in English Bay which helped refocus my effort.

1.9k (2 loops), 90k (4 loops) and 20k (2 loops)

Total time: 4:50:22

swim: 32:35 1:43 avg for 100m

t1 2:12

bike: 2:41:28 33.8km/hr avg

t2: 1:34 (helmet warning!)

run: 1:32:35 4:38/km avg


Last year I was second in the age group .. the guy who won last year was second this year .. he finished in 4.39 ..

The guy who won the age group did 4.26 on a 1.20 run for 20k. Impressive.

So 9th at Oliver a month ago and 3rd today.