Taupo Half Ironman Race Report

Ist Big Sign Off event in the race calender has been signed off, last Saturday, 12th I raced and finished the Taupo Half Ironman, I finished in 6:41:28.

I had a great race, I was really happy with my race, splits as follows:

Swim: 1:18:52
Cycle: 3:18:21
Run: 2:04:15

My swim was within acceptable limits of the timeframes I had set for the race, but I know I have to to do a lot of work over the summer to make the time cut off for Ironman. I was very happy with my bike /run which was right on the time schedules for Ironman.

Overall it was a very enjoyable day and the race has energized me even more to train harder for March and I can't wait.

Pictures to follow....

Road Nationals catch up report

I had a big success in Nelson at Road Nationals, the TT went really well for me, I was 1st in category and 4th overall for the TT on the Thursday, while on the Friday the road race was not my event and I finished well down in the field.

My training schedule was specifically focused on the TT so I wasn't expecting a result in that race but I am pleased with the result in the TT.

The biggest thing I learned at Nationals was that I need a new bike, to compete against my fellow competitors and to take me to the next level.

1st Tri of the Season: Scorching Report

I finished my 1st tri of the season on Sunday 15th at Scorching Bay Wellington. The race plan was to get it completed in under 3hrs with no injuries and learn as much as I can.

I had a tough swim, the water was very cold and on the 1st lap on the way back to shore I was blown back to sea with wind and tide. I made the decision to go to transition after 1 lap, 500m.

T1 was mad!! your brain is not engaged properly, you are cold and wet and not thinking properly. My bike was very strong though, I passed lots of competitors on the 2km uphill climb which was great, the wind was very strong and effected speed all day.

T2 was better, the run was a 2 lap out and back to point Halswell, out was into the stiff Northerly, back was being blown home. I felt comfortable and solid on the run which was great.

Overall I had a good race although I know I need to improve my sea swimming skills and time in the water, which will happen over the summer.

Cycling update, coundown to Road Nationals, October 21st-24th

Training is going very well for the TT and road race for Road Nationals in Nelson on the 21st and 22nd October. I am 5 weeks out from the event and am feeling very good about my cycling right now, my cycling coach is taking my cycling programme on a two week cycle, giving me work to do stepping up the intensity each fortnight.

The result is I am getting stronger each fortnight and will peak on the 21st & 22nd of October which is what I need.

Watch this space...

Swim progress, new coach, Grant Campbell,

Well things have moved forward quickly since I ran the 5 bridges marathon on different fronts. My podiatrist, Rob McGregor has ordered me off running for 6-8 weeks, so that's that.
It does however allow me to focus on my swim with my new coach, Grant Campbell . When I left my previous coach I was a bit nervous about being under a new coach but we have made huge progress in the 3 weeks e have been together

I will see michi next Sunday, I think she will be very surprised and pleased with the progress.

More washup from 5 Bridges run

The ankle problems i had on the 5 bridges run brought to a head issues i have been facing regarding going to see a podiatrist so that is a good thing. I see an orthopedic specialist this Monday to get assessed before going on to see the podiatrist as soon after that as possible.

I hope that a new orthotic will come out of all these visits and i will be able to run comfortably and won't go through 3 pairs of running shoes in 9 months!!!

Another positive to come out of the 5 bridges was that i got a call from the people at io, they run an o2 oxygen simulation training programme that simulates training at high altitudes to increase red blood cell production, giving you greater lung capacity and more performance. They have given me a FREE consultation and a free session worth $50 so thank you io
www.io-nz.com

5 Bridges Marathon washup

Well, I have my 1st marathon under my belt, and i can safely say that it is a hard day a the office, i learnt some lessons about the limits of my left ankle, i found out that i need to see a podiatrist to get assessed for a running prosthesis to counter for my left leg striking the ground in an abnormal manner.

I am a bit sore today but i expect that will go by the end of today, after all i have just run a marathon,

5 Bridges run, Sunday 16th August

Well the time to get serious in the IM campaign has arrived... marathon time has arrived, this Sunday i will do my marathon, the marathon is a step up event for sure.

I know that if i run wihin myself i have done the training miles to finish, so its just a question of the mental toughness to not let the questions that come ito your mind stop me from finishing.

I received the really good news from the patter today that i can use which ever swim stroke i want ti swim the swim leg which takes a load off, i can enter now, get to the start line which is half the battle in IM.

Cycle and Run Update

I competed in the local cycle club here PNP's(pnp.org.nz) winter race series, they have a four race series leading onto Road Nationals which is also on my calender.

I WON.... on handicap but i was very pleased with that result as it shows that all the endurance training I've been doing hasn't taken away from me my racing ability which i will need at Road Nationals in October in Nelson for the Time Trial and the Road Race... So great result there and next race this weekend.

I have the 5 bridges marathon coming up on the 16th of this month, it is an off road marathon in the Hutt Valley, i have been doing the training miles for this one but it is one of the big tick off events along with the half IM to complete before IM

I'm looking for a time around 3hrs 30mins to be comfortable and feel like i am on schedule for the IM marathon which i have scheduled to run in 4hrs.

1st run of the season ticked off

My 1st run of the season was ticked off today, the Harbour Capital Half Marathon, i came home in 1hr 48mins, i was very happy with that time as I set out to run a 1hr 45 - 1hr 50min run so a 1hr 48min run was right in the middle of that target.

Next runis the 5 Bridges Marathon, 14 August...

Swim update: big technique breakthrough

I had a big technique break through on Friday during a coaching session with my coach Michi, Michi told me to speed up my leg revolutions and stroke less, in essence i had to slow down to speed up, this has had a huge impact on my stroke rate, i now can complete laps with an average of 17 strokes where before it took me 28, this means i will get out of the water fresher and ready to get on the bike... thank you for that michi...

Cycling update

Today I received notification from Paralympics NZ that the Performance Manager at PNZ Brendon Cameron is happy for me to do Ironman and it won't effect my chances of being named in the cycling squad going to World Championships next year.

I'm very pleased about this as it gives me the freedom to complete ironman then come back to the elite national cycling squad in March, get carded and make the team for World Championships in Cali, Columbia next year

First test of the season

Next Weekend, the 28th of June is my first test of the season and my first test for the Ironman countdown with the Harbour City Half Marathon, below is a training run mapped in mapmyrun that i did this weekend of 27km that makes me feel very comfortable to to the half marathon run and also to push on and do the 5 bridges marathon in the middle of August